Learning to Shuffle

Since I got my 20gig iPod photo back in July, in addition to what I already had ripped to my iTunes, I’ve tried to legally fill it with as many songs as I could find and would enjoy. I ripped nearly all my CD collection–or what I had left of it anyway–and traded about half of them for used CDs at local music stores, purchased some must-have collections from iTunes Music Store, added downloads from free music sites, and got what I could from a friend and family member, and the local library. In three months, my iPod collection has grown to almost 3,000 songs with only about 5 gigs left for additional uploads. I’ll eventually upgrade to a 60gig to help maintain my addiction.

But up until the last few weeks or so, I only played select playlists in my iPod. I created fancy smart playlists to seemingly keep my music collection fresh and random as possible. But over time, I began to think my music was becoming old and outdated. I was repeatedly listening to my top rated songs and smart playlists. Or I would wear out a newly ripped CD, making it seem old in a week or two.

I was reluctant to use iPod’s shuffle feature, thinking it meant losing control over my listening choices. I feared I would get mostly third rate songs (the numerous ones I gave 2 or 3 stars) and would spend most of my time repeatedly hitting the select button. I wasn’t having that. I thought I would always know what I wanted to listen to. I thought smart playlists were all I needed.

But sometime after my library grew to 2,000 some odd songs, the honeymoon with my Pod was over. My top favorite jazz or rap lists began to sound like the stale playlists on the local smooth jazz or hip-hop radio station, but without the endless commercials. I couldn’t believe it. I was growing tired of my own music selections. What was wrong? I had a couple of thousand songs on my iPod. What was the problem? Did I need more music? Did I need to get more creative with playlists? Why could I no longer decide what to play? Where was the magic? Where was the love?

Or did I just need to try out Shuffle?

Well, I did, and I’ve been surprised by the difference it has made. First I realized there were so many songs I had never heard before. Where did that Cypress Hill cut “(Rock) Superstar” come from? Why hadn’t I heard this jam though the CD was uploaded to my iPod back in August? What about John Coltrane’s “In A Sentimental Mood”? I had heard it before but never on my iPod and not since last year on my iTunes. It wasn’t my favorite song, but it was nice to listen to when it popped up on my iPod in the car, at what seemed just the right time.

I was so curious about my un-played songs that I made a smart playlist to discover how many existed. It displayed a whopping 652 songs! Never played! Many new to me. So the shuffle has helped me discover what I consider jewels in my collection. “Rosa Parks” and “Aquemini,” by Outkast, “Stand Up!” by Everette Harp, “Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Cypress Hill. Prince’s “What Do You Want Me 2 Do? “Jeri,” by Gerald Wilson. And “No” by De La Soul. Too many to list. Too personal to share.

Since I could rate songs on my iPod (by pressing the middle button three times and selecting the number of stars I want to give it), I realized I could create new playlists based on what DJ Shuffle played for me. But I hardly have done so. Why should I? Why create another list that might make my music seem jaded?

Now, most of the time, Shuffle is left turned on, on both my iPod and iTunes. Sure it delivers up third rate songs, but they’re bearable when mixed with my favorites. And yeah, I also get songs I’ve heard too often, but now they’re part of a different mix. A shuffle mix. I might get a logical flow from say Donny Hathaway’s “A Song for You” to Stevie Wonder’s “Knock Me Off My Feet.” An Ice Cube rap to one by another West Coast rapper. What good DJ couldn’t put these songs together?

But then there’s the wild card selections. A mix of almost crazy juxtapositions from say an old school Glady’s Knight and the Pips to 2Pac’s “Loyal to the Game.” From a Miles Davis “Flamenco Sketches” to one of my or someone else’s Garageband songs I downloaded from MacJams.com. The combinations are often odd and unsolicited. What radio station would play music that way? What night club DJ does? Who but DJ Shuffle would play music that way?

Now I’m not saying I should have bought an $99 iPod Shuffle–that my wife has and enjoys–rather than a $300 iPod photo. Carrying around just 128 songs in my pocket would make me feel inadequate. I don’t want to limit shuffle. I want to give it an always growing collection of songs to choose from. I want it to woo and surprise me–challenge me to listen to one of the those free iTunes Music Store rock songs I downloaded for free. Or inspire me to hear more of Mark Isham’s jazz selections when I might overlook his playlist in my habit of choosing my top favorites. And when it delivers up an old Beatles song at the wrong time of day, I might click pass it, but I’m reminded it’s there for me later.

Since I started writing this piece, I’ve heard or read more than a few times how many people only use shuffle when listening to their iPod. Now I see why. It’s like everything else that the iPod has done. For many of us, not only has it rejuvenated our love for music but has changed the way we access and consume it. It can only get better from here.