9/9/26

By: Michael Walshe

Photos: Tony Nick

After a long day working on the computer, I needed to ride my bike down to the beach to watch the sunset and decompress. I ran into a few people I knew from around town, said hello, and it was time to head home and go on my way. I pulled my phone out to listen to some music out of the speaker, clicked shuffle on my playlist, and a song I really liked came on. It was a niche rap song that most probably wouldn’t listen to. At that moment, I second-guessed whether I wanted to ride my bike while listening to that song. What if I run into someone I know or if I roll by an older couple who likes Frank Sinatra sitting on their front lawn? In seconds, a few scenarios ran through my head, and then I started shuffling my playlist until Slightly Stoopid’s Live and Direct album came on. Not only is it one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite artists, but Slightly Stoopid is an artist that everyone loves, especially in a small beach town in SoCal. I had just conformed.

That got me thinking, what other times do people maybe not play exactly what they want to listen to just to conform to their situation? You might be reading this saying to yourself, “I’d never do this, I always listen to what I want.” To that, I’d say I have to disagree. I’m willing to bet you’ve done this at some point in your life.

Scenario one: you are in the car about to pick up a girl for a first date and you start sifting through your playlist to find a song she might like. Scenario two: a work colleague flies into town whom you’ve never met in person. It’s your job to pick them up from the airport, but you think to yourself, what if he doesn't like listening to metal at 2 p.m. on a Monday? Scenario three: you’re with six of your homies at the beach after a surf and you get to connect to the speaker. You conform and play what you know everyone will like so your one homie doesn’t yell, “SKIIIIIIIIP!” after your favorite song comes on. These are just a few of the many scenarios people go through when listening to music socially.

That is the basis for me writing this article. I’m not sitting here telling you to stop doing this; I’m simply asking what would happen if everyone listened to exactly what they wanted to at all times? Maybe the girl you pick up for the date would laugh and ask what you’re listening to and say she actually really likes it. Maybe your colleague would say your music taste sucks and you would both get a good laugh out of it. Maybe that niche artist would finally get some shine at that graduation party instead of conforming to the Top 100 charts because you think it would make everyone happy.

All I ask is this: next time you’re with your friends and open your playlist, ask yourself if you’re skipping to a song because you’re worried about what people might think or if it’s because you really want to listen to that music.

PS hit the connect button on the site and tell us your favorite niche song then a song you’d play with your car full.