A few weeks ago I was perusing iTunes looking for songs to buy on a gift card I received. I chose a few Five For Fighting songs from his most recent album (I didn’t really care for the previews I heard of the whole thing) and Bon Jovi’s anthemic “It’s My Life”. I’m not even sure which record it was on. Probably several but I just wanted the song for doing cardio to so it didn’t really matter.
I read an article not too long ago from Jon Bon Jovi himself. He claimed that Steve Jobs and iTunes had single handedly ruined the music business. This coming from a guy whose band made millions of dollars from it. Including quite a bit from me over the years and possibly the college tuition fund Terry Caffrey had set aside for her children. More than enough money for him to someday become part owner of a billion dollar NFL team. A guy who himself SELLS his music on iTunes and profits off of it. Who is he trying to kid?
But the more I thought about it and looked at the receipt for my downloaded songs I realized something….he’s right. The entire “experience” of getting and listening to new music is gone.
Back in “the day” if you heard a cool song on the radio you had three choices: call the radio station 24/7 and beg them to play it, try and find the 45″ single of it at Listening Booth in the mall or just buy the album which was readily available. In my case, it was always buying the album because I LOVED the experience (and because I didn’t want to sound like a sissy calling the request line).
There was nothing like getting that new album (or CD) and taking it home for the first time. Especially if you’ve waited the habitual two years since your favorite group’s last record. A literal lifetime when you are growing up. When you first heard the new “hit” from the band on Z-95 or Q100 you knew the countdown to the new album was on. It was new again. Almost like Christmas was coming.
My ritual was this: I would get the album, lock myself in my room and put it on. First song, first side (or first track on a CD – I’m not THAT OLD). I knew the “hit” was always about the third song. I didn’t want to skip to it. I wanted the build up. As the first notes of the record started I knew ‘the boys were back’ and I’d immerse myself in the liner notes. The smell of new ink would invade my senses and the troubles of the day would soon fade away.
I’d read all about the musicians, where the album was recorded. Who were any “special guests”. The thank-you’s which always included God and family. And I’d always think “Maybe some day I’ll have to make these decisions for my album”….
But most of all, I read the lyrics. I loved reading about the pain, heartache, reckless abandon they felt when creating this record. I tried to relate what I was going through in my life with what I read and listened to. By the time the “hit” was playing I was in some other utopia. (which coincidentally, was the name of the store in downtown Easton where I got a lot of my records).
When the record was over it was almost like you had just gotten off an amusement park ride. Sure, some of the songs weren’t very good. But there were some gems on there. I liked to guess which song would be the next one released to radio. I’d also wonder how long I had to start saving money before these guys came to town so I could go see them. The whole thing was indeed an experience.
Now, I couldn’t tell you the last time I did the whole music experience though. I found myself falling into the same routine everyone else does. Getting the quick-fix by downloading the one “hit” song. I even believe most artists these days are perfectly happy with just getting the 99 cents for that one song.
But taking Jon’s advice, I decided to try the album experience again. I was watching VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show and noticed that David Coverdale from Whitesnake was going to be on. I found out that Whitesnake had just released a new CD. Having been a big fan from their hey day, I decided to by pass the digital market and purchased the physical copy of Forevermore. Maybe it was the metal head in me trying to get out after being cooped up for so long but it excited me to hear this new music.
I sat there, put the CD in on the first track, read the liner notes and got lost in thought. It wasn’t the greatest album I’ve ever heard but there are some really cool songs on there. Quite a bit I’d never expect to hear from the band and I was pleasantly surprised.
I know that in today’s music business it will probably never get airplay. But the experience of listening was as wonderful as I remembered it to be.
It was then that I noticed they were coming to Penns Peak next month (about a 45 minute drive from my home). I’ve never seen them live and always wanted to. What a perfect opportunity to get the entire experience of the new album again.
So Mr. Bon Jovi was right in a way. iTunes has changed the game. And sure, I’ll probably rip the Whitesnake album and throw it on my mp3 player to take with me. Will I listen to it day and night forevermore? Probably not.
But favorite songs aren’t just meant to be some digital file on an ipod. They’re meant to stay with you for a lifetime.
Maybe you should experience it for yourself again too.
I read an article not too long ago from Jon Bon Jovi himself. He claimed that Steve Jobs and iTunes had single handedly ruined the music business. This coming from a guy whose band made millions of dollars from it. Including quite a bit from me over the years and possibly the college tuition fund Terry Caffrey had set aside for her children. More than enough money for him to someday become part owner of a billion dollar NFL team. A guy who himself SELLS his music on iTunes and profits off of it. Who is he trying to kid?
But the more I thought about it and looked at the receipt for my downloaded songs I realized something….he’s right. The entire “experience” of getting and listening to new music is gone.
Back in “the day” if you heard a cool song on the radio you had three choices: call the radio station 24/7 and beg them to play it, try and find the 45″ single of it at Listening Booth in the mall or just buy the album which was readily available. In my case, it was always buying the album because I LOVED the experience (and because I didn’t want to sound like a sissy calling the request line).
There was nothing like getting that new album (or CD) and taking it home for the first time. Especially if you’ve waited the habitual two years since your favorite group’s last record. A literal lifetime when you are growing up. When you first heard the new “hit” from the band on Z-95 or Q100 you knew the countdown to the new album was on. It was new again. Almost like Christmas was coming.
My ritual was this: I would get the album, lock myself in my room and put it on. First song, first side (or first track on a CD – I’m not THAT OLD). I knew the “hit” was always about the third song. I didn’t want to skip to it. I wanted the build up. As the first notes of the record started I knew ‘the boys were back’ and I’d immerse myself in the liner notes. The smell of new ink would invade my senses and the troubles of the day would soon fade away.
I’d read all about the musicians, where the album was recorded. Who were any “special guests”. The thank-you’s which always included God and family. And I’d always think “Maybe some day I’ll have to make these decisions for my album”….
But most of all, I read the lyrics. I loved reading about the pain, heartache, reckless abandon they felt when creating this record. I tried to relate what I was going through in my life with what I read and listened to. By the time the “hit” was playing I was in some other utopia. (which coincidentally, was the name of the store in downtown Easton where I got a lot of my records).
When the record was over it was almost like you had just gotten off an amusement park ride. Sure, some of the songs weren’t very good. But there were some gems on there. I liked to guess which song would be the next one released to radio. I’d also wonder how long I had to start saving money before these guys came to town so I could go see them. The whole thing was indeed an experience.
Now, I couldn’t tell you the last time I did the whole music experience though. I found myself falling into the same routine everyone else does. Getting the quick-fix by downloading the one “hit” song. I even believe most artists these days are perfectly happy with just getting the 99 cents for that one song.
But taking Jon’s advice, I decided to try the album experience again. I was watching VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show and noticed that David Coverdale from Whitesnake was going to be on. I found out that Whitesnake had just released a new CD. Having been a big fan from their hey day, I decided to by pass the digital market and purchased the physical copy of Forevermore. Maybe it was the metal head in me trying to get out after being cooped up for so long but it excited me to hear this new music.
I sat there, put the CD in on the first track, read the liner notes and got lost in thought. It wasn’t the greatest album I’ve ever heard but there are some really cool songs on there. Quite a bit I’d never expect to hear from the band and I was pleasantly surprised.
I know that in today’s music business it will probably never get airplay. But the experience of listening was as wonderful as I remembered it to be.
It was then that I noticed they were coming to Penns Peak next month (about a 45 minute drive from my home). I’ve never seen them live and always wanted to. What a perfect opportunity to get the entire experience of the new album again.
So Mr. Bon Jovi was right in a way. iTunes has changed the game. And sure, I’ll probably rip the Whitesnake album and throw it on my mp3 player to take with me. Will I listen to it day and night forevermore? Probably not.
But favorite songs aren’t just meant to be some digital file on an ipod. They’re meant to stay with you for a lifetime.
Maybe you should experience it for yourself again too.
