Playlistism
1. Discrimination based not on race, gender, or religion, but rather on a disturbingly horrible iTunes music library discovered through a school or job network.
Roots from Wesleyan University; refers to the “shared music” feature available on iTunes in which one can browse the various music libraries of the co-workers or classmates in their network. Often requires awkward explanation of why you have “that song.”
Mike accused me of playlistism when I questioned his collection of Color Me Badd b-sides.
I have been scorned on occasion for my catalogue of Bob Dylan rarities (and for some Culture Club mp3s, the ‘Scatman’ and Michael Jackson’s History). I also know even Robert has been accused of Jet fandom - but what about you? Have you ever been a victim of Playlistism?
7 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
I proudly embrace my shitty playlist: for example, MC Hammer’s Pray is currently #7 in my Winamp Most Played list, with The KLF’s Justified And Ancient bringing up the rear at #12. But I’ve never been accused of Jet fandom. That’s just sick.
Comment by Tomas Ford — Tuesday March 22 2005 @ 5:48 pm
True. But as I recall, most of the times I have experienced playlistism it’s been *you*, jeering at my Acca Dacca & Ben Harper traxx.
Comment by Mark — Wednesday March 23 2005 @ 11:45 am
I think I could be accused of playlistism more than I’ve been a victim of it…
Though my iPod does have techno and the Spice Girls on it. I just don’t let people see those parts.
Comment by Le Driver — Wednesday March 23 2005 @ 6:40 pm
On more than one occasion I’ve found myself itching to induldge in playlistism directed at my girlfriend, and stopped myself only by supreme effort of will. A few weeks ago for example, I was subjected to the entire Chingy album in her car, playing on the CD player *I* gave her no less !
Usually though when I’m in that car I get the radio (station changed every 2 minutes … she’s suuuch a bloke !), or her Britanny tape. The one time I tried to inject some ‘culture’ and lent her my Public Enemy (Fear of a Black Planet) tape … she left it on the dash and the sucker melted :(
Comment by Disappearing Boy — Thursday March 24 2005 @ 10:16 am
Biatch. Did U slap her upside da head?
Comment by Mark — Thursday March 24 2005 @ 11:39 am
Hmmmm, your point re my playlistism is well made. Your ACDC selections are tasteful though - I just listened to You Shook Me All Night Long, which has pretty much the best, funkiest intro of any song ever.
If you were truly to embrace playlist crapism, you would delight, as I do, in people jeering at your song selections :) For example, I have many spoken wordies jeering at the obviousness (in High Fidelity “Top 10″ list terms) of Laurie Anderson’s “Oh Superman” being in my top 40. But it’s soooooo gooooood…
See how you react to this to truly check your embrac-ed-ness:
Ben Harper? Seriously? Why? What can possibly be gained by listening to Ben Harper prattle on that can’t be gained by listening to people who were ACTUALLY making music in the 60’s (as opposed to just pretending to)? PLUS he’s super super shithouse. Go get yourself some Love records or something.
Comment by Tomas Ford — Thursday March 24 2005 @ 3:47 pm
Ben Harper? OK, see the best way to do this thing is not to acknowledge your point at all. I’ll say:
Well, the thing is that Ben Harper is a Christian rocker, but he’s not crap. Isn’t that neat? You can understand how sincere he’s being, and dig the spirituality of it, and even when, at the end of the day he’s crappin’ on about God, you don’t feel to violated. It’s like listening to U2, but with more hip-hop and blues influences. Plus, you know, dat dude can rock out like a bad muvverfukker when he need to.
But yeah, he’s not that great either.
Comment by Mark — Thursday March 24 2005 @ 4:19 pm