A couple of weeks ago I was having a conversation with my manager (AB) about my blog topic and she lit up. As fellow music explorer, she happily shared her thoughts on this topic. Located on the east coast, AB relayed to me that one of the most meaningful interactions she has each workday occurs every morning when she and an early bird co-worker, located in Seattle, send each other their song(s) of the day. Most times there is the accompanying instant messenger banter but occasionally, it’s just a link. This connection made no matter how small or easy to do is their instant check-in, status update, and way of saying ” this is where I’m at today” or “you HAVE to hear this”. Her exact words were “Tisha…it’s like sending love in a link”.
Taken aback, I sighed as the old familiar feeling that often accompanies our little chats seeped in. The resounding “A-HA!” of enlightenment dancing in concert with the slight chagrin at her superior ability to articulate, exactly, the issue at hand in four words or less! She had nailed it. Telling your friends and family about that latest artist or song, sending a coworker a YouTube clip or even making a mix tape/cd is a really meaningful act. For AB and EarlyBird, sharing music back and forth is their way of maintaining and strengthening their bond of becoming better co-workers, friends, musical cohorts and ultimately people inhabiting the same world and sharing a common experience.
This act of extending oneself to another is their way of expressing themselves, showing that you care with high impact by doing something using such little effort. I guess I was stunned because until recently I hadn’t ever delved into the why I shared music as a hobby. I never thought about why I’d go on the never-ending hunt for obscure musical treasures that I was sure I’d be the first to uncover for friends and family. Maybe it is partly the ego of being “in the know”, or maybe it’s because my appetite for new music is insatiable. I’d like to think it’s because I am sending “love in a link”.
Here are a few of my favorite songs that I’ve given and received. Have one to share with me?…feel free to share in the comments section below.
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Same playlist as above for the Un-Spotified
October 26, 2012 at 4:20 AM
Nice. Check out Deep Sea Diver – you go running
October 26, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Thanks Brian, I will.
October 26, 2012 at 4:27 PM
I love this! I have a friend “TU” (who will remain nameless for privacy reasons) who sends us mixed tapes (or CD’s). Love these play lists and really appreciate the thought and efforts that go into it. We listen to it in our car almost daily and it’s AWESOME! I don’t have spotify on this computer but will need to download and start listening. SWEET!
October 28, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Ah, I love the way your manager summed it up! I feel the exact same way. Though I’ve felt my passion for researching/finding new music has dwindled a lot since college (mostly because I lack time), I still love that feeling you get when you find something new-to-you that really strikes you.
I’m a big lyrics person, and I know some people are more about the music itself, but regardless of preferences, there are a handful of people I love to share new music with via YouTube links, emails, FB posts, tweets or mix CDs. I agree with you: it’s a very meaningful thing, and something I wish I could do more of these days. Great post! I want to spend a day making mixes now.
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November 12, 2012 at 11:45 AM
That AB is great with words and it super funny to add
November 12, 2012 at 11:46 AM
*is