Long gone are the days of mixtapes painstakingly made on a cassette tape, requiring you to push record at the exact time the radio station starts playing a song. Or burning a CD after first spending hours watching songs download.
Auckland University ethnomusicologist Kirsten Zemke told Kathryn Ryan the ease with which playlists can be made on platforms like Spotify - and the public nature of them – provide insight into what someone is doing, how and when they listen to music and how they create meaning through songs.
Photo: Unsplash / Rupam Dutta
“One of the best ones – and this is a real one – is a playlist literally called ‘Something so great has happened, that is the end of my movie and the end credits are rolling." Zemke says.
It was a playlist concept worthy of exploring further so Zemke asked people what song they would play at the end of their own movie, to capture the triumphs and troubles of their life.
These are the tracks that made the list (Zemke says they could be filed in the ‘sing into your hairbrush’ category):
Jackie Wilson Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher, 1967
Motown came up during the civil rights movement and this is a song with multiple layers, Zemke says.
“[It’s not just a happy song], it’s actually also a whole community struggling and finding positivity.”
Elton John I’m Still Standing, 1983
“Elton John had had a real rocky career in the 70s and was married to a woman, it wasn’t until the 80s that he came out with his sexuality and took that risk to that career – obviously he’s still standing and he’s standing in front of massive crowds.”
Frank Sinatra My Way, 1969
“His career was fading at that time, the old big band sound had moved on and rock and roll [was popular]. He did things my way, he stuck to his way and then had his career stay on.”
Alicia Keys Girl on Fire, 2012
“This next one is more women's empowerment, especially coming from an African-American woman, just celebrating herself, but it can apply to any one of us when we feel good about something we’ve done.”
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run, 1975
“I don’t see this as my life ending but it’s very romantic...I think it’s imagining that you’re just going to get in your car with your loved one and drive on a dusty road and just get out.”
