Pop stars and chipmunks have invaded my iPod. Unbeknownst to me, my iTunes music library has been compromised. This is what happens when the computer-savvy primary school population surpasses their parent’s understanding of technology.
When I find myself in times of trouble, Paul McCartney comes to me, speaking words of wisdom: let it be. Music is where I go if the world is too noisy. I have a song for every emotion. Until recently, I had digital play list folders specifically categorized by mood, tempo and even occasion. There was dinner music (Motown to cook by, Van Morrison to dine to), there was Kelly Blues (pity party music to make me cry on purpose). I have punk for anger management and Canadian folk music to ground me with great stories. The ’80s collection lets me relive nightclubs and big hair without having to attend to either. My lights out tunes are of the romantic genre. Hello Dave Matthews (meow). Throw in a little Sade, turn down the lights and well, um, to be honest, the Carpenter and I usually fall asleep. Sigh. When you have a 6am hockey practice the next morning what are you going to do, get romantic? Fat chance.
I have tunes for the bathtub, so that I can ignore the repeated interruptions of my solitude with dumb questions like, “Mom, have you seen my hamster?” My meditations podcasts help me gain perspective at 3am when the worry of my reality seeps into my sleep. Empowerment music is my out-of-body, sing-like-nobody-can-hear-you songs with power rock ballads and gritty blues, to kick my confidence into high gear. This is best played after you’ve run 20 errands in 40 minutes and still arrive to the schoolyard to pick up your children on time. Boo-yah.
Imagine my surprise when, after a recent upload of iTunes music, I came to find my play lists had gone awry. Not paying attention, my computer began silently transferring songs from the family iTunes account on to my precious iPod.
Of course, I didn’t realize it until I was having a day where I needed the solace of my headphones and serious soul music. What I got was Alvin and the Chipmunks, the soundtrack, no less. I jumped out of my skin. Pushing the forward button, I went to the next song. Horror of horrors, it was Justin Beiber. I scanned through the songs, because I knew Janis Joplin was in there somewhere, and I had a date with Bobby McGee. First I had to sort through Jonas Brothers and High School Musical. I was fuming when I discovered Serena Ryder was behind Selena Gomez. Damn the Disney music factory.
Here comes the sun. That week iTunes released the music of the Beatles for download. That was music to my ears. Surely Santa would support my new Christmas wish: iPod gift cards. Abbey Road would be mine. As the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death approaches, I remember the day as if it were a dream. I was 10. A piece of my childhood innocence was lost. Our world changed.
Now I can invite my children to an Octopus’s Garden, in the shade. It’s time we all lived in a Yellow Submarine and imagine all the people, living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. Let the download begin.