Great songs I could happily never hear again
I was looking at my CD collection the other day, lovingly developed over the past 20 years or so and wondered whether I would ever listen to them again. I can't bring myself to get rid of them, but I would guess that as the years go by they will start to look as archaic as 78s and 8-tracks. As I was musing on the future of the recorded song, it occurred to me that, whilst I've converted my CDs into iTunes, it wouldn't bother me if I didn't hear a small chunk of my collection again (I've just turned 50 this year and consideration for one's own mortality is a high priority at this time. It will pass). And, in particular, I wouldn't give a monkey's if I never heard some (universally accepted) great songs again.
Few would deny that 'Stairway to Heaven' is a great song. But I don't need to hear it again. Ever. Same with 'Smells Like Teen Sprit', 'Losing My Religion' and even 'Let It Be'. When one of these come onto the iPod I'm immediately hitting the 'fast forward' (or whatever Apple call it). Please tell me I'm not alone in this and it's not a mid-life crisis I'm going through.
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Isn't it
the overplayed so over familiar issue? Then again there are some great tunes we all know and hear all the time that I can tolerate. For example, Ticket To Ride - I don't get tired of. Maybe it's because it's not as simple a song as it seems, as in there's enough going on in the music to keep me interested (maybe it's the drums)even though I'm not too conscious of it? Or maybe because you don't hear older tunes like that so much any more since they are obviously not so well produced as more modern music, as the BBC tells us - see elsewhere. Generally though I go for (MP3 player-wise) the less obvious tracks off albums. So yes I agree. I think! Yes I have skipped such tracks as you refer to, but tend to avoid having them there to begin with.
The over-familiar issue
I agree. Some of my favourite albums barely get out of the sleeve these days, the result of 20-odd years of playing them to death.
STOP RIGHT NOW
I put a stop on all popular music a couple of years ago. For a month I listened only to classical, to try and fathom it all out. When I came back to popular for the first few days it was wonderful. Absence did make the heart grow fonder. I also became more selective in my listening habits. Having said that if anyone plays me Hey Jude ever again I'll have their guts for garters.
Bad news, I'm afraid, at least for your shelf space crisis.
It most definitely IS a mid-life thing. Ignore it, and it will go away.
The minute you purge your collection of any of those titles your addled 50-something brain has temporarily convinced you that you need never hear again, your synapses and hormones will rearrange themselves and you will be crawling up the wall with frustration until you can hear them blasting forth from your loudspeakers once more.
It is a mirage, a false perception, a wanton attempt by your subconscious to punish you for getting older. Never, repeat NEVER, get rid of any music you once loved to hear. Its time will come again.
(reaches for battered copy of The Valentyne Suite, draws curtains, pours large one, lowers stylus...... )