Quick Self Test

So here's something that we all know exists but have probably never thought twice about. On your iPod, you have a "top 25 most played" list. Do you ever look at it?

Until recently (and by recently, I mean about 9 months ago), I had never even glanced once at mine. Then one night, one of the Virginians (ie. movie making artsy type, not one you would want looking at your embarrassing music) took a peak at my "top 25 most played."

Here's some of the beauties I had on my top list. Rap songs that would make true rap listeners cringe like: Swing, Cyclone and Krazy. And although I am sure this would be fine if I was in my teens, it is definitely not fine at 27 to have TWO Miley Cyrus songs, Taylor Swift and Duffy. Old hits like "Man on the Moon," "Long Day," and "How Far We've Come." And just some other random embarrassing ones like "Say Hey," "Let it Rock," "Single Ladies," "Poker Face," "Shake It," and "Don't Trust Me."

But by far, the winners as the most embarrassing songs to appear on my top 25 most played list is "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" and Ace of Base's "The Sign." I am pretty sure that either of those two groups would feel embarrassed that they made my top 25 in general and especially in the year 2010.

How did my playlist get to be so bad you ask? Well when training for my half marathons, I made some ridiculous playlists. After I had listened to every song I had a billion times over (obviouly not true because the most I have ever listened to a song is 59 times with "Don't Trust Me"), I needed a wide different variety for my music playlist. And these are the ones that, apparently, I could listen to over and over and not have to skip to the next song. Because who wouldn't want to listen to Jai Ho! 53 times over (and that makes it worthy of the #2 spot on my list) without skipping to the next song?

Why haven't I fixed the list if it's been 9 months? That is easier said than done. And I think I approached that task all wrong at first. For the longest time I just tried "not listening to embarrassing music." But that really didn't bring much change to my playlist. So now I have a new strategy. Make a new "Good Music" playlist, and the only songs allowed on are songs one would not be embarrassed about if they appeared on your top 25 list.

It's still a slow process, but producing SOME results. But here's the oddest thing. My most recent plugging in of the iPod and therefore updating of my iTunes top 25 playlist produced an entirely new #1 that was never in the running before. But I swear I have never listened to this song. But according to iTunes, I have listed to it 77 times? It is called "Break Me Out" by The Rescues. It was a free song of the week some weeks ago (which I always try to get because Emily did find ONE great band that way, Neon Trees). Maybe it was on my iTunes and my iPod got stuck on repeat with just that one song? But that still seems like a far fetch, anyone have any insight on this?

Anyways, go check out your "Top 25 Most Played" list. I would love to hear what embarrassing things you have lurking there!