“The sound you make is muzak to my ears,” a lyric from John Lennon’s “How Do You Sleep.” This was an attempt by John to put down Paul’s music as silly and not important, no depth. This was after they broke up and there was a back and forth between them. Of course John’s retaliations were more caustic, as that is who he was. He also parodied Paul’s album “Ram,” by duplicating Paul’s pic with a ram and he posing with a pig. Paul’s response was more lighthearted as was Paul’s personality. He asked, “What’s wrong with that?” while defending silly love songs.
The point of this post is about “muzak.” I’ve been lucky in the places I’ve worked to always be in control of the music, even when I worked in corporate, (as long as I kept it low). When I opened my nursery, I also played my music, “rock ‘n roll.” When my kids were growing up, driving in my car, the rule was my car, my music. My wedding, I wrote the whole playlist for the guitarist at the cocktail hour to the band that played. I have a playlist in my will for my “celebration of life,” when I die. I need it around me like a warm blanket.
I don’t like “muzak”, which I identify as easy listening. It literally puts me to sleep. It drives me crazy. I mention this because when I volunteer at the garden shop they have specific playlists that they put on. Some of them I don’t mind because the songs bring back memories. I know exactly where I was when I heard them. Example, “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archie’s, (yes based on the comic book characters); “I’m Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede; “Build me up Buttercup” by The Foundations. These are fun songs for me, they remind me of middle school but I don’t want to hear them day after day, which is what happens at the shop. There are 3 of us who are rockers and three that want more easy listening. Thank God yesterday I was with the rockers. Although it was a bit softer, as long as The Rolling Stones and David Bowie with a dose of “Here Comes the Sun,” by George, I was happy.
I don’t know why this is so important to me. Most people could care less and they don’t even pay attention. I like to be around music I love. It can be oldies, Motown, Blues, I’ll listen and love all of it. Just don’t play me any “MUZAK”!