Where Did All The Music Go?

I don’t know when my life turned into one big reminder that I am middle-aged, but that is what it seems to be reduced to lately. I have a pretty extensive collection of LPs and even 45s from back in the day. I still have my turntable and even a 45 adapter. In your face! But even I am aware that records are out of date, unless you call them vinyl in which case they are hip. I’ve begrudgingly admitted that cassette tapes, which were cutting edge technology when I was in college, are gone and barely remembered. That wouldn’t be such a big deal, maybe, if I wasn’t a Deadhead. Yes, I tie dyed and twirled with the best of them, several of whom read this blog and can attest to my twirling skills and my uncanny ability to absolutely rock peasant skirts with bells and fringe moccasins. The fact is, all of my good Grateful Dead music is on cassette. That’s the way we rolled back then (pardon the pun) because The Dead allowed people to record their live music for free and cassette tapes were a basic unit of currency among Deadheads. Bygones.

tape

Believe it or not, our Toyota still had a cassette tape deck. OK, maybe I didn’t use it that often, but the point is that it was there and available if I needed it. We also had a 6-disc CD changer. Well now we’re tooling around in the Subaru, and everything has gotten a lot more complicated. No tape deck at all; definitely not. When I realized it only played one CD at a time I was incredulous…and Dan slowly explained to me that no one uses CDs any more. Music is downloaded. Duuuh. I clutched my beloved overstuffed bag of CDs closer to my heart and told him I didn’t want to hear any more of his lies.

Well it turns out that what the Subaru does have are USB ports. Yep-a-rooni. So my entire “traveling CD” collection has been reduced down to a fraction of a USB drive, and popped into the port in the car. OK, it’s less bulky, I’ll give you that much, but now I have to browse through a directory to find the music I want. I know some people are multi-taskers, but I am of the school of thought that driving requires my full and undivided attention. I don’t drive and text, I don’t drive and talk on the phone, and I definitely don’t browse a directory of hundreds of CDs while I’m driving. Hell, I don’t even use the handy search function when I’m driving.

This means that changing music requires that I be stopped at a red light, or that I pull over. Then there is the question of satellite radio. I understand that a subscription would put the world of music at my fingertips, but between satellite TV, land line phone (can’t give it up, no way, no how), cell phone, air card for my iPad, etc., etc., I’m really not that keen on yet another pay subscription service.

It’s just all gotten so complicated. My basic human rights, such as buying tasty coffee beverages at convenience stores, and listening to music, are becoming inaccessible due to technology. I WILL have music! But only if I’m lucky and hit a long red light.

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20 Responses to Where Did All The Music Go?

  1. The Regular Guy NYC says:

    I got rid of all that stuff and now have all my music on my phone (Spotify) my CD collection, and Ipod. I have Sirious at home and love it too!

  2. Pam Waits says:

    I agree there are a lot of changes and it’s tough to keep up but there’s a bright side too. I used to talk to myself but now with Siri on my phone, I can talk to him. What a wonderful world!

  3. mimijk says:

    I’ve got my vinyl, turntable, 45s and cassettes..I’ve got eight tracks somewhere and let’s not even discuss CDs. But I have to admit that I found the USB port and happily listen to my own playlist – when I’m not listening to NPR (which further proves that I’m getting old)

    • Jill Foer Hirsch says:

      I don’t know Mimi, considering you’re the one who had to teach me stuff about WordPress, AND you found your car’s USB port all on your own, I think you’re ahead of the curve!

  4. jjlhicks says:

    Now I know why I continue to drive a 2000 Toyota Sienna minivan – it has both a multi CD player AND a cassette player. USB ports? NOT in my vehicle – never!! But let’s be honest – I also like not having a car payment.

    • Jill Foer Hirsch says:

      I loved not having a car payment. Alas, it was not meant to be. And never say never-your next new car will have a USB port and all kinds of other crap whether you want it or not!

  5. katecrimmins says:

    I’ve turned into my mother who was terrified of drive-throughs (you had to know what you want!). My car had gizmos and hide-holes that I don’t know what they are for. Probably USB ports and I know somewhere there is a thingy to pop in a cell phone. I need a whole semester of “How to use today’s electronics” and I need it now!

    • Jill Foer Hirsch says:

      I need tutelage as well…and I was too impatient with the sales guy to pay attention when he went through all this stuff. Plus he had bad breath, so I wasn’t willing to get too close, and with my hearing being what it is…well, let’s just say I need to learn how to read lips!

  6. May all the lights be red when you want them to be!

  7. Lisa says:

    I am keeping my landline too… It’s for the telemarketers.

  8. Actually cassettes are on the rebound for mixtapes, on a par with your retro vinyl phenom. But it helps to have a 2005 or older Toyota fo yo mixtapes. We’ve been ignoring our trial sat radio subscription (soon to expire), and the sat radio monopoly’s pleas (also prayerfully soon to expire), in favor of a couple of decent commercial-free local “HD Radio” channels. And I also still have my unfashionable data-sipping (even on 4G) BlackBerry, even with a few useful apps.

    • Jill Foer Hirsch says:

      Let me just say this Cruisin/Cousin Dan: WTF? There’s only room for one funny writer in this family!! And, uh, I guess it might be you. 🙁

  9. bethteliho says:

    I’m so behind on the times I didn’t even know about this USB port thing for music. I’m learning about from you, who is doing a post on how behind on the times you are! Ironic. I think my husband knows these things. He is able to listen to music from his iphone in the car somehow. It was a small miracle I even figured out how to get music on my phone.

    • Jill Foer Hirsch says:

      Yikes, you’re making me feel better! Does it help if I tell you I don’t even have a smart phone yet? Well, not particularly smart…sticking with that Blackberry I’ve had since the beginning of time. And the thing is, I love using a computer, and can do all kinds of crazy complicated things in Excel, but I can’t operate a freakin’ phone? Hmm, I feel another post coming on…

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