Counting Down my iTunes Play Count (VANITY) -- Day #5 of 50

AC's iTunes Directory | 5/21/2021 | Alberta's Child

[Alberta's Child]

I recently purchased a new computer, and over the last few weeks I've been transferring files from the old one to the new one. While doing this I've been combing through some of these files and checking to ensure that they will work with new versions of various applications I commonly use.

One of the things that caught my eye was the "Play Count" number for each of the MP3 and MP4 files I am moving from one computer to the other. As I went through these tracks on iTunes, I decided to rank them in the order of their play frequency to see if there were any interesting patterns in the number of times I've played them over the years. Then I figured -- based on some of the great conversations I've had over the years with Freepers who are music buffs -- I'd take the Top 50 songs on this list and present them here on a series of FR threads. I'll post them here on a new thread that compiles the growing list one day at a time over the next couple of months. I'll probably only post them on weekdays and may miss a day or two here and there, so it will take at least ten weeks to do this.

One of the things I noticed is that these songs do not necessarily show up in an accurate order of preference for me. Sometimes a song ranks high on the list just because I downloaded it a long time ago, and it's been played more times than others that were downloaded more recently. Other songs have been played more frequently because they’re on multiple playlists I've set up over the years -- Iconic Classic Rock, Hits for the Highway, Country Classics, Best of the 80s, etc. Over a period of years it's also possible that longer songs are less likely to appear higher on the list because they're more likely to get cut off before it plays completely -- when I'm playing them in my vehicle and stopping on a road trip, for example -- and therefore not registering as an additional "Play" in iTunes.

Any insight and commentary would be welcome! Feel free to post items from your own "Favorite Songs" list on these threads. You don't even have to post about your favorite song of all time right now. We have fifty days to go -- so take your time and consider posting one from your digital music collection that roughly corresponds to the list I post here. What's ranked #46 in your list of most frequently played songs on your app with iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc.? #40? #35? What is it about that song that makes it stand out to you over many years? This could be an interesting series of threads, for sure.

Have fun with this, folks -- and don't forget to make your contribution for the FR quarterly fundraiser!

[Alberta's Child]

TODAY’S ADDITION TO THE LIST:

#46 -- "Mother" by Pink Floyd ... Click Here

This addition to the list caught me by surprise. I was never much of a Pink Floyd fan, and ten years ago I wouldn't have necessarily thought this was one of my favorites from that band. It made it into the Top 50 because I've had a digital version of it for years, and it's grown on me over time. I've always found the guitar work on it entrancing. The acoustic guitar start, the rising crescendo of the music, and the introduction of the electric guitar about halfway through the song all give it a definitive "Pink Floyd" sound.

Link to Day #4 (Song #47)

[Alberta's Child]

Ping!

[Alberta's Child]

These lyrics have always made me think of Donald Trump in recent years. LOL.

Mother, should I build the wall?

Mother, should I run for president?

Mother, should I trust the government?

[Alberta's Child]

THE LIST TO DATE:

#50 -- "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac
#49 -- "Ventura Highway" by America
#48 -- "Run" by George Strait
#47 -- "Melissa" by the Allman Brothers
#46 -- "Mother" by Pink Floyd

[blueunicorn6]

My favorite song is Muskrat Love by The Admiral and Toenail.

It always makes me cry.

“Nibblin on bacon, chewin on cheese”

[Alberta's Child]

LOL. I never even knew the lyrics to that song.

[rlmorel]

For me:

#47: "Mercy Steet" by Peter Gabriel

#46: "New World Symphony-Largo" by Dvorak

[Alberta's Child]

Nice eclectic mix of music there!

"Mercy Street" sounds a lot like another Peter Gabriel song. I'm trying to remember it, but I can't.

[Chode]

Danzig - Mother

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHvnz-OEH_M

[SamAdams76]

My #46 is "I.G.Y." by Donald Fagen.

I.G.Y. stands for International Geophysical Year which occurred during 1957-58. The song (released in 1982) is a wry take on the optimism that people during that time had of the future. The future looked very bright from that period and Fagen makes fun of it.

Still, it's a great song and one that actually gets better the more you hear it (like most Steely Dan songs). It's also got one of those ear worm hooks so if you know the song, you probably won't get it out of your head for a while (sorry about that).

As for Pink Floyd, I have always been a fan of their music, even the very early stuff with Syd Barrett. They put out a box set on compact disc in the early 1990s called "Pulse" and it actually had a battery in the spindle that powered a flashing LED light. It became a curiosity in my home because it went on blinking for a good number of years. I think it might have lasted close to 10 years!

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks for that link. It’s a good tune — and it does have a “Steely Dan” sound to it!

[Kommodor]

Ack! Promise, I’ll catch up sometime later today (sigh).

[Alberta's Child]

No worries! LOL. No new song will be posted today. I think I’ll confine this to just weekdays for now. :-)

[Kommodor]

Hokay, I’ll try to catch up tomorrow. Hahaha.

(Yay, Monday. Yay work.)