Led Zeppelin! I couldn't believe it. I put the coin in the trolley and headed for the fruit and veg...
Muzak - it's hard to even say the word without pulling your face into an expression of disgust! Everyone seems to be agreed that muzak is a curse of the modern age. I would have agreed until I came to live in Geneva.
I don't have a car so I spend much more time than I'd like food shopping. There are two main supermarket chains here which more or less dominate the market, Coop and Migros, and I prefer the Coop. Coop looks more modern, the food is a bit better presented, the staff don't scowl at you but most importantly they sell Lindt chocolate and Jamie Oliver's ranges which, for some reason, Migros does not! But on some days I'm racing for the checkouts before I become a complete emotional wreck!
On Wednesday, as got my trolley, I noticed they were playing Led Zepellin. Oh oh, this could be a bad day. Thank God it wasn't 'Kashmir' or I would have left there and then! (I love that song!) Then Nik Kershaw's I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me distracted me at the cereals- 'when was the last time I heard that old thing?!' - next, at the kitchen towels, a 70's disco hit - 'oh God yes, what was her name again?' - followed, near the shampoos, by Terence Trent D'arby's Sign Your Name by which time I'd not only forgotten what I was supposed to be looking for but I was having trouble not singing along!
I wonder who gets to decide on the playlist? Because whoever it is seems to be missing the point about background music. Musak may be mildly or even very irritating but the emotional volume is virtually mute. The Coop has a great line in 80's power ballads - Mister Mister's Kyrie is one of the most often played. I used to play that over and over too - it reminds me of being stuck at home for two or three weeks with chicken-pox (in my twenties!) and glad of a break from the stress of the office. Another popular track is Nickelback's Photograph -love it or hate it, it is a bit much when you're prodding the avocados!
But it was George Michael by the bin liners that got me, not so long ago. I'm afraid there are some songs I can't sing along to as they are just so emotional. There is a time and a place for them and it is not at 10 o'clock in the morning in a supermarket aisle! I love George Michael and I love this song, but a live version?! Try listening to this all the way through and imagine you've left your shopping list at home. The bin bags never made it to the checkout.
5 comments:
LOL! Felicity -- I tend to agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ditto to Lin Felicity, although I am new to your blog, I must admit, you are witty and funny in your philosophy and curiosities!
I chuckled all the way through this post!
Plus i'm so much in admiration of anybody who can remember the name of both artist and the track! I'm normally going "that's wotsit by thingummy!"
Lin, we are on the same wavelength! :)
Welcome to another Felicity! There aren't many of us around! Thanks for your comments!
Katherine, it's my one and only specialist subject!!
I too was amazed by being able to remember the artists, etc. When I was a kid and grocery shopping with my folks if a "good" song came on the muzak he'd grab my mom and they'd start dancing in the aisles (as a joke). When my kids were little sometimes the muzak would get to me and I'd have to just grab the kids, abandon the cart and leave the store. That still happens sometimes when the music grates on me (especially around the holidays with all the stupid xmas music to remind us to shop for gifts). Sorry for the rant, but loved the post!
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