mixtapes & playlists

Where did the beauty of making playlists and mix tapes come up? Actually, when did it leave and become so digitalized? I kinda wish technology delayed just a little bit so that I could still experience the feeling of getting an actual mix-tape from a boy. Then again, if I really wanted technology to advance that slowly, we wouldn't even have gotten as far as iPods.

Mix tapes are a wonderful innovation. I could write a letter, but there's no narrative Mr. Darcy reading it aloud to actually convey the emotions. Whether it be a handwritten letter or an e-mail, the emotions don't get across as eloquently as music does. Even if the song isn't specific, the meaning behind the lyrics throw out a much larger net than a personalized letter. Maybe that's why I can find myself listening to one song on repeat for an entire day. I would not stick to lyricists, but any musical composer is a better writer than me. 

The art of making a mix tape, to have one song lead perfect to another, is such an admirable skill. Much more efficient and better than writing a letter. 

But like any speaking person, a mix tape could get long winded. Could just be creepy if they decide to put a song like "Invisible" by Clay Aiken. Like letters, there is a perfect length in correlation to content. For me, a mix tape shouldn't be more than 18-25 songs. A letter shouldn't take me more than five minutes to read. Anything over that seems a bit pretentious, overbearing/overeager and stalkerish. Of course, you could send someone a mix tape and they completely get your intentions wrong. For example, when I sent you "Turning Tables" by Adele it wasn't about me being heart broken, but about becoming independent. So in both cases of letters and songs, I always end up holding back. I make playlists for myself though... like I'm writing letter to myself, writing entries that the intended never reads, and eventually move on to other feelings.

If only I could send handwritten letters that open up to the sound of musical components. Oh they make annoying greeting cards like that already. And e-cards. Damn it all.