iPod Ching
Forgive me if this meme is played out, but having done my share of casting the I Ching in college (and Magic 8 Ball before that, though I draw the line at chicken entrails) I couldn't resist the Magic Shuffle, wherein the shuffle function of your MP3 player provides answers to pre-selected faux-deep questions.
How does the world see you?
I'm Beginning to See the Light — Bobby Darin. Better late than never, I guess.
Will I have a happy life?
Don't Explain — BIllie Holliday. I guess that's, "No, but I'm OK with it." Maybe there's something to this oracle thing.
What do my friends really think of me?
So Beats My Heart for You — Tony Bennet. Wow. I would have settled for I Get a Kick Out of You.
Do people secretly lust after me?
The New Pollution — Beck. Sorry, girls, I'm married.
How can I make myself happy?
Can’t Go Back — The Descendents. OK, that's a little eerie. And kind of depressing.
What should I do with my life?
It's All Right/Sentimental Reasons — Sam Cooke. Appreciate wife more. Check.
Will I ever have children?
D'evils — Jay-Z. Oh, so Magic Shuffle has met Milo and Margalit already. Still I'm not sure manaically jumping on the couch necessarily means they're going to grow up to be crack dealers.
What is some good advice for me?
Don't Cry on My Shoulder —Sam Cooke. It's a cold world when your own oracle gives you the brush off. And another Sam Cooke song? That little randomizing problem doesn't seem to be going away.
How will I be remembered?
Bull Rider — Johnny Cash. Sure, but after Brokeback, this could mean anything.
What is my signature dancing song?
Tell it Like it Is — Aaron Neville. Hmm. Never thought of myself as the slow dancing type. Or the fast dancing type, for that matter. Who came up with these questions anyway?
What do I think my current theme song is?
Blue Motel Room — Joni Mitchell. Well, I am doing a lot of travelling these days, and I do miss Gina when I'm away. But somehow I don't think she has any pretty girls hanging on her boom-boom-pachyderm while I'm gone. I don't think.
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Just Like A Woman — Bob Dylan. Guess that answers the Bull Rider question.
What song will play at my funeral?
Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison. Apparently I'm going to be buried in a Starbucks. Anyway, I thought we discussed this already.
What type of women do you like?
Everybody’s Smoking Cheeba — The Donnas. Underage stoner punks? I'm taking the fifth.
What is my day going to be like?
You Wanna Get Me High — The Donnas. It's just possible that my oracle, in addition to having a malfunctioning shuffle feature, is pushing an agenda of its own.
So, have I interpreted correctly? Have you tried this too? Let me hear it.
Comments
How does the world see you?
What’s Up? -- 4 Non-Blondes
(not clear on what this might mean)
Will I have a happy life?
The Golden Age – Beck
(I guess not)
What do my friends really think of me?
Getchoo – Weezer
(?)
Do people secretly lust after me?
Somebody’s Miracle -– Liz Phair
(this can only mean one thing, my dreams have come true and Liz Phair secretly lusts after me)
How can I make myself happy?
Trim Up the Tree – Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
What should I do with my life?
Cowboy Take Me Away – The Dixie Chicks
(no, thanks)
Will I ever have children?
Rock the Casbah – The Clash
(?)
What is some good advice for me?
This Flight Tonight – Joni Mitchell
(?)
How will I be remembered?
Who You Are – Pearl Jam
(I will be remembered for being who I am? no duh.)
What is my signature dancing song?
I’m Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman – White Stripes
(this song is not really for dancing, and not good advice for dancing in most public situations)
What do I think my current theme song is?
Five Years – Seu Jorge
(untrue)
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Love – Victoria Williams
(untrue, but I wouldn’t think they were stupid)
What song will play at my funeral?
Feel Good Lost Reprise – Broken Social Scene
(I’m okay with that, but I’d prefer Anthems for a 17-Year Old Girl)
What type of women do you like?
Our Prayer/Gee – Brian Wilson
(not Liz Phair? Also, what does a wordless song suggest is the answer here? A woman who hums? Maybe this isn't too far off, it sounds smart and pretty)
What is my day going to be like?
Something – The Beatles
(My day will be Something? Thanks for the heads up, I'll watch out for Something.)
Posted by: jdt | March 30, 2006 7:04 PM
Another way the Brian Wilson song may be right -- it sounds older than me
Posted by: jdt | March 30, 2006 7:07 PM
Does it bother anyone else that most people now think that these quizzes are what "memes" are? Or am I just a know-it-all? I used the word meme the other day (in the Dawkins sense) and some girl was like "Oh, those quizzes on myspace?" Grrrr.
Posted by: lindsay robertson | March 31, 2006 10:33 AM
How does the world see you?
independence day - elliott smith.
??
Will I have a happy life?
everybody plays the mime - jonathan fire eater
doesn't sound good
What do my friends really think of me?
Ramp of Death - steve malkmus
now I'm scared. they're going to kill me, or maybe I'll kill them.
Do people secretly lust after me?
Don't let's start - TMBG
guess not.
How can I make myself happy?
Frank's wild years - tom waits.
What should I do with my life?
Slash your tires - Luna
maybe this means I should become more eco-friendly
Will I ever have children?
The happy birthday song - andrew bird
this really happened! gotta be a yes.
What is some good advice for me?
Le pornographe - georges brassens
I think it means I should look at more porn
How will I be remembered?
Blue arrangements - silver jews
?
What is my signature dancing song?
only in 3's - the breeders
this would have been better if the q had been about sex
What do I think my current theme song is?
keep it clean - camera obscura
this kinda works
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
shovel into spade kit - lilys
What song will play at my funeral?
entre nous - katerine
ok, I guess.
What type of women do you like?
stockholm syndrome - yo la tengo
I like the ones I have to take hostage first
What is my day going to be like?
song with long russian title by vladimir vysotsky about playing bobby fischer in chess. I hope that doesn't happen.
Posted by: James | March 31, 2006 2:01 PM
FYI: "Shuffle", at least on iTunes, isn't completely random -- at least not in default. There are different Shuffle settings, with different degrees of true randomness. My default would play some artists at a suspiciously high rate, as with genres, etc. So do it again after you've taken out all filters!
Posted by: john k. | March 31, 2006 10:31 PM
How does the world see you?
Rockin' in the Free World -- Neil Young.
Hell, yeah! Case closed.
Will I have a happy life?
60 Miles an Hour -- New Order.
Memo to self: It's not about me, it's about being there for you. And being careful when driving 60 miles an hour.
What do my friends really think of me?
Hey Hey My My (Into the Black) -- Neil Young.
The King is dead but he's not forgotten. More to the picture than meets the eye, indeed--though this isn't the story of Johnny Rotten.
Do people secretly lust after me?
Only in Dreams -- Weezer.
Ouch, baby. Very ouch.
How can I make myself happy?
I Wanna Live -- The Ramones.
Hmmm, this says too much and not enough. Boy, not the answer I was looking for.
What should I do with my life?
Buddy Holly -- Weezer.
Ah, yes. Fortunately, I don't care about what they say about us anyway. Isn't that right, Mary Tyler Moore?
Will I ever have children?
I Palindrome I -- They Might Be Giants.
After I die, they can have the money--and my CD collection. (Sorry, I'm not good at palindromes.)
What is some good advice for me?
We're the Replacements -- They Might Be Giants.
Uh ... right.
How will I be remembered?
Pipeline -- Dick Dale and the Del-Tones with Stevie Ray Vaughn.
At least I won't be alone.
What is my signature dancing song?
The Jessica Numbers -- The New Pornographers.
Hmm, let's see what we have here: "Let me through, paper and fist, Jessica numbers give me this. Let's fall, look where we land. Just write the answer on my hand." I'm stumped. Plus, anyone would look all Elaine Benes trying to dance to this.
What do I think my current theme song is?
Computerlove -- Kraftwerk.
Bingo! (Though I prefer the German version.)
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Ocean Drive -- FPU.
Mellow, melodic, wordless, Swedish, derivative. Sounds exactly like me.
What song will play at my funeral?
More Than This -- Roxy Music.
I guess we're assuming the existence of an afterlife, yeah?
What type of women do you like?
Anywhere With You -- Saves the Day.
I wouldn't say I'm as undiscerning as all that.
What is my day going to be like?
The New Face of Zero and One -- The New Pornographers.
Not encouraging.
Posted by: Spravka | April 3, 2006 5:22 PM
How does the world see you?
"Adam & Eve" - Ani Difranco
Will I have a happy life?
"It Looks Like You" - Evan Dando
What do my friends really think of me?
"Burn" - Ray LaMontagne
(ouch)
Do people secretly lust after me?
"Land Beyond" - British Sea Power
How can I make myself happy?
"Keepin It Real" - Mason Jennings
What should I do with my life?
"Gravy Train" - Ian Brown
Will I ever have children?
"Bathtub" - Sean Lennon
What is some good advice for me?
"Bye Bye Love" - The Cars
How will I be remembered?
"Life and Death of Mr. Badmouth" - PJ Harvey
(ouch.again.)
What is my signature dancing song?
"Blue Light" - Bloc Party
What do I think my current theme song is?
"Other Side" - David Gray
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
"Big Man with a Gun" - Nine Inch Nails
(definitely not)
What song will play at my funeral?
"Cherry Blossom Girl" - AIR
(excellent choice.)
What type of men do you like?
"Stacked Actors" - Foo Fighters
(so true, ipod, so very true.)
What is my day going to be like?
"Don't You Know" - Sleepy Jackson
Posted by: kristin | April 4, 2006 8:26 PM
I'll just share one.
What type of women do you like?
White Collar Boy -- Belle and Sebastian
This is no help. Do I like girls who would kill me with a look? Screaming suffragettes? Venuses in flares? O inscrutable iPod!
Posted by: Jim | April 12, 2006 12:04 PM