I got a super email from Monty the other day. He was writing to talk about Radio Ga Ga, but he cut himself off one word into his second sentence. I think he was going to elaborate about the greatness of Radio Ga Ga, but he got distracted because as he was writing, Radio Ga Ga started playing on his MP3 player. Random Queen excitement!
I like the Queen portion of the story, but I don't know if I am so excited about the MP3 part. I realize that lots of people have embraced the MP3 lifestyle, but I just don't get it. I mean, I understand the concept of MP3s, but I don't understand the appeal. Saying MP3 to me is like saying recycling to Montgomery Burns. I have to sound the word out carefully, and then look it up in my mental dictionary, only to find that it isn't listed.
Anyway, as I was wondering if I should add MP3 to my vocabulary, I thought of this: A friend of a friend once tried to throw me out of his house for not having an MP3 player.
Last spring, I ended up at the home of someone who is modern. He may be even be ultra-modern. He has a web server in his living room. He likes technology very much. We were talking about music, because that's what I do, and I happened to mention that I don't own a CD player. The topic came up innocently enough, if memory serves. I believe he asked me if I had a certain CD, and it started the conversation that I have had many, many times.
Me: "I don't have a CD player."
Modern Guy: (astonished) "What? How can you live without a CD player?"
Me: (all sensible) "I do okay."
Modern Guy: "How do you listen to music?"
Me: "I have a turntable."
Modern Guy: "Yes, but...how do you get anything new?"
Me: "You can get most new stuff on vinyl. I don't even listen to that much new stuff."
Modern Guy: (getting desperate) "On your computer. Do you listen to CDs on your computer?"
Me: "My CD-ROM drive is broken."
Modern Guy: (grasping for hope) "Do you at least have an MP3 player? Please tell me you have some sort of digital format."
Me: (ready to antagonize) "I have an 8-track player."
Modern Guy: "That's analog!" (pointing at the front door) "Get out of my house."
He did retract his statement, but I was a little troubled. His wife had tried to throw me out the previous day for talking about Quadraphonic LPs. Those two are projecting a negative image for all digital formats! If the enjoyment of CDs and MP3s causes the brain to automatically generate hatred toward 8-tracks, you can just count me out.