Last week, during a discussion about immersive journalism, someone mentioned blogging about giving up football. No chance, I said. Ever since I can remember, football has been a huge part of my life. And with the Premiership title race and relegation places still to be decided – not to mention the FA Cup and Champions League finals – I couldn’t even imagine not knowing the all-important scores.
Afterwards, though, I had a thought. If not football, then why not give up my other great love – music.
Thing is, with modern computers, iPods and digital radios, we are constantly surrounded by music. I can’t remember the last time I sat down just to listen to an album by anyone without it simply becoming background music, the soundtrack to whatever essay I was writing or websites I was visiting at the same time. The other day, as I was setting off on the five-minute walk to Sainsbury’s, I picked up my mp3 player without even thinking. I couldn’t say if it was out of habit or out of necessity; either way, some part of me just couldn’t bear to be without music for all of about 15 minutes.
Of course, to properly “give up” music altogether, I’d have to become a recluse and live with earplugs in 24/7. So, what I’m actually giving up is actively listening to music. My mp3 player, the media player on my laptop, even the old stereo downstairs are all out of bounds for the next three weeks.
However, it’s not as simple as that, either. As an active musician, I often go to gigs not to watch bands, but because I’m actually in one of the bands playing. Because of this, I also need to practice, so for the sake of my bandmates (and any unsuspecting audiences) I will still be allowed to make music. Perfectly fair if you ask me.
Also, as a radio journalism student, I will still be allowed to listen to the radio, though I will be on a strict diet of TalkSport and Five Live rather than Radio 1 and Kiss (yeah, right). I will also be allowed to go to any places that play music (pubs, clubs, my Students’ Union) purely because it’s impossible to go to such a place without being subjected to music (and this is the important part) of someone else’s choosing.
So, those are the rules, and this is it. The beginning of the next three weeks of my life, and the end (for now) of my actively listening to music. This won’t be pleasant.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: clubs, football, giving up, iPod, music, musician, pubs, radio, three weeks
To quote a certain long-haired bastad,
“I’m a vegetarian, I’m not strict. I eat fish. And duck, but they’re nearly fish aren’t they… and pigs, cows sheep – anything that lives near water…”
I think you should invest in some ridiculously big headphones (you know like Jon the SU president) and make it a rule that you have to put them on when in places where music can’t be avoided. Then will have ridicule as well as boredom to inspire you!