# Are your music listening habits cyclical and what sparks them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-music-listening-habits-cyclical-and-what-sparks-them/127349 "2002-09-06T21:52:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-music-listening-habits-cyclical-and-what-sparks-them/127349/1 "2002-09-06T21:52:07Z")
I swear I have the most erratic music listening habits ever. The other day I heard RHCP’s _Other Side_ and remember how much I love the Peppers. So I listened to every RHCP song I have on my 'puter that day. Sometimes it only takes for a song to get stuck in my head. For example, I was humming Jamiroquai’s _You Give Me Something_ and the next thing I knew I was listening to hours of Jamiroquai. Humming Nirvana’s _Lithium_ sparked a weird day of music for me. That song’s in a quirky playlist that includes songs by Hole, Garbage, Marilyn Manson, Staind, Linkin Park and Presidents of the USA. Sometimes it’s an article or picture. I was reading something about Thesolonius Monk and listened to nothing but (real) jazz for three days straight. Sean Combs and Eve are on the cover of some magazine now so, of course, I found myself listening to the first Notorious B.I.G. and then some songs by The Roots. (Bonus points as to why that picture reminded me of The Roots) Sometimes it’s a Cafe Society thread. There was a greatest hip hop beat thread (I think that’s the title) posted. After reading it, I listed to not-quite-old school (mid to late 90s) that day. Sometimes it’s background music. I was in the card store a couple of weeks ago and _Fur Elise_ comes on. Three days later, I finally finish listening to classical and baroque music. HBO used a Portishead song in their commercials for _Hysterical Blindness_. Luckily I don’t have a big Portishead collection of songs, but you know what I listened to the next day. When _Big Daddy_ was in the theatres, I couldn’t get enough of The Pharcyde. Don’t even mention Weezer around me. Too late, now _The Good Life_’s on. So what sparks your music listening cycles (or am I just weird)? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-music-listening-habits-cyclical-and-what-sparks-them/127349/2 "2002-09-06T22:31:37Z")
I play songs from my mp3 collection at random. Makes for an interesting mix. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-music-listening-habits-cyclical-and-what-sparks-them/127349/3 "2002-09-07T04:39:10Z")
I listen to music constantly and will most likely make a foray through about half of my music collection that’s readily accessible within a week. When I get one particularly amazing CD that’s all I listen to for a few days and then it’s on my playlist for a month or so after that. Earlier I was listening to Hits From the Bong by Cypress Hill, then I went on to Skinny Puppy later on in the day, and DMX, then some Trance, then Amon Tobin, and now Strapping Young Lad. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-music-listening-habits-cyclical-and-what-sparks-them/127349/4 "2002-09-07T05:26:44Z")
I also have a bizarre mix of taste in music, I suppose. I think I like a little from most everything, except maybe C & W. Movies or tv commercials can spur an interest. I have a collection of opera from movies, too. I miss the old Napster. ☹