Never Underestimate a Great Playlist (Written by: Billy Winn)

Never underestimate a great playlist—it’s a thought I know well, having created and ardently refined a number of them since purchasing my iPod two years ago. But, what’s so great about a playlist? For someone like me who eats, sleeps, and breathes music, a playlist is an eXhibition of my musical insight—showing off my knowledge of the timeless, the classic, and the cutting edge. What’s also great is that for someone whose life does not revolve around music, a playlist gives them an opportunity to eXpress themselves through the music they hold dear. Music is one of the universe’s oldest languages, and it helps us to define ourselves and claim our individuality. Scrolling through the contents of an mp3 player or checking out the music section of one’s Facebook page can tell you a lot about a person—just by taking note of the music they listen to.

Even when we are not aware of it, we turn to music for comfort, peace of mind, and inspiration—and having an awesome playlist only heightens those times, helping to ease the pain or to energize the eXcitement.So, what makes a great playlist? Although I’ve been making them since I was introduced to Napster in high school, I didn’t become a playlist junkie until after getting my iPod. The convenience of downloading all the music I’ve ever loved and adding it to the compact little device soon led to organizing particular songs into soundtracks for my moods. I have the typical playlists—for working out and for parties—but, I also have playlists simply to match how I was feeling when I created them. For me, a great playlist is one where you never have to skip through. No matter what plays next, you’re happy to listen and eager to hear what comes after—even though you’ve heard all the songs dozens of times. Every time the songs play, it’s an all new eXperience—and if you’re a shuffler like I am, listening to your playlist will never happen the same way twice, though the way the songs make you feel will never change.

To read the entire Playlist article, click the link below:
http://www.etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2010/articles/04/2010_04_neverunderestimate.html