After months of flirting, Spotify finally stole my heart from Pandora and we moved in together. Pandora isn't even allowed space on my phone anymore, though I did use my "station seeds" to figure out all the music that I liked since my knowledge of musicians was minimal.
That actually ended up being a huge bonus to switching, because now instead of "dub electronica" I can tell you that my focus music station is mostly Lindsey Stirling and Alex Clare. I also figured out how to use Spotify's search and started checking out their "similar music" suggestions at the bottom of my playlist and it is glorious.
I'm super proud of my music stations. They are...
And, of course, there's Focus Music but I already told you about that and it still needs work before it's as fully fleshed out as it was on my Pandora account.
Now that I've finally converted, I can't imagine ever going back to Pandora or buying music. I'm even paying for Spotify premium to get rid of ads, which is totally worth it because I have so much control over my music now. No annoying acapella guy trying to sneak into my instrumentals station, and no Santa Baby in my Christmas music (shudder - I cannot tell you how much I hate that song. I'd rather listen to Dominick the Donkey on repeat for 5 hours than just one rendition of Santa Baby).
That actually ended up being a huge bonus to switching, because now instead of "dub electronica" I can tell you that my focus music station is mostly Lindsey Stirling and Alex Clare. I also figured out how to use Spotify's search and started checking out their "similar music" suggestions at the bottom of my playlist and it is glorious.
I'm super proud of my music stations. They are...
Kid Music!
All the best of my favorite Disney movies. I was a little snobby when I started and only allowed Pocahontas, Mulan and a couple choice others in, but gradually I've been adding goofy fun songs, too, so now there's all the villain songs from Ursula to Gaston to voodoo guy from Princess and the Frog. I actually think the villain songs are my favorite right now, though Prince of Egypt is still the most beautiful soundtrack.Blood Pressure Reduction
This started because of one amazing song I thumbsed-up on Pandora that took the dwarf song from The Hobbit (omg) and made it into a full length song with Native American drums (le sigh). I tracked down that song, discovered that the artist, David Arkenstone (OMG OMG OMG!) has a bajillion albums, they're all mood-themed (Native Dreams, Fairy Garden, etc), AND did some of the music for World of WarCraft. New favorite artist right here. I've since added some Enya and a yoga album based on Native American flute music, but it's still basically David Arkenstone radio because he's amazing.Epic Instrumentals
Lord of the Rings soundtrack, some video game music (Skyrim and Elder Scrolls) and Escala. You know, for when I need to feel like my life is more exciting than just sitting at a computer moving a mouse around.Nobody Gets Me
All my favorite angsty music from high school and college. I started with 3 Days Grace because they're the epitome of that mindset with "I Hate Everything About You" and pretty much every song on the album Life Starts Now. I've also got Green Day, Sick Puppies, Shinedown, and Papa Roach. Come to think, I also really need to add Five Finger Deathpunch, who has a permanent place in my heart because of these lyrics, "We're all just chalk lines on the pavement." Yeah, man, I feel you. Life is pain.Musicals and Melancholy
This used to have various sad-sounding love ballads, but those got kicked off and now it's just musicals, but nothing peppy or happy. We're talking Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, Sweeney Todd, and Phantom of the Opera.Traditional Christmas and Alternative Christmas
Traditional Christmas is all based on the music my mom played for our childhood Christmases, which means smooth rich voices singing classic songs. Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams. Confession: Josh Groban is on there too, but no country music stars!!! Contemporary artists only get on if they sing the original song exactly, no modern embellishments. Alternative Christmas is everything that's musically similar to Carol of the Bells (love how creepy it is!), plus some Christmas rock/metal, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.My Sister Has Better Taste in Music Than Me
Uhhh... I couldn't tell you what the theme is for this one, but I stole almost all of it from Sister3 and then just added a few James Bond songs. It's got Sia and it's also got Nancy Sinatra. Just lots of eclectic, beautiful things outside of my usual. I tried tracking down some of the artists and with the exception of Sia (who is amazing), I really only liked one or two songs by them, so I didn't add more.And, of course, there's Focus Music but I already told you about that and it still needs work before it's as fully fleshed out as it was on my Pandora account.
Now that I've finally converted, I can't imagine ever going back to Pandora or buying music. I'm even paying for Spotify premium to get rid of ads, which is totally worth it because I have so much control over my music now. No annoying acapella guy trying to sneak into my instrumentals station, and no Santa Baby in my Christmas music (shudder - I cannot tell you how much I hate that song. I'd rather listen to Dominick the Donkey on repeat for 5 hours than just one rendition of Santa Baby).
What do you use to listen to music? Any suggestions for my stations?
