No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
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Since I spend the bulk of my days writing and musing and conferring in my local café (where I have a Wi-Fi account and a speedy connection), the music being played over the sound system has a certain degree of importance to my mood and well-being – which impacts how effectively I work.Yes, I can put on my Koss cans and block out the noise with a playlist of my own (and often do so). Still, there are times when I’m chatting with other regulars or taking a meeting, and what’s coming out of the speakers is inescapable – and often repeated ad nauseam. Thus, it isn’t altruism but expedience that has moved me to burn and deliver a number of CDs to the owners of the establishment, in hopes of creating a more genial atmosphere than that which is created when one of the barristas plays the second Norah Jones album (inoffensive, to be sure) or that ‘50s doo-wop collection (unquestionably, crucial music in the history of rock) or a greatest-hits assortment by legendary jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald – for the zillionth time over the course of an afternoon. And, in my smug, arrogant way, I do believe I’m adding a little variety and quality to the programming to the benefit of all. The results of my “generosity” have been mixed, to say the least. I happily provided my beloved “Garden State” and “Amélie” soundtracks, as well as Señor Coconut’s Kraftwerk tribute album. They have now been spun and re-spun over and over and over – to the point where I now harbor fantasies of killing the artists who created the music, as well as Zach Braff, Audrey Tautou, and Ralf & Florian – and the java jockeys at the controls of the CD player. Those albums are ruined for me – at least, until after a very long layoff. But the café’s employees refuse to stop playing them – and it would be less than polite to ask for the discs to be returned.Should I burn something new for them in hopes that they’ll ease off of the others? Sure, if I want to risk hating a few more favorites. Which brings me to the question: Have you ever heard an adored song too many times, turning your love to contempt?Just for spite, from the soundtrack of “Garden State,” I give you Coldplay’s “Don’t Panic”:
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