Buying Lipstick Because the Speakers Told Me So

I recently bought tickets to see Sleigh Bells at Terminal 5 in NYC and I was thinking, “How did I get into Sleigh Bells; where did I first hear them?” Then I remembered . . . I was watching a football game (a rare occurrence) and there was a car commercial that came on, and it was playing the Sleigh Bells’ song “Riot Rhythm.” It was a Honda CR-Z sport Hybrid commercial. Now, I may not have given two shakes about the car, but I cared deeply about finding out what song that was. I googled “new Honda car commercial music” or something to that affect and found the name, then went on over to iTunes and bought the song. The entire album was only six or seven bucks so I bought the entire album, Treats.

A few weeks later, I was watching MTV (a shameful occurrence) and a preview for that scandalous teen show, Skins, came on and guess what? The song playing in the commercial was “Kids,” also by the Sleigh Bells. I shrieked out of utter excitement and was so glad I had already purchased the album. And it was all because of a Honda commercial.

I am always on the prowl for new music to listen to. However, rather than someone telling me, “hey, you will like this,” there is something powerful about hearing a song somewhere and having it really catch your ear and with that, finding the artist, the album, and loving it. It becomes your little secret as you stand in the middle of Sephora, tracking down on your smartphone, the song currently playing and thinking that no one else even hears the music at all. Only you are paying any attention. I love that!

I have bought a lot of songs and whole albums in random locations. I bought Natalia Kills album, Perfectionist in Dylan’s Candy Bar on the East Side. Uhhh, I just lied to you. I did not buy the whole album there. I bought the single, “Zombie” in Dylan’s Candy Bar after hearing it on their Halloween-themed track list. The whole album I bought in Victoria Secret about 10 minutes later.

I bought Ne-Yo’s “Beautiful Monster” at a strip club in Times Square. That is also a lie. In the club, I was told to not take out my phone because the bouncers were on alert to anyone taking pictures of the dancers. So, I bought the song in the cab on the way home.

I bought the Beastie Boys’ song, “Sabotage” at a Lady Gaga concert in Fort Lauderdale. Gaga had not come out yet so it was still the part of the concert before the main performance, even before the opening acts when the venue just plays music from their speakers as everyone finds their seats.

Many television commercials, such as the Honda commercial have inspired me to buy music. I bought M83’s “Midnight City” from the Victoria Secret commercial, “Galang” by M.I.A after hearing it in a car commercial at the movie theater. Music is all over.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been shopping with a friend, or out at a bar, and I have totally secluded myself from the conversation in order to search vigorously for the song playing and download it for my very own. I bought “Breathe (2 AM)” in a bar in Brooklyn on a date (clearly the conversation must not have been that stimulating).

I used to buy a lot of songs at the gym. The gym used to have their own music station (before they got all fancy where you had to log in, pick a station, etc.). On this station, it just played a mess of random music videos. It was an extensive variety. I bought “Part of Me” by Chris Cornell, “Energetic” by BoA, “Blindfold Me” by Kelis, “One Day” by Matisyahu and “’Till I Collapse” by Eminem.
The point being, music is really everywhere. Department stores, restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops. I have often been convinced to buy something at a store based on the music playing. I consider it a sign. If Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” comes on, I know it is not the right time to be shopping. If “D’Yer Mak’er” by Led Zeppelin comes on, I’ll take one of everything.

I remember I was waiting on a date. It was a second date that I soooooo did not want to be on. I was sitting in the front of the restaurant, the “lounge area” (yah, it was that kind of place) and “Dancing Days” came on. Right there, sitting on that over-priced couch, I took a big sigh and felt better about the whole thing. Sure, I told this guy I did not want to ever go out on a date with him again and avoided his kissing attempts like the plague, but still—everything was going to be ok. “You know it’s alright/I guess it’s alright . . .”

So, the next time you are being dragged shopping for new clothes by a spouse, or watching crappy TV, or waiting for a concert to start, listen to the music around you. You may discover your new favorite song.