Pandora’s Box
I teach; Pandora learns. It’s one of the wonders of the internet.
I no longer live at the mercy of local FM stations. Pandora gets to know my preferences — what kind of music I like. It studies the harmony, the tones, the syncopation, the groups — and delivers what it thinks I’ll want.
So I start here: build a channel for me around CCR, the Eagles, The Allman Brothers, and Jimmy Buffett. Songs keep being presented, and I can give them a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Pandora keeps learning.
Pandora now knows that just because the Zac Brown Band is in doesn’t mean I want a bunch of country. And it knows that anything by the Eagles is in — even if they unearth some previously undiscovered recording by the group of, say, “Muskrat Love.” Just no Captain and Tennille, please.
Right now Pandora is playing “Love Me Do.” That’s pretty safe. Have I ever given The Beatles a thumbs down?
So the songs I want to hear keep coming: James Taylor . . . Jack Johnson . . . Skynyrd . . . CCR . . . The Allman Brothers . . . Buffett . . .The Beatles . . . Neil Young . . . U2 . . . Fleetwood Mac . . . Amos Lee . . . Three Dog Night . . . and, of course, the Eagles.
I love Pandora.
But the temptation is that I start wanting my whole world to be like Pandora. Then we’re talking about Pandora’s Box.
To build on my previous post, if I’m not careful I’ll expect everything in the church’s assembly to fit my preferences. In my case: wintery!
A sign of growth in my life is when I begin wanting things because of how they bless others. I refuse to allow the assembly to become my Pandora Worship Station — because I know others won’t be able to find their language, their voices. I quit going just so I can “be fed”; I develop the discipline of going so I can be a blessing, an encouragement, to others.
“A sign of growth in my life is when I begin wanting things because of how they bless others.” Yep. That says it all. Just think what would happen if we all lived that way? Hmmmm….
Thumbs up. ~ Mel
Ha! Ok, I’m starting Mel’s Pandora Blog Station. I’ll put posts like this on the list.
I don’t know, I always thought that whole, “looking to the interests of others” thing referred to situations not involving worship.
The serious part of your post aside (though it was good!), I’m thinking your Pandora stations are ones I’d love to listen to. GREAT taste in music!
I personally listen to a station built around The Weepies and Iron & Wine. If you ever feel like experimenting, start a new station based on either of these and see what you think.
Jamey – Set it up this AM and have been listening to it. Very nice. Not Neil Young nice . . . but nice nevertheless. I’ll be returning to it. Hope you’re well!
Laura – Glad you like the music. You’ve certainly had to listen to a lot of it in class!
Ok
I am in the great white north and wonder two things. Church here is soooo different than Church in the south, I had forgotten. Missin Acappella and hugs. Not much of either here. Also, what the heck is a Pandora? How do I get my music on it? Love the idea. We live 12 miles from Interlochen, world class music school and camp. So I get a variety of music to pick and enjoy. So tell me what is Pandora
Ha! Hey, Laura. Good to hear from you. “Hugs” from Highland.
Go to http://www.pandora.com. It’s a guaranteed way to listen to “good” music. (And everyone gets to define what they mean by good.)
Pandora is great…but lately mine keeps getting “stuck”….have I mixed too many stations, or not enough?