Bobbyisms: Making a killer playlist

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. The paper has given me this space to share with you anything I please. Crazy? Or just crazy enough to work?

Most of the time, my mind is wrapped up in music. I listen to music while I do nearly any and everything in a given day (as I write this, I'm listening to Peter Gabriel's So), and I know I'm not the only one. So I got to thinking about these 500 words I've been given, and figured that if I could use our time here to help you enjoy music a little bit more, I'll think it a success. One thing I've observed with most people is that they have no idea how to make a decent playlist. Whether it's music on the computer, on the Internet, or just a disc they've burned for the car, people are always happy to share their latest finds. But like everything else in life, why not put a little effort into the presentation? There is a lot of things to consider when you're throwing together a playlist, like tempo, pitch, energy, and so on. Maybe you already have a knack for combining these elements; don't get me wrong, your mixes might already be pretty awesome. Even if that's so, trust me - you might make a huge improvement to your next playlist with a few tips.

1. Keep it short.
Sure, discs can hold a full 80 minutes of music, but if you want to keep your audience interested, don't drag your playlist out. Personally, I'm far more likely to get tired of a long-winded album than a short, exciting one. Keep it short and sweet, and see if you feel the same. Best case scenario? The mix you just listened to was so good, it feels like it ended way too fast... so you play it again.

2. Variety is key.
There's no need to name names, but we all know at least one person who loves a band like Nickelback, and supplements their collection with albums by Seether, Hinder, Three Days Grace, Default, all the colours of the rainbow! Seriously, though, these people are oblivious to what variety actually is, and you're just as bad if you think you can't mix rock with Motown and hip-hop and whatnot.

3. Bookending is encouraged.
Themes are always a great, and it's not bad form to go for them. Or to use more than one song by the same artist, like to open and close the mix. The important thing is to use what feels right, and that you enjoy the end result.

You don't have to be a DJ to put together a killer mix, and I'm proof if anyone is. I've uploaded a playlist to my personal site (just type in this web address ‘wp.me/p516r-xm') for you to see what I mean. Keep it in mind next time you bring a disc to a party. I'm out of words.