By Alexandra Savage
I’m not sure if it’s a personal issue or a universal phenomenon, but the idea of making that five-minute walk to Whole Foods without listening to music sounds unfathomable. In addition to the journey, choosing a song is not an easy task. You need to consider mood, tempo, and timing. Here are some guidelines for finding that perfect song as you cross three streets and then lose internet service the moment you step into the grocery store basement.
When You Need To Move Quickly
We’ve all been in situations where we need to buy groceries, but there’s just no time. Maybe you have class, maybe the grocery store is about to close, or maybe you’ve been struck by a rare bolt of motivation that will disappear in five minutes unless you buy food at this exact moment. No matter the case, I suggest that you listen to Radiohead’s seventh album, “The King of Limbs,” to create a frantic energy that allows you to sprint through the aisles and garner strange looks from other shoppers.
When You Don’t Care
Sometimes, you’re not in the mood for a specific song, but you still need background noise to accompany you, lest the silence set in. In this case, you’re best off opening your Spotify (or Apple Music, or…Amazon Music, I guess) and choosing your most recent listens to send you on your way. For me, that would be English alternative rock band Radiohead’s sophomore album, “The Bends.” What a great album. It’s the perfect soundtrack for buying rice and mozzarella cheese.
When You Don’t Want To Shop
Don’t we all wish that someone could do our grocery shopping for us? Unfortunately, that’s not the world we inhabit. If you’re nostalgic for a time when going to the grocery store was not your job, choose an album that defined the mid-2000s, such as Lady Gaga’s “The Fame,” Paramore’s “Brand New Eyes,” and Radiohead’s “Kid A.” These albums will make you yearn for the years that you didn’t have to constantly buy avocados after they go bad in three hours.
When You Hate Listening To Music
I can’t help you. Listen to a podcast or something.
When It’s Snowing Outside
Will it ever snow again? Maybe not in our lifetimes. But if you have the exceedingly rare opportunity to grocery shop in the snow, this is a good time for some peaceful reflection. Take out the earbuds. Listen to the crunch of boots on snow. Watch as snowflakes land on your gloves and melt into the fabric. Then, put the earbuds back in and listen to “In Rainbows” (by Radiohead) to accompany this calm moment. Those guys are geniuses.
Putting It All Together
I understand that I might have certain biases towards certain English bands starting with “R,” but hopefully, you can use some of these guidelines to spice up your grocery store routine. Other pieces of advice include searching your mood on Spotify and choosing a playlist made by someone else, or letting Discover Weekly do its thing. I admit some silence now and then is a good thing. Just don’t forget your reusable bag in your dorm and have to walk all the way back…I speak from experience. Then you’d have to choose an extra song, and that’s way out of my depth.
