Musings on...Music and Retail Therapy
A Modern Mix Tape and The Memories Behind the Music
Welcome to a new installment of Adventures in Workland! This essay series was inspired by a frustrating attempt to condense decades of work experience to a one-page resume. I realized resumes are flat and lifeless representations of the vivid stories, relationships and lessons that make one a valuable part of the workforce. In this series, I will illuminate the staid bullet points and job descriptions, animating them into the full dimensional glory they deserve. I hope my stories will make you reflect and honor the value of your employment history as well. Algorithms, bots and job board filters have it wrong: You are more than the sum of your job descriptions.
I revealed that one of my many adventures was working at a big box store during the holidays. It’s probably the best time to work retail-the store is beautifully decorated, there is new merchandise to fawn over every day and the discount lets you buy more-for less!
Of all the reasons I enjoyed working at the bullseye boutique, the most unexpected was the store playlist. It was spectacular! The music played even during the overnight shift. I can only imagine how I would have fared with silence from 10pm to 6 am, perhaps it was to help keep us awake. It was definitely a great accompaniment to my stacking and stocking. When I’m shopping, the soundtrack is just a background player, but as those nights working extended into mornings, it became key as I worked, danced and reminisced.
I’m no expert in shopping psychology, but there must be someone that has the responsibility to painstakingly curate the songs. Is there a beat that makes you buy more? Perhaps there is a timbre that makes one more relaxed and happier, so you stay in the store longer and anyone knows if you stay in Target for longer than 5 minutes, you will leave with more than you intended.
Target has a very extensive and varied playlist. There is a little something for everyone. Many of the songs had a backstory to my life, from all phases of my life. I chose a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it and perhaps use it for your upcoming holiday get togethers.
Fire in the Sky
We are a Marvel family. My son started us on this journey with his obsession with Iron Man when he was 3 and we’ve been stans ever since. Marvel movie premieres are a family tradition. When we saw Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, I was amazed. There is the great humor and action Marvel is known for, but most of all it is a spectacularly beautiful movie with a rich representation of Asian culture. I place it firmly in my top five of the MCU. This song from the soundtrack is a great mix of ancient rhythms and modern tempos. It is such an easy vibe.
Just Fine
This has to be at the top of the list of songs to play to make consumers remain in the store. This song will make you enjoy spending money because it feels like you’re having fun in the club. When the store began Christmas hours, we had to work around the customers still in the store. This song came on one night as I was straightening shelves. I realized I was moving to the beat and when I looked over my shoulder and I saw an aisle with shoppers swaying to the beat as well, oblivious to each other. At one point, everyone glanced around and burst into laughter. That aisle became a makeshift dance floor. If that’s not the holiday spirit, I don’t know what is. If Mary J wasn’t already the queen of hip hop soul, this song would have crowned her. I dare you to stay still when the beat drops. This joint right here!
Lovely Day
Bill Withers’ hallmark song is one of my all-time favorites. I have linked this song to too many Instagram stories, but I don’t care. This rendition by Jill Scott helped me organize the Christmas light section without pulling out my hair. Just humming it silently to myself helped me make it through boxes of twinkling lights and fairy bulbs. You’re welcome.
Rock Steady
I think it played every day of my life on the radio station we listened to growing up. This song is getting ready for junior high school. I hadn’t heard it in years and when it played, I was thrown back to Saturday afternoons at the roller skating rink. What you know about that?
The song with the same name by Aretha Franklin has a totally different vibe but will still make you throw your slushee away, roll off the carpet and onto the roller rink floor.
Oye Como Va
I am a Carlos Santana fan, and I’ve been in love with this song forever. When I was single, I had a Saturday morning ritual. I would get a caramel cappuccino from my favorite cafe, a copy of Saturday edition of US Today and read it at my little kitchen table, this song on repeat. Michigan can have gray days, but this song always made it seem sunny. I would putter around my little condo, cleaning and organizing to the guitar riffs.
Before I Let Go
If you are Black, or if you have been invited to a black family barbeque, you have heard this song. It is required listening for all generations. In college, friends and I traveled to Ohio for a music festival. It was a hot ticket of performers. I saw Whitney Houston, LL Cool J, Keith Sweat and Bell Biv Devoe. Then, Frankie Beverly and Maze took the stage. In my mind, this was my parent’s music, so I thought it would be a good time to go to the bathroom. The nearest bathroom was on the mezzanine level, and as I returned to my seat, I had the view of the entire stadium. The sea of people moved in unison to this song, there were hustle circles breaking out all over, it was spectacular to see. The groove was so hot! I stood there dumbstruck as my daddy’s friends gave the best show I had ever seen. They were better than all the earlier acts combined. What’s a girl to do but join the dance party breaking out on the mezzanine level? Right then and there I understood the term 'showman’ and I still consider it one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed. I have seen legendary artists perform: Burt Bacharach, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett, Marvin Hamlisch and I put Frankie Beverly and Maze in the same category.
American Boy
This song is so much of its time, but also classic and timeless. It is the cutest little pop, hip-hop and R & B baby. Every time I hear it, it is like being hit with a cool breeze. This is party on the terrace under garden lights music. I love that I can hear her British accent and I was enchanted with how she made American boys sound interesting. The lyrics are a fun romp in how foreigners view us and of course, it makes me long for the Kanye I first fell in love with. You know, Gold Digger, Stronger Kanye. This is a forever banger.
Holiday
When Michael died, I was shocked. When Whitney died, I was hurt. When Prince died, I was crushed and immediately wondered who is watching Madonna? The final pillar of the soundtrack for my entire adolescence needed to be protected. Who is taking care of Madge? I vividly remember the first time I saw Madonna Louise Ciccone. I was about 12 and we were heading on vacation. We had an early flight to the airport, and I was sitting in the basement while my parents packed the car, staying clear of the inevitable packing the trunk argument. Of course, I was watching MTV. The video for Lucky Star came on and I realized that life as I knew it would be changed forever. Who was this girl? What was she wearing? What kind of cool is this? I tween mind reeled. Soon Holiday was on constant play, then Like a Virgin and the rest is history. Hearing this song reminds me of what it is like to feel the earth shift as you witness something revolutionary. I’ve adored Madonna ever since, loving all of her style iterations and accents. And then of course, there is this epic rendition from one of my favorite movies.
Flowers
Most of the songs have a little time behind them, but they do slide in a few recent top hits. Miley following Madonna is a natural progression. They both have the distinction of their public antics overshadowing their talent at performing and Miley is truly a talent. I love her low smoker’s voice and her lyrics are always profound. Her godmother, Dolly Parton is surely an influence on how she delivers the verses, but she smears her pop with a touch of rock sensibility. Mark my words, Miley will become the anthem bearer for the next generation of female performers.
Take on Me
If you were a part of the first people to want their MTV, then you’ll recognize this song in the first 8 notes. IYKYK. The video for this song was the most innovative thing Gen X had ever seen, and it is permanently burned into our brain because we watched it too many times to count. The song is great, but the video was greater. Before anyone knew about anime, we all imagined the world where a hot guy comes to life from the pages of a comic book. It could happen!
My First, My Last, My Everything
I know Morgan Freeman is often cast as the voice of God in movies and on TV but darn it if Barry White couldn’t have done it better. He was a big man with an even bigger voice that sounded like thunder and felt smooth like honey. Known for his low gravelly love songs, this is probably his fastest tempo song. It is such an odd amalgam: it’s paced like disco, backed by an elevated orchestra and whispery background vocals. You can’t really dance to it, but it makes you move your shoulders and sway your hips. The vocals are reminiscent of a Broadway musical, they ring very Cole Porter-esque. I can see a male lead professing that the fair ingenue is his first, his last, his everything and it seem charming, but coming from Barry, the statement is infinitely more sensual and grown up sexy.
Happy Holidays and Enjoy! If Black Friday should find you at Target, take a minute to key in on the playlist, do a little dance in the aisle and think of me.