So like much of the free world, I’ve now got the version of iTunes that has the new “Genius” feature that suggests a playlist based on a song you choose. Results may vary, but the concept seems simple and intriguing enough. So I went ahead and picked a song – “The Three Fine Daughters of Farmer Brown”, by Eddie from Ohio – and let it rip me a 100-tune list. First question: Is this supposed to be like a 21st-century mix tape where the order is crucial, or is it supposed to be just a bunch of great tastes that taste great together regardless? In other words, shuffle or no shuffle? I tried it both ways, to see if it mattered. Here are the results:
In the order listed:
1. “The Three Fine Daughters of Farmer Brown” – Eddie from Ohio
2. “Suzanne” – Leonard Cohen
3. “Puff the Magic Dragon” – Peter, Paul, and Mary
4. “April Come She Will” – Simon and Garfunkel
5. “Girl in the War” – Josh Ritter
6. “Regretting What I Said” – Christine Lavin
7. “Useless Desires” – Patty Griffin
8. “Reasonland” – Solas
9. “Another Saturday Night” – Cat Stevens
10. “Whole Heap of Little Horses” – The Chieftains
Shuffled:
1. “The Three Fine Daughters of Farmer Brown” – Eddie from Ohio
2. “Digga Digga Doo – Asylum Street Spankers
3. “What Was I Thinking?” – Christine Lavin
4. “Wake Up and Dream” – Four Bitchin’ Babes
5. “Going To The Zoo” – Peter, Paul, and Mary
6. “Useless Desires” – Patty Griffin
7. “April Come She Will” – Simon and Garfunkel
8. “Whole Heap of Little Horses” – The Chieftains
9. “Another Saturday Night” – Cat Stevens
10. “The Old Black Rum” – Great Big Sea
Some overlap there, but what do you want from a 100 song playlist? I think the original-order list has a bit more variety, but the random list ends with a bang, so either one will do. Obviously, this was all heavy on the folk/acoustic stuff, with a slightly odd preference for all things Christine Lavin and Peter, Paul, and Mary’s children’s album “Peter, Paul, and Mommy”. No clue what that says about me and/or the Genius. Maybe Genius 2.0 can figure out what types of music from other genres go well with a particular song. That would be awesome. In any event, this was an interesting exercise, and I think I’ll try it again with some other “seed” songs. Anyone else out there give this a shot yet?