I never pay attention to song titles...

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...except when I need to download them. I don't follow along reading the track lists as I listen. With CD-Rs, I don't even have a track list. At best, I might take note of a disembodied track number. I don't mind leaving it all a bit foggy. It keeps listening from becoming too predictable. It only becomes a problem when I post.

I'm impressed by how many ILM posts reference song titles - not just for singles or cuts where the title is obvious from the chorus, but stuff like IDM or space rock where it bears no apparent relationship to the content. Do you make a habit of memorizing liner notes, or do you look this stuff up as you post? Is this part of being Pop-Positive?

― Curt, Sunday, 20 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

it's important to know so you can talk about the songs with other people.

― ethan, Sunday, 20 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm the same way Curt. I rarely look at the cd to see what the name of a song is. I've played many albums countless times and have no idea what the song titles are. Even songs I love I sometimes don't even know the name. When I make a mix tape I never list the songs. I like to be surprised, especially if I haven't played it in some time.

― Pump Wellington, Sunday, 20 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Worse comes to worse, I just look up tracklistings via the AMG or artist pages or fanpages. I don't memorize, but many titles sink in over time.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 20 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's funny to look at the names of instrumental songs, and it's funny when they don't have names, or on "Music For Airports" those names are funny.

― A Nairn, Sunday, 20 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

How well I can remember depends on the band - I have real trouble remembering Stereolab song titles for some reason,and On Land by Eno always causes problems.

― Damian, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have real trouble remembering Stereolab song titles for some reason

Well, apparently Stereolab do, too -- which is why they use simpler one word mnemonics to denote songs on their set lists live.

― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

For more or less conventional pop/rock/rap, I tend to know the track names, especially if I really like the song because, like ethan said, I'll usually be telling friends about them. For more left-of-center stuff I don't try as hard and don't get annoyed or anything when artists do the 1234567 treatment eg. DAT Politics, Labradford - usually no vocals and hell I'm either reading or doing drugs as I listen anyway.

― Ramosi, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have far more trouble with Yo La Tengo titles than Stereolab ones. Even now, I can't match the tune of "Let's Save Tony Orlando's House" to its title.

― electric sound of jim, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Comes from habit of scribbling them down on playlists. And if I donmt know it I usually look it up on AMG. Though the occaisional artsist throws me for a loop, like GYBE who didnt put titles on their first lp (the cd gots them) choosing instead to simplying inscribe three words on each side into the record itself or Buck 65 who fails to name his songs altogether.

― Mr Noodles, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think I got in the habit when I started playing jazz and had to memorize the names of lots of instrumental tunes (and standards I didn't know the words to) so I would know what was what when they were called. Now when I listen to a record I just memorize the names of the tunes I like without thinking about it.

― Jordan, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't stand people who can't remember song titles. Probably comes from working in a record shop and having people ask for , "That tune, the one that goes, da-da-da screeeeeeee! Y'know?" And then get mad at you for not being able to guess it, and hang around all day making odd "Never Mind the Buzzcocks"-type noises until you do.

― dave q, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I used to be able to tell you the name of every song on Exodus's "Impact is Imminent" album, but I can't anymore.

― jel, Monday, 21 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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