Repetitive music listening.

One thing you need to know about me is that I am a repetitive music listener. When I hear a song that I love instantly, I need to hear it again. And again. And again. I can listen to the same song over and over again for hours, days and even weeks at a time.

This makes me think I should probably live alone for the rest of my life because I remember one of my best friends in college complaining about this type of behavior. One day, someone in the dorm room below her had the same song playing on a loop for over 24 hours...straight. I vaguely recall her fuming that she hoped the person was dead, not out of spite, but simply because she couldn't understand a person listening to the same song on repeat for any other reason. (Note: I invested in a pair of headphones for the three years we lived together so she would never discover that I'm a repetitive music listener.)

Now, I'm not that bad. I don't listen to single songs on 24-hour loops, and I'm very selective about which songs are good enough to merit frequent repeats. But I'd say there are usually one or two songs every month that get excessive iTunes playtime.

Last month, it was probably Ra Ra Riot's "Suspended in Gaffa" (a great cover of the Kate Bush tune) and Fleet Foxes' "Your Protector." Last week it was Amy Wino-house's "Back to Black." This week, it's been this song:

"My Girls" - Animal Collective
According to my last.fm account, I've listened to this song 16 times since Friday. Not disgustingly excessive, but excessive enough that my college friend would probably want to stab me once for each time I hit "repeat."

Anyway, I was just in the shower, where I happen to do most of my best thinking. And it occurred to me: "My Girls" is like the anti-gangsta anthem.

This song should be playing in youth centers across urban (...and suburban...and rural...) America. I envision all the little ne'er-do-wells listening and saying, "Material possessions do not matter to me. I merely want to be monogamous and protect my family! I do not need an ostentatious house, nor do I need to effect a higher social status than I can afford. I just need basic shelter."

I could write a whole thesis about this! But I won't -- because thesis writing is so 2008. Never again. But if I did write a thesis it would declare this song the beginning of a "new gangsta" movement. Hipster gangster, if you will. (Just don't tell the kids that the main vocalist is a guy named Panda Bear. Minus 500 street cred points!)

OK, so it's a long shot. Then again, if today's youth listened to this song on repeat as much as I do, it might have some sort of brainwashing effect. It's worth a try.


EDIT: I've noted this elsewhere, but let me just add that the music video for "My Girls" gives me the creeps. Something about those neon pink lips and little teeth nubs....