A iPod shuffle test from the British magazine Company
The rules are simple. Set your iPod on shuffle and write down the first seven songs that come up. Each song tells your fortune.
1. Reveals what you think about love.
"... the song that comes up here can reveal a lot about how you view relationships. But don't despair if you get I Hate You So Much Right Now--you don't have to dump, because it's not just the words you have to interpret. 'Upbeat tunes show a desire to move your life in a positive direction, but, if the beat is driving too fast, it could suggest you're suppressing anger or are frustrated by something--like your man!' says behavioral expert Judi James. 'If the tune you get is slow, yet happy, it suggests you hold a romantic and idealised view of relationships. If it's a heart-wrenching ballad, you're uptight and need to relax,' she adds." (From the article I took this test from: The Ultimate Summer iPod Quiz in Company August 2008).
My result: "hola decadence" by les respectables. Putting the lyrics through a online translator (which you can look at here: http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seeklyrics.com%2Fprinter.php%3Flyric_id%3D854201&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8) was pretty revealing since it looks like it's about going to clubs and how they are like "brothels" where people "don't know who [others] are" and won't "say that I love you" (I took these from the translation). This song is upbeat and fast but not too fast. So, I guess what I think about love is that I see it as impersonal but not necessarily in a bad way. Which isn't that far from my experience in the clubs.
2. Reveals how you feel about your career.
"... whatever song you get here signifies where you're going on the career ladder. Take account who is singing the song. 'A female singer can suggest you'd like advice from girlfriends and family,' says Judi. A strong male voice might mean you're feeling confident enough to ask for a pay rise or promotion! But don't take the song too literally and quit if you get Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape." (From the same article).
My result: "Invisible" by Clay Aiken. Um, that's not good since it's about how he's never noticed and merely watches the object from afar. And I wouldn't describe his voice as "strong" either so two things against me. And I was feeling pretty good about my new job too.
3. Reveals how you feel about your best friend.
"... this song reveals the depth of your friendship. But don't panic if the song you get is a little more cryptic that You've Got A Friend. The rhythm or beat of the tune could also be the key. If you get a regular heartbeat, Judi says this reflects stability--you're sticking to your life rhythm and aren't looking for a chance or new friendships. Slower songs suggest reflective, retrospective thinking, meaning you might need to work out who your real friends really are." (From the same article).
My result: "Mourir Pour Toi" by Emma Daumas. I was pretty pleased with this until I double checked the lyrics. The title means "To Die For You" but the verse actually reads "I don't want to die for you." and the last line is "I won't die for you." Other such winners include "Your promises, your glances became daggers" and "How you do hold it, grip it in your arms, as if nothing between us had been true, as if I didn't exist" (I translated that with some help from an online translator). And the beat seems to change throughout so I don't even have stability. It's a slow song so I must be pretty damn reflective about my best friend!
4. Reveals what you're looking for in The One
" 'If your song is sung by a man or male group, it's likely you're looking to be seduced or charmed by your dream man,' says Judi. 'Male singers tend to sing the song at you, while female singers sing the song for you--meaning they sing the words you're thinking or they're singing to support you or lead you on,' she adds." (Same article)
My result: "Ultra Relax" by Shinohara Tomoe (who is female). Uh, yeah. This song is bizarre. Gendou.com has an English translation but it's hard to tell what it's supposed to reveal about "The One" but I'll try. Most of the song is about how the singer has lots of free time which she uses to do lots of fun things (traveling, cooking, "throwing kisses to my neighborhoods", etc) and is very relaxed and "deluxe". The only lines that I could believe could be about another person are "I'm ultra relaxed/Gracefully, unbeatably relaxed/Just a little bit different deluxe/Scatterbrained but.../When you call me, 'pah pah pah pahng'!" and "Watch no one but me!" (she says this twice). So, I want a man who makes me go "pah pah pah pahng!" (whatever that means) and watches only me. Since the song is also about being relaxed and having free time, perhaps I also want a man who would give me lots of space and not give me anything to worry about. It's worth noting that this song is one of the fastest on my iPod.
5. Reveals how you feel about your family.
"... your childhood and family make up a huge part of you. The age of the song that comes up here could also be important. 'Older or retro songs tend to suggest you feel more comfortable in the past and had a happy childhood,' says Judi. 'New songs show an upbeat and enduring sense of strong family ties. Your family isn't something you turn to when you need help, love or advice--it's a constant feature in your daily life." (Same article)
My result: "Winter Sleep" by olivia. This is a modern song, written for the NANA anime. The refrain goes like this: "Will you hold me now?/Hold me now/My frozen heart/I'm gazing from the distance and/I feel everything pass through me/I can't be alone right now/Will you hold me now?/Hold me now/My frozen heart/I'm lost in deep winter sleep/I can't seem to find my way out alone/Can you wake me?" It's a melancholy song but the message might be positive. The singer is having problems but the subject might be able to help her. Perhaps that is how I view my family: people who will "wake me" from "winter sleeps" and won't leave me alone.
6. Reveals your life mantra.
"Most of you have a clear set of morals you endeavour to stick to... This song will either reinforce them or suggest others you could start to adopt". (Same article).
My result: Okay, here is where I have problems. The next song that came up was "Gojyo's Theme" which is background music from Saiyuki Reload and has no lyrics. It's a kind of slow and sleazy blues/jazz number. So do I interpret the title for this one? If I do interpret the title, does that mean that my mantra is the same as Sha Gojyo's since this is his "theme"? Or do I pay attention to the tone of the song? Either way reveals the same thing although the latter places more emphasis on having a good time and having a shameless flirt than the former. Gojyo likes to take care of others (although he'd never admit to it) and defend those who can't defend themselves.
... Or do I just ignore background music and pick the next song? The next song is "Notes, Twisted Every Way" from The Phantom of the Opera. Okay, how can I get a life mantra out of this?! My life mantra is to be torn between self preservation and gratitude to those who helped me over the years?
7. The soundtrack to your life!
"Always quite fancied having a best-bits-style video playing your funniest, most intelligent and aesthetically pleasing moments...? Us, too. So which song has your iPod chosen?" (Same article)
My result: Well, if "Gojyo's Theme" is counted, then "Notes, Twisted Every Way" from The Phantom of the Opera is this one. So my "video" would involve me being torn being self preservation and gratitude to those who helped me over the years? Fun times.
If we ignore "Gojyo's Theme" then this song is "The Last Race" by Kristine Sa. This is a bit more like it. This song is about never giving up and giving everything you all and doing just a little bit more. It would make for a more cheerful video at the very least.
So those are my results. Discuss.
And now a game (as suggested by the same article): See if you can guess which songs I play the most. I'll then check your guess against my Top 25 Most Played list. If you do it for me, I'll do it for you.
1. Reveals what you think about love.
"... the song that comes up here can reveal a lot about how you view relationships. But don't despair if you get I Hate You So Much Right Now--you don't have to dump, because it's not just the words you have to interpret. 'Upbeat tunes show a desire to move your life in a positive direction, but, if the beat is driving too fast, it could suggest you're suppressing anger or are frustrated by something--like your man!' says behavioral expert Judi James. 'If the tune you get is slow, yet happy, it suggests you hold a romantic and idealised view of relationships. If it's a heart-wrenching ballad, you're uptight and need to relax,' she adds." (From the article I took this test from: The Ultimate Summer iPod Quiz in Company August 2008).
My result: "hola decadence" by les respectables. Putting the lyrics through a online translator (which you can look at here: http://www.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seeklyrics.com%2Fprinter.php%3Flyric_id%3D854201&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8) was pretty revealing since it looks like it's about going to clubs and how they are like "brothels" where people "don't know who [others] are" and won't "say that I love you" (I took these from the translation). This song is upbeat and fast but not too fast. So, I guess what I think about love is that I see it as impersonal but not necessarily in a bad way. Which isn't that far from my experience in the clubs.
2. Reveals how you feel about your career.
"... whatever song you get here signifies where you're going on the career ladder. Take account who is singing the song. 'A female singer can suggest you'd like advice from girlfriends and family,' says Judi. A strong male voice might mean you're feeling confident enough to ask for a pay rise or promotion! But don't take the song too literally and quit if you get Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape." (From the same article).
My result: "Invisible" by Clay Aiken. Um, that's not good since it's about how he's never noticed and merely watches the object from afar. And I wouldn't describe his voice as "strong" either so two things against me. And I was feeling pretty good about my new job too.
3. Reveals how you feel about your best friend.
"... this song reveals the depth of your friendship. But don't panic if the song you get is a little more cryptic that You've Got A Friend. The rhythm or beat of the tune could also be the key. If you get a regular heartbeat, Judi says this reflects stability--you're sticking to your life rhythm and aren't looking for a chance or new friendships. Slower songs suggest reflective, retrospective thinking, meaning you might need to work out who your real friends really are." (From the same article).
My result: "Mourir Pour Toi" by Emma Daumas. I was pretty pleased with this until I double checked the lyrics. The title means "To Die For You" but the verse actually reads "I don't want to die for you." and the last line is "I won't die for you." Other such winners include "Your promises, your glances became daggers" and "How you do hold it, grip it in your arms, as if nothing between us had been true, as if I didn't exist" (I translated that with some help from an online translator). And the beat seems to change throughout so I don't even have stability. It's a slow song so I must be pretty damn reflective about my best friend!
4. Reveals what you're looking for in The One
" 'If your song is sung by a man or male group, it's likely you're looking to be seduced or charmed by your dream man,' says Judi. 'Male singers tend to sing the song at you, while female singers sing the song for you--meaning they sing the words you're thinking or they're singing to support you or lead you on,' she adds." (Same article)
My result: "Ultra Relax" by Shinohara Tomoe (who is female). Uh, yeah. This song is bizarre. Gendou.com has an English translation but it's hard to tell what it's supposed to reveal about "The One" but I'll try. Most of the song is about how the singer has lots of free time which she uses to do lots of fun things (traveling, cooking, "throwing kisses to my neighborhoods", etc) and is very relaxed and "deluxe". The only lines that I could believe could be about another person are "I'm ultra relaxed/Gracefully, unbeatably relaxed/Just a little bit different deluxe/Scatterbrained but.../When you call me, 'pah pah pah pahng'!" and "Watch no one but me!" (she says this twice). So, I want a man who makes me go "pah pah pah pahng!" (whatever that means) and watches only me. Since the song is also about being relaxed and having free time, perhaps I also want a man who would give me lots of space and not give me anything to worry about. It's worth noting that this song is one of the fastest on my iPod.
5. Reveals how you feel about your family.
"... your childhood and family make up a huge part of you. The age of the song that comes up here could also be important. 'Older or retro songs tend to suggest you feel more comfortable in the past and had a happy childhood,' says Judi. 'New songs show an upbeat and enduring sense of strong family ties. Your family isn't something you turn to when you need help, love or advice--it's a constant feature in your daily life." (Same article)
My result: "Winter Sleep" by olivia. This is a modern song, written for the NANA anime. The refrain goes like this: "Will you hold me now?/Hold me now/My frozen heart/I'm gazing from the distance and/I feel everything pass through me/I can't be alone right now/Will you hold me now?/Hold me now/My frozen heart/I'm lost in deep winter sleep/I can't seem to find my way out alone/Can you wake me?" It's a melancholy song but the message might be positive. The singer is having problems but the subject might be able to help her. Perhaps that is how I view my family: people who will "wake me" from "winter sleeps" and won't leave me alone.
6. Reveals your life mantra.
"Most of you have a clear set of morals you endeavour to stick to... This song will either reinforce them or suggest others you could start to adopt". (Same article).
My result: Okay, here is where I have problems. The next song that came up was "Gojyo's Theme" which is background music from Saiyuki Reload and has no lyrics. It's a kind of slow and sleazy blues/jazz number. So do I interpret the title for this one? If I do interpret the title, does that mean that my mantra is the same as Sha Gojyo's since this is his "theme"? Or do I pay attention to the tone of the song? Either way reveals the same thing although the latter places more emphasis on having a good time and having a shameless flirt than the former. Gojyo likes to take care of others (although he'd never admit to it) and defend those who can't defend themselves.
... Or do I just ignore background music and pick the next song? The next song is "Notes, Twisted Every Way" from The Phantom of the Opera. Okay, how can I get a life mantra out of this?! My life mantra is to be torn between self preservation and gratitude to those who helped me over the years?
7. The soundtrack to your life!
"Always quite fancied having a best-bits-style video playing your funniest, most intelligent and aesthetically pleasing moments...? Us, too. So which song has your iPod chosen?" (Same article)
My result: Well, if "Gojyo's Theme" is counted, then "Notes, Twisted Every Way" from The Phantom of the Opera is this one. So my "video" would involve me being torn being self preservation and gratitude to those who helped me over the years? Fun times.
If we ignore "Gojyo's Theme" then this song is "The Last Race" by Kristine Sa. This is a bit more like it. This song is about never giving up and giving everything you all and doing just a little bit more. It would make for a more cheerful video at the very least.
So those are my results. Discuss.
And now a game (as suggested by the same article): See if you can guess which songs I play the most. I'll then check your guess against my Top 25 Most Played list. If you do it for me, I'll do it for you.