I remember the first time I burned a CD for a girl. There was a certain exhilaration of trying to work in secret sentiments; references to things only she’d understand; and hoping to communicate something precious using only other people’s words.
Nowadays, when you make a playlist for somebody, it seems more like you’re trying to share a feeling, not necessarily a literal message with the songs included. Our relationship with music has changed: we have world’s catalog at our fingertips instead of a modest zipper case of store-bought CDs. Single tracks aren’t so precious anymore, they’ve become relegated to existing as contributing members to an always-running playlist accompanying our lives.
It’s not good or bad, it’s just different. Just as our relationship with music has changed, so has our sense of longing for other people. The world is smaller, but our inclination toward instant gratification can make the absence of somebody we’re connected to feel even more unbearable. Wherever that girl I made the first mix CD for is, I hope she’s doing well.
Originally made for somebody I longed for greatly.
