The Serendipity of Genius

When Apple introduced Genius playlists in iTunes 8, my first response was annoyance.  “Another unwanted sidebar, Apple?  Come on, guys.”  So I let it build me a playlist from the song I was currently playing, checked to see what the first couple of songs were on the list, was pretty unimpressed by the “Genius” selections, and walked away without much further thought.

Then today, on my way to the grocery store, I threw the iPod in the car (well, not literally!) without checking to see that it was on the playlist I wanted (sub 5-minute podcasts—it’s not a long drive), and it shuffled up the first available playlist.

My long-forgotten Genius playlist.

The first selection wasn’t bad, so I went with it.  The second song even prompted some finger-drumming, but it was as I neared the store that it poleaxed me.  The Cure’s “A Night Like This”?  How long had it been since I’d listened to this song?  Too long, apparently.  Time-shifting be damned!  I sat in the parking lot and waited for the song to finish before making my shopping rounds.  

Of course, as much happiness as the song brought me earlier this morning, it’s also led me down the primrose path to the great eraser of time that is YouTube, where I’ve just wasted about 20 minutes becoming reacquainted with the Cure.  Wasted?  Perhaps not.

And while we’re on the subject of the wonder that serendipity often brings, why not learn something?

You’re welcome ;-).