iTunes dropped their new update with Genius. Basically the way it works is you listen to a song, click the Genius button and it makes a playlist of songs that sound good with that song. It’s a great idea in theory, especially for someone like me who has so much music on his computer he can barely figure out what he has (last count over 16k). I’ve been fooling around with it lately to mixed results. Here’s a few test playlists just for fun. I’ll stick to the top 10 songs. Should note that there is a “refresh” feature if you don’t like what you get, but I will go off the original lists.
SONG: Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Starting Something
2. George Michael – Freedom 90
3. Madonna – Holiday
4. Janet Jackson – All For You
5. Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf
6. Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule The World
7. Flock of Seagulls – I Ran
8. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax
9. Christopher Cross – Sailing
10. New Order – Blue Monday
11. Asia – Heat of the Moment (had to throw this on there)
Now the first couple make sense and sound pretty good paired with the original. I kind of think the Janet song is too modern for the rest of the playlists though especially when it’s followed by Duran Duran. I think it’s weird how it just tailed off into new wave after that. I know that it’s on my computer, but I really can’t trust a program that thinks anyone wants to listen to Sailing.
SONG: John Legend – Used to Love U
2. Usher – You Make Me Wanna
3. Babyface – When Can I See You
4. Luther Vandross – Here and Now
5. Ohio Players – Fire
6. Next – Wifey
7. Heatwave – Always and Forever
8. Edwin Star – War
9. Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes – Wake Up Everybody
10. Sly & The Family Stone – Dance to the Music
I like this one because it’s pretty diverse and the theme is correct for all of them. You could put this on with a girl and you’d look like the cheesiest guy in the world, but she would at least see where you were coming from.
SONG: Def Leppard – Photograph
2. Ratt – Round and Round
3. .38 Special – Caught Up In You
4. Van Halen – Runnin’ With The Devil
5. Skid Row – 18 and Life
6. Foreigner – Hot Blooded
7. Whitesnake – Is This Love
8. Def Leppard – Let’s Get Rocked
9. ’til Tuesday – Voices Carry
10. Flock Of Seagulls – I Ran
They really nailed this until tracks 9 and 10. Seriously, Voices Carry? Does iTunes think that guys who listen to this type of music beat their girlfriends and therefore would enjoy a song about a girl being beat up by her boyfriend? Every other song in the top 25 makes sense except these two. Weird.
SONG: Billy Joel – Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
2. Elton John – Someone Saved My
3. Paul Simon – Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard
4. James Taylor – Fire and Rain
5. Bruce Springsteen – Glory Days
6. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – American Girl
7. Queen – You’re My Best Friend
8. The Who – Behind Blue Eyes
9. Simon & Garfunkel – Homeward Bound
10. Billy Joel – Big Shot
They did this one pretty good too.
I tried a few other songs. The Shins – Girl Sailor came up with a decent playlist, but it had like four other Shins songs in it. Maybe the point of reference isn’t as big for smaller groups? Overall, I love this feature and will continue to use it for a very long time. Good work Steve Jobs.
