By Skyler Rodriguez
Technology has changed the way we listen, make and experience music for decades. Since I first started listening to music, I can recall lyrics about telephones, the Internet and emails.
“It’s been hours, seems like days, since you went away. And all I do is check the screen to see if you’re okay,” Britney solemnly sings in her 1999 karaoke-like ballad “E-Mail My Heart.”
Lyrics from this era were part-cheeseball garbage, part-honest reflection of the nuances of our changing digital society. As technology changed to facilitate more aggressive interactions, we see less about musicians patiently singing of waiting for emails and more “Trigger fingers turn to Twitter fingers,” à la Drake.
With the release of the Steve Jobs movie we bring you a teched-out playlist so on fire that your iPhone might overheat. Thanks in part to Jobs, we have artists exploring the world through smartphones. So get ready for a playlist stacked with notions of social media, texting, emojis and selfies.
Destiny’s Child — Bug A Boo (H-town Screwed Mix)
“When you call me on the phone you’re buggin’ me”
You tell ’em B! I hate talking on the phone too. The first time I watched this video was during a commercial break on the Disney channel. Remember when they did that?
Drake — Hotline Bling
You used to call me on my cell phone
I was going to post Drake’s “Energy” for that Wi-Fi/timeline line, but this booty call anthem is just too good to let go. Though some ripped the video for its likeness to work of iconic light and and space artist James Turrell, he issued a statement that “neither I nor any of my woes was involved in any way in the making of the Hotline Bling video.” It’s hard for me to believe that the 72-year old Quaker said “woes.”
Iyaz — Replay
Na na na na everyday
It’s like my iPod stuck on replay
Remember iPods!?
50 Cent — Ayo Technology ft. Justin Timberlake
Baby this a new age, you like my new craze
If a guy said, “I’m tired of using technology, why don’t you sit down on top of me,” I’d probably “bye felicia” the fool. Justin Timberlake is, however, an exception.
Greyson Chance — Unfriend You
Yeah it’s over, my last move is to unfriend you
This passive aggressive tween track features a video cameo from a young Ariana Grande, and lots of unnecessary lens flares. This is definitely what growing up in the suburbs was like!
Hannah Diamond — Attachment
Now I’ve saved you as a picture
On my phone
Internet music artists like A.G. Cook, Girli, and Sophie are bringing back the “E-Mail My Heart” era in a big way. Diamond uses “Attachment” both in a physical way and in a digital way. Clever right?!
Charli XCX — Famous
Bored on Friday night, spinning round just like I’m hypnotized
This video takes a critical dig at selfie culture — using imagery like selfie sticks, Tinder and the elderly dressed like health goths.
Bip Ling — Bipping
How could I live without blogging
London fashionista/socialite/blogger/artist Bip Ling may only have a few songs under her Prada belt but what she has released is pretty hip and punky. It’s clear that “Bipping” is about having fun, blogging and spreading odd phrases like “bip” and “yar.”
M.I.A. — XXXO
I don’t let it show
But I think you know
’Cause you’re tweeting me like Tweety Bird on your iPhone
Themes of government surveillance, Wi-Fi connection and Internet dating take shape in M.I.A.’s third album, MAYA. The lead single off the album features sweet Myspace nostalgia through blingees and terrible U.I.
Daft Punk — Technologic
Touch it, bring it, pay it, watch it,
Turn it, leave it, stop, format it.
Daft Punk breaks “it” down quite literally in this techno-future jam. Robots are cool.
St. Vincent — Digital Witness
Digital witnesses
What’s the point of even sleeping?
If I can’t show it if you can’t see me
What’s the point of doing anything?
St. Vincent takes a jab at social media junkies in this sarcastic jam.
Lady Gaga — Telephone ft. Beyonce
I should’ve left my phone at home’
Cause this is a disaster
If I was Gaga I would just put my phone on silent. Just saying…
The Chainsmokers — #SELFIE
But first,
Let me take a selfie
Apple’s new iPhone’s “selfie” option means the word will forever be a thing.
