Member-only story

DIGITAL MUSIC HAS LOST ITS LUSTER

What Happened When Streaming Services Took Over

“I’ve lost that loving feeling, now it’s gone, gone, gone…”

Michelle Marie Warner
Contemplate
Published in
6 min readJan 14, 2025

--

Photo of a record player set in a blue case, with a Ray Charles album ready to play, and Pink Floyd’s The Wall album propped up against it, along with a few other albums, sitting on a wooden table.
Photo by mgattorna on Pixabay

The Righteous Brothers released a song called “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” in the Fall of 1964. Although I wasn’t born until 1972, I know this song inside and out.

I’m a sucker for lyrics that pull on heartstrings or use clever wordplay. A tribute to love lost, the message is relatable to many. A relationship that was once a sweet, tender melody now sounds like an injured cat.

I used to have a sweet love affair with music, but it’s been tainted by the digital world. It’s not the same between us anymore. I yearn for the intimate connection we once had.

My dad is a longtime choral singer and used to play folk songs on his acoustic guitar by our piano when I was growing up. He’d find the chords and lyrics in songbooks he collected over the years.

I found the lyrics to the song above with a click on my phone. It took me under 10 seconds. I’m grateful for the convenience, but I would be okay without it.

I long for the old days when I had to wait for my favorite band’s latest release to be stocked. I saved up for the day they announced its arrival. I don’t…

--

--

Contemplate
Contemplate

Published in Contemplate

Reflections of the Mindful — A publication designed for the writer to reflect, the reader to be inspired, the creatives to find their muses.

Michelle Marie Warner
Michelle Marie Warner

Written by Michelle Marie Warner

Grateful, sassy, sober GenX mom with plenty to say and enough energy to listen. Learning to laugh a little more as I age gracefully. Bring it on.

Responses (2)