Jemsweb

I’ve been an avid collector of music files since the late 90′s and never delete anything, but rather file it all for posterity. The end result, 14 years later, is an external hard drive with 306GB of MP3 files on it (around 50,000 in all), carefully filed in folders by artist and album.

When I was on Windows, I had everything in Advanced MP3 Catalog Pro so I could search the entire collection for specific artists. Eventually with the purchase of my first iPod, I switched over to iTunes, but didn’t add everything to the library – only what I wanted to sync with my iPod. I can just choose “sync all”. So I’ve only got around 2,000 songs in iTunes.

Now I’m on Mac, I can’t seem to find a simple cataloguing program that will index my MP3 files by metatag so I can easily search them. I’m considering putting everything into iTunes, but will it cope with 50,000 tracks, or will it just run like a dog? MediaMonkey seems great but it is Windows only.

I’m beginning to think that the answer is obvious – CULL MY COLLECTION and get rid of all those albums that I have never and will (probably) never listen to. It’s the logical thing to do. Yet it fills me with heartbreak!

Oh what to do?

Stealing this meme from Wanda and Hers.

These were the instructions: Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play. Use the song title as the answer to the question

How does the world see you?
“Stay the Night” – Mariah Carey.
Oh my god! I’m a slut!!

Will I have a happy life?
“Conditioner” – Wu Tang Clan feat Snoop Dogg
Hmm, not sure how to interpret this one. I should be using Pantene?

What do my friends really think of me?
“Army Jazz” – Audio Sauce
Yep, army jazz totally sums me up.

Do people secretly lust after me?
“How Would I Know” – Melissa Etheridge
Funnily enough this is exactly the right answer!

How can I make myself happy?
“The Boogie That Be” – Black Eyed Peas
Yes, boogie till you just can’t boogie no more, and you will be truly happy.

What should I do with my life?
“Stronger” – Britney Spears
This is the universe’s way of telling me to start going to the gym again.

Will I ever have children?
“Miuzi Weighs A Ton” – Public Enemy
I dunno about the uzi, but the children certainly weigh a ton when you are lugging them around the Newtown Festival because everytime you put them down, they either scream or run away as fast as their legs can carry them. Actually maybe an uzi would be kind of handy.

What is some good advice for me?
“3121″ – Prince
What sort of bloody advice is that?!? Thanks for nothing.

How will I be remembered?
“Good Enough” – Sarah McLachlan
Ha ha ha! I hope so!

What is my signature dancing song?
“Loving Days” – Kylie Minogue
Not really.

What do I think my current theme song is?
“Waltz” – Goldenhorse
Time to take up ballroom dancing – or is there a new series of Dancing With The Stars about to begin?

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
“Hot Night” – Me’shell Ndegeocello
Refer to “I am a slut”, above.

What song will play at my funeral?
“One More Dollar” – Gillian Welch
In my current financial crisis, yes please.

What type of men/women do you like?
“Higher [Journey To Heaven Mix]” – Frankie Knuckles
Druggies.

What is my day going to be like?
“No Plans For Later” – the Mutton Birds
Ha ha! If only! More like work, work, more work.

Well, that was slightly embarrassing, but no more than I deserve.

PS I used to hate Mariah Carey, but somehow have got totally addicted to her new album! I guess you can’t ignore a comeback like that.