Social music service last.fm has been quietly making a note of just about every piece of music which I have played for nearly five years now. I recently realised that the week-by-week view of top tracks tell me as much as any diary, as all of the most popular tracks in my library tend to be played as a soundtrack to particular situations and emotions.

My taste in music is broad. Some would say eclectic. Some might very well say random. Most would say piss poor.  It falls in to four broad groups:

  • Early music, particularly renaissance polyphony
  • Classical and romantic music
  • Musical theatre
  • Pop music (particularly 70s/80s artists)

When listening to classical music I usually veer towards large, bombastic works – music for jolly times. The same is true of musical theatre (of course).

Early music and pop music are more polarised. Both contain pieces of  high elation, and also deep contemplation. Sometimes one piece is suitable for both.

I thought I’d take a look at the top 15 tracks of the last five years, and see what record my musical diary reveals.

There are several artists and songs I listen to over and over again. Psychologists have theories about what this says about a person, I won’t go in to detail, but in a nutshell walk away slowly. No sudden movements. There is even a last.fm group for people like me, but as the poor deluded fools are mainly listening to Coldplay (over and over again), I haven’t joined.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, as someone who loves singing and music in general, my top 15 tracks show I turn to music at the very best, and the very worst times.

Top tracks of the last five years

OK pop pickers, let’s go…. Here’s the raw data.

Good times

Tracks 1, 5, and 7 (Spem in Alium): The soundtrack to big decisions, small decisions, ups, downs, pretty much everything in life. Sometimes I play it and it’s a raw, all consuming emotional experience. Sometimes I play it for white noise, and barely notice it. If you said “Rob Fenwick” in a game of word association, more than one person would say “Spem in Alium.” I have spent at least 55 hours listening to this work, and I’ll probably play it again tomorrow. More often than not it’s an anthem of joy.

11 (Ecce beatam lucem): A very similar work to Spem, but discovered some time after so doesn’t enjoy ‘first love’ affection.

Tracks 2, 3, and 4 (Jersey Boys): This is all good stuff. Pure musical theatre schmaltz, to which I was introduced by a good friend. Often hits the iPod on a summer’s day. A sign of many happy days.

8 (Beautiful people): A TV show theme. How deeply embarrassing. But a pure feel good choon, so a sign of many a happy day.

13 (Monteverdi 1610 Vespers): The first movement is an expansive joyous sound. If Spem were to be a funeral piece for me, Deus in adjutorium meum intende is there for if/when I walk down the aisle.

Bad times

Tracks 4, 9, 12 (Ariadne’s Lament): I’m a little sorry to see this feature so highly, as these tracks show hours of troubled and perhaps conflicted thought. This collection of Monteverdi madrigals is haunting, and particularly useful when mentally navigating ethical dilemmas.  These tracks were prominent during a period in one job when we were making big and difficult decisions with real impact on the lives of  many good people.

10 (Misty rain): In the weeks immediately after the onset of Tinnitus earlier this year, I needed this track of natural rain noise playing through speakers next to the bed in order to mask the whistling in the ear, so I could get to sleep. These days the tinnitus is less of an intruder (it’s still there, it’s just familiar now), so this track is rarely played.

14 (Run): A tearjerker. Featured heavily in the services following the death of friend and fellow Liberal Democrat campaigner Neil Trafford.

15 (Life is): Again I’m surprised to see this in the top 15. This song by Runrig is for getting through the most difficult days. This piece doesn’t make you feel better, but it does keep you company if feel awful!

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So on that happy note, that’s it… I wonder how this list will change in the next five years.