On a Lighter Note

[stoutfellow]

I'll confess that this is silly.

Every so often, I set myself a memory challenge, usually taking the form of memorizing some list - the Vice Presidents of the U.S., the titles of all 144 episodes of Buffy, what have you. This time, I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

The task: memorize the titles of every bit of popular music on my hard drive. That's over 2000 pieces by about 120 singers and groups. I'm taking them one singer at a time, and ordering each singer's songs alphabetically. I'm a little less than a fifth of the way through - 375 songs by 23 singers and groups. (The biggest hurdle so far was Celine Dion, with 51 songs. Fortunately, it's not hard to establish sub-patterns. For instance, six of her songs on my computer have titles beginning with the word "If", and the second words of those six are "I Love That We You You", which is bizarre enough to be memorable.)

Even if I get this done, I doubt I'll retain it for very long. But I'd like to be able to run through the whole list at least once.

Silly. Yes. I know.

Comments

[filkferengi]

Well, as someone who once spent most of a summer memorizing the first half or so of the Song of Solomon [hey, I was 12, ok?], I'm the last one to throw stones.

At least you'll know what you've got & what you don't. Enjoy your mental calisthenics. :)

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

And once you have the titles memorized by singer, see if you can do them in chronological order (veg)

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Mm, that's a little bit too silly. (Besides, I don't think I have the data for that. I could probably dig it up...)

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

Couldn't resist silliness. (g) It reminded me of a time when the Teflon Spouse was ordering a pizza by phone. When the girl answering the phone asked what topping TS wanted, he asked what they had. She gave the list. TS paused and then said, "Could you please give me that in alphabetical order?" And, believe it or not, the poor thing tried! Finally, TS relented and told her what he wanted. When he went to pick up the pizza, everybody wanted to see the idiot who had asked for the toppings in alphabetical order!

Fortunately, he has learned that the HornedHopper does not *like* practical jokes!

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

I think I'm glad I stick to lyric poetry.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I've tried that a few times - "Ozymandias", "The Second Coming", "That time of life thou may'st in me behold", "To His Coy Mistress" - but it doesn't seem to stick. I should probably give it another go.

Just not right now.

[sunlizzard.livejournal.com]

Well, okaaaaaay. But then who gets to sit there with a printed list and check them off as you recite them? Two. Thousand. Songs. 'Cause otherwise, how will you know if you got them all.... *grins*

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I use local checks. That is: I already have a list of the number of songs for each group. When I tackle a group, the first datum I memorize is that number. My (subvocal) recitations take the form, "Buddy Holly. 12. 'Everyday',...". As I name the songs from a group, I count along on my fingers and just make sure I get the right number. (That's not absolutely foolproof - I may get a title wrong but still get the count right - but I have other checks in place as well.)

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

As a result of your memory games, although you may have *other* things later in life, Alzheimer's and senile dementia won't, I think, be in your future. (g)

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

A consummation devoutly to be wished.