Does Song Selection Matter?

The title of this post might lead you to believe that it is going to be about American Idol. Then again, if you're reading this you probably know me and remember that I think American Idol is lame. I am instead referring to subway musicians. Whether it's out of necessity or for creative freedom, various instrument-wielding travelers are likely to make an appearance on the subway. Giving money to people on the street or the subway is certainly a personal choice and I'm not trying to make light of those who need to make money in any way that they can. But a lot of people perform in the subway simply because they want a place to share their art (I saw a film about this at Slamdance two years ago, although I can't remember what it was called).

Anyway, I was on my way home from Union Square today and I heard someone start strumming a guitar. I rolled my eyes a little bit because often that can be really annoying. Subway time is me time and I tend to stay in my own world, said world typically involving a book and an ipod. But then I heard the song. It wasn't the bluesy fare like "My Girl" one usually hears performed on a subway car. It was Pink Floyd's "Time" from Dark Side of the Moon. Not just a great song, but one with particularly poignant lyrics. As I stood there letting the rumble of the train carry my thoughts away, I began to think about my life and what I'm doing and I how I feel like I'm wasting my time (these deep, pensive moments currently brought to you by my temporary unemployment situation). And then some guy starts playing this song with lyrics like:

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

I found myself singing along. Okay, not in the vein of Rent's "Santa Fe" subway car number, but I was definitely mumbling along with this singer. Normally I don't give out money on the train (mostly due to the fact that I never have cash), but also because I don't want to just open up my purse and dig around for money in the middle of a crowd. I hope this doesn't make me a bad person -- it seems like a reasonable policy followed by many others. But the minute I heard the song I knew I was going to give this guy a buck. I should encourage myself to be more giving all around, but the song struck such a chord with me (no pun intended) and I was compelled to show some gratitude.