Muzak 2.0?

Mixed tape part 3

Jan 30, 2025

This is an age test:

Muzak.

That’s it. That’s the test. Either you know it or you don’t.

Way back when, in the days of yore, before Spotify and Pandora, before the Apple that would beget iTunes was even a twitch in Steve Jobs’ cerebral cortex, there existed Muzak. Piped into stores, restaurants, banks, and elevators, Muzak1 is to your favorite playlist as cheese-in-a-can is to a charcuterie board.

Muzak isn’t bad, per se, but it isn’t good. This lively, but bland, instrumental background music was purported to make office workers more productive and stimulate shoppers into buying more. Businesses played this generic soundtrack loud enough to be heard, but not so loud as to interfere with your cognition. Uplifting tunes should inspire you to work work work harder, thus making more money for your boss; or to shop shop shop your little heart out, also lining some pockets. Could it be that muzak is the soundtrack to capitalism?

In the late 1980’s the McDonald’s I worked at switched from Muzak to a curated blend of contemporary pop. The idea that music in public spaces could be, well, real, was groundbreaking. It was thrilling, to feel like the cool kids who didn’t have to listen to Muzak at work.

Husband and I recently spent time in Costa Rica. One morning over a most amazing buffet breakfast, we heard two different instrumental muzak-y type versions of Every Breath You Take, two songs apart. We looked at each other as if to ask I’m not going crazy, we just heard this, right? (I’m deaf in one ear, so can’t always trust what I’m hearing; but also, I used to be a Police/Sting superfan, so I’ve listened to that song no less than a million times.)

Wherever we went this same sort of music chirped away around us: Bossa-Nova-ish covers of pop hits from the past 40 years. Is this what the service industry in Costa Rica thinks white people want to hear while on vacation, this 21st Century muzak? No thank you. Cumbia, a spirited joyful music swirling with accordion, trumpet, flute, and maracas, is the musical backbone of Latin America: more of that, please.

A little bit of research turned up that any tourism-related business in Costa Rica is subject to paying royalty fees for any music they play for customers/clients. So perhaps this cover music is less expensive to play than the originals?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think there was a very high probability of us un-aliving on the goat track that google maps sent us on, but this view was a nice benefit.

This leads me to the next addition to our Mixed Tape of Joy songs.

I bet you thought I was going to say cover songs, right? No. We’re going international here.

In case you missed it, here are parts 1 and 2 of our mixed tape fun.

This week’s assignment:

Add one (or more) Latin American song, or song by Latin American artist that brings you joy.

My pick:

Need your memory jogged? Check here or here or here for the songs you know and love by Latin American artists.

See you on Sunday.

Remember this is a judgement free zone.

Spread this joy like frosting on a cake.

I’m always open to ideas, suggestions, shenanigans, tomfoolery, collaborations, cheese, snacks, and field trips.

You can find my art here and here. I offer custom workshops and design. I am the proud guardian/custodian of a 16 year old cheeseburger named Patty.

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Fun fact: Muzak is both a brand name (retired in 2011) and a commonplace name.