I'm mellowing out to the sounds of some smooth jazz. The soft, rhythmic strains of The Rippingtons are the perfect backdrop to computer time...or scrapbook time...or just about any time. It's not on the iPod, although you'd find The Rippingtons on my iPod. I can listen to the little gadget for a while but before long the earbuds start to bother me. And for several years the music flowed from my little XM radio. Channel 71...Watercolors. Just the name sounds smooth and relaxing, doesn't it. But my music tonight isn't coming from there either.
Tonight, as has become the habit lately, I'm tuned into Pandora Radio onthe Internet. I'm probably the last person on the planet to discover Pandora but now that I have I'm in love. It's my own custom radio station playing just the songs I like to hear with minimal interruption. I like to think of it as myTunes...what could be better than that?
On my first visit, I simply entered the names of some of my favorite artists...David Sanborn, Fourplay, Mindi Abair. Pandora draws on its huge database and plays music from only only those talented people but also from others with a similar style. You can give each tune a thumbs up to tell Pandora you like the song and to play more like it, or a thumbs down and Pandora will apologize and tell you it will never play that song again. There are some general musical categories too but I like the idea of zeroing in on music I know I enjoy.
There are some other fun features as well. Feel like jazz today and hip hop tomorrow? No problem...you can create multiple stations to fit your every mood. You can bookmark songs you really, really like then buy them through iTunes. And you can even create a custom station and e-mail the link to it to a friend.
And it's all free. Yep...I've become a huge fan of Pandora.
So while I'm grooving to a little Chris Botti I'll solve the riddle from yesterday of who picked which shirts. Wayne chose the dark blue one (but I loved it, too) and the white one with stripes. I'll take the credit/blame for the bright green one (it looks great with navy slacks) and the plain white one. White goes with everything and is the coolest color in the summer heat.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to hum along with Dave Koz while I wrap up my Internet time. You could be listening to Dave too...just head over to Pandora and put make your own myTunes.
Nope...you aren't the last person to discover Pandora Radio. I never even heard of it before reading this post. (but then I don't do iTunes, either. I have an MP3 player with a dead battery. LOL I just haven't taken the time to explore this stuff.
Thanks for the heads up. I will be checking it out sometime soon!
Posted by: Jeanne | August 13, 2009 at 07:17 AM
I work for a company called Livio, we took Pandora and put it on an easy to use standalone internet radio. It works wirelessly (with wifi). It lets you create stations and rate songs just like you would online. It also provided 16,000 internet radio stations. Here's the website so that you can take a look. http://tinyurl.com/blog-jnl
Posted by: Jaclyn Livingston | August 13, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Nope, me either.....you are just a wealth of information. I love it!!! I am going to tune in immediately, if I can get these fingers to work faster than my brain. LOL
Posted by: Charlene | August 13, 2009 at 09:12 AM
I would love to discover Pandora Radio but alas it's RESTRICTED (!!) here in Canada. ARGH. Our stupid regulatory body won't let us have anything fun! Glad you're enjoying it, though :)
Posted by: Lee | August 13, 2009 at 09:37 AM
OMG, Brenda, this is the best!
Posted by: Charlene | August 13, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Where have I been? Haven't heard of it either! Thanks...and I'll be checking it out!
Posted by: Judy H. | August 13, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Gee Ms. B it looks like you might have opened Pandora's box. Pun intended! Wayne
Posted by: Wayne | August 13, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I am the last one to discover Pandora Radio! I'm glad that you enjoy Chris Botti & Dave Koz! Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: John | August 13, 2009 at 01:57 PM
I just checked out Pandora - Oh my - looks like I now have something else to "play" with on the internet! Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Lori Neal | August 13, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Oh this is just the best! Check out the iPhone app too.
Posted by: Amy L | August 14, 2009 at 06:36 AM
Oh I just love Pandora! Right now it's playing Louis Armstrong radio for me! Ian loves me to dance him around the living room to a great Louis Armstrong or Billie Holiday song.
Posted by: Dana | August 14, 2009 at 10:51 AM
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing Pandora, and no, you obviously weren't the last person to know about it.
Posted by: Janet | August 16, 2009 at 12:59 PM