I read many, many more books than I review. As long as it’s a romance, I’m not too picky – Contemporary, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Gay & Lesbian, or any combination of these categories. I’ve been on a YA binge, or really, I guess more New Adult (college age or just out of college), and I’ve noticed a theme that is driving me crazy:
Music. Specifically, song titles. Not a playlist (at the beginning or end of the book), but actually putting songs into the story, such as this completely made-up example:
As I drove home from possibly the worst date ever, [insert random song from some indie band I've never heard of] played on the radio, as if the universe was speaking directly to me through my car stereo speakers.
At this point, I’ve got a few options:
- Ignore. (Anyone who knows me knows this isn’t going to happen.)
- Wonder briefly about the song and how it pertains to the situation at hand and silently curse the author for taking me out of the story to wonder about this random song, or
- If I’m at home, stop reading, go over to my computer and look up the song and take a listen.
Here’s the thing – I’m going to wonder about the song. But if I’m not home I’m not going to look it up on my phone because it will take forever. If I’m at home, I do not want to get up and go look it up; in the evenings when I finally sit down in my comfy chair to read, I don’t want to keep getting up and down to look up random songs by bands I’ve never heard of.
So I’m wondering…is it just me? I honestly have not noticed if it’s only ‘indie’ authors or YA/New Adult books. Is it a new trend or am I late to the party? Am I just too old and out of touch to appreciate rockin’ song references sprinkled throughout books? Would I mind if it was a bunch of 80′s or 90′s songs that I know?
Tell me, dear readers: What happens when you run across books with songs in them? Do you actually recognize the songs? Does it bother you if you don’t? (and if you don’t, do you go look them up?)
~Grumpy out.
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Unless it’s a Frank Sinatra or Beatles song, writers need to leave it out of the story. If the reader has to look up some obscure musician, then it hurts the story. Because like you say Patti, it only interrupts the flow of what would’ve been a great read.
True, I would recognize a Beatles song! Glad to see I’m not alone in being taken out of the story, thanks
I’ve noticed this too a little bit lately. I just ignore it. I am tempted to look up the band or song just to satisfy my curiosity, but then I just tell myself it’s made up and keep reading. I don’t worry about it too much, since I don’t even know the name of songs by today’s hit bands/singers. I kind of live under a rock and by under a rock I mean.
Also, I find naming off Indie bands to be kind of pretentious, like “oooh I know this totally awesome band that you’ve never heard of so therefore I am cooler than you have much better taste in music!” Just no.
I didn’t mention it in my rant, but yes, I do find it kind of pretentious too. I listen to whatever’s on the radio so if it’s not mainstream I probably haven’t heard it, lol.
I have noticed it in some of the books I’ve read and it bugs me too. Even if I know the song I think “is it really necessary?” Unless the song were some very important part of the plot, but for me I think while I know the songs now in ten years no ones going to know the song anyway!
Good point about no one knowing the song years from now! I didn’t even think of that.
I usually ignore it, although it annoys me, too. Titles and names are a big problem for me, they usually don’t tell me anything, be it from books, movies or songs, so I might not recognise a song by its title even if I am otherwise familiar with it. I hate to put down a book and go research so unless it is really distracting, I don’t bother with it. I much prefer when the author uses actual lyrics or at least gives a general description what the song is about, though.
I’m bad with titles too, and band names. Unless it’s someone really huge. I hate putting my book down to research too
Hmmm. I can’t say I’ve run across this but I don’t read a lot of YA. I’m assuming they think all YA readers (new adults) would get the reference and find it more “personal” than just saying “a sad song came on the radio”. But I’m pretty sure I’d ignore it. I’m good at skimming over things I don’t care about and I would likely not care exactly what that song was.
I want to ignore it but I have to knowwwwwww LOL, I wonder if it’s just my age that I don’t get it
I always assume it’s some culture reference that most people would get, but I don’t because I live under a nice little rock I like to call audiobooks. Therefore I just ignore it
I always wonder if it’s some deep meaning I’m just not getting…
I love audiobooks!!!
I could really care less about the song. That’s just me. I also could care less about the designer fashions that are mentioned — sometimes I know them, sometimes I’ve never heard of them but I’m not going to go look them up! I think it’s a mistake for authors to do this — it makes the book dated very quickly — and frankly, if I can’t keep a book in my library for a few years, I’m not going to purchase it.
Hang in there…
Yes!! I agree; I hate when they mention designer clothes too – it does date the book IMHO.
Hmm I never really thought about this but its so true! It always annoys me when something is referenced that I don’t know about and I have noticed an increase in music references. There are a lot of TV show, book and people references as well. I guess the point is to try and engage readers by making connections but it just distracts me.
I think they are trying to engage readers but, like you, it’s distracting.
I ignore it for the most part, but in general I don’t like brands, songs, or cultural references books, especially if the author is trying to be current. A lot changes in a few months and many references won’t be valid for long because of these changes. It kind of dates the book. & I don’t like all the 80s and 90s references because I get NONE of them and that is a bit frustrating.
Agree – they do kind of date the book. I love 80s/90s references but don’t get most of the pop culture stuff today because I don’t watch tv, so authors must be careful not to alienate readers either way.