I saw this article where a deaf woman (since birth) asked a friend to create a playlist to introduce her to music (she had just receive a cochlear implant). What a challenge. Her friend decided to find one song from each year of her life.

What I understand about recipients of cochlear implants is that nobody really knows what it sounds like, because the people who are creating the technology can’t really use it on themselves. Of course, they can ask people what it sounds like, but from everything I’ve heard it’s less than satisfactory.

Out of curiosity, I thought I’d listen to all of the songs, and found them on YouTube. Here’s the full list:

1. Ken Boothe – Everything I Own
2. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – She’s The One
3. Paul McCartney – Silly Love Songs
4. Joni Mitchell – Black Crow
5. Steely Dan – Peg
6. Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky
7. Gary Numan – Are ‘friends’ Electric?
8. The Specials – Do Nothing
9. Soft Cell – Tainted Love
10. The Jam – Town Called Malice
11. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
12. Prince – When Doves Cry
13. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
14. The Smiths – Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
15. Fleetwood Mac – Big Love – Live (Lindsey Buckingham solo acoustic version)
16. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
17. The The August & September
18. Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart
19. Ozric Tentacles – Sploosh!
20. INXS – Baby Don’t Cry
21. Nirvana – All Apologies
22. Richard Thompson – King Of Bohemia
23. Pulp – Common People – Full Length Version / Album Version
24. Everything But The Girl – Missing
25. Foo Fighters – Everlong
26. Massive Attack – Teardrop
27. Jimmy Eat World – For Me This Is Heaven
28. The Avalanches – Frontier Psychiatrist
29. Daft Punk – Digital Love
30. The Streets – Turn The Page
31. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
32. Beastie Boys – An Open Letter To NYC
33. Nine Inch Nails – The Hand That Feeds
34. Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
35. Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
36. Elbow – One Day Like This
37. Maximo Park – Tanned
38. Gruff Rhys – Shark Ridden Waters
39. The Joy Formidable – Whirring
40. Bat For Lashes – Laura
41. Haim – Don’t Save Me

Personally, I think an introduction to music playlist should contain some classic music as well as other popular music, but it’s certainly interesting to see some music from another point of view. This list could more accurately be called: Introduction to Modern Music Playlist & Hits of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today! It’s like listening to a pop radio station in many ways.

What music is missing from this list, and why?