Turn That Damn Thing Down

Posted: January 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm | By: Alison Bonaguro

I think I have a hearing problem. Either that or everyone around me has gone deaf.

I just got back from a trip to Abercrombie to pick up a birthday gift for someone in the under-13 crowd, and I swear the music in that store could be heard a mile away. It is just so loud. When the salesgirl yells, "Can I help you find anything today?" and I respond, "Where are the hoodies with your gigantic logo splayed across the front?" ... it's as if we're having the conversation in a nightclub. (I have actually heard that the music they play is something like 90 decibels, so right around the same as a construction site. But that could just be an urban myth.)

But then I started to wonder how I'd feel if the Abercrombie music pouring out of their surround-sound system wasn't some brand of punk-rock-pop-hip-hop with a pounding bass but Lee Ann Womack's new "Last Call." Or a Darius Rucker song, like "All I Want." Or even that new song, "Heart Like Memphis," from that young new duo, the Carter Twins. Or if they'd put on a classic playlist full of old Loretta Lynn or Waylon Jennings songs at that same volume level. If I was completely honest with myself, it probably wouldn't bother me. At all. In fact, I might stick around to actually browse the clearance tables instead of grabbing the sweatshirt and hightailing it out of there. I realize that makes me a fair-weather music fan, but so be it.

Doesn't it make you wonder, though? If cranking that kind of music has done well for that kind of store, I wonder what stores would do well to crank country?

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Filed Under: Recommendations, Songs, Videos

Tags: Abercrombie and Fitch, All I Want, Carter Twins, Darius Rucker, Hear Like Memphis, Last Call, Lee Ann Womack, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings

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Reader Comments

Greatdivide08 says:

Posted: January 30th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Where I live,90% of the stores blast Country.
Kim says:

Posted: January 30th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

where I live, Every store plays something different. Its really weird to go from Bath and Body works’ relaxing piano to the rock stuff at A&F to country in Dennard’s to indian folk music….its a real cultural experience sometimes.
Kim says:

Posted: January 30th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

or a real trans-cultural experience if I would proof-read!
JCBlas says:

Posted: January 30th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

Hafa Adai,

Country music has always been a favorite of mine. However, other than thru the WWW, CMT no longer airs on our side of the world. I often wonder if it ever will. I enjoy watching country videos and still hope for it’s return to our little tropical island of Saipan. It seems like everything on TV these days aren’t worth time to watch, but a CMT comeback would sure make that cable bill worth paying! Wishful thinking is all I have for now, but if CMT does return, this little island of eternal summer would be paradise once again.

Still Wishing, JCB.
J.R. Journey says:

Posted: February 1st, 2009 at 1:30 am

Pandering.
Linda says:

Posted: February 1st, 2009 at 1:35 am

I have no idea what a store should sell in order to have country music fit in.

(I can’t understand the appeal of A&F. Their clothes are cheaply made but cost a fortune.)
Amy says:

Posted: February 1st, 2009 at 5:19 pm

I love going to cracker barrel. They play great country music.
twilighter says:

Posted: February 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 pm

I hate going into A&F and Hollister, they play crap music, and the dang purfume stuff they have make my head hurt.
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