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September 15, 2009
"Best song I've ever heard at a Starbucks: Maggot Brain-era Funkadelic"
That's what business journalist Peter Kafka
writes on his Twitter page
. WHAT'S THE BEST SONG
YOU'VE
EVER HEARD AT A STARBUCKS?
Sep 15, 2009 3:57:30 PM
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Ball of Confusion - Temptations
Posted by: Andrew | September 15, 2009 at 05:27 PM
I heard "Avalon" by Roxy Music -- one of my faves -- at the Chicago/Main Starbucks in Evanston. That was three years ago. Heard it played once, and never again.
Posted by: STARBUCKGOSSIP WEBMASTER | September 15, 2009 at 05:42 PM
"you get what you give" by the new radicals
worst was "watermelon man" by herbie hancock. It sounded like cuckoo clocks and cell phones going off all at once.
Posted by: Kiwi02 | September 15, 2009 at 05:44 PM
The Magic Numbers - Crazy In Love (Beyonce cover)
and
MGMT - Electric Feel
Posted by: CoffeeMaster33 | September 15, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing.
No contest.
Posted by: Will | September 15, 2009 at 06:09 PM
MGMT - Electric Feel
The rosebuds- Nice Fox
Peter Doherty- I am the rain
Demon Host- Timber timbre
One red thread- Blind Pilot
Actor- St. Vincent
Keep The Car Running - Arcade Fire
Tenousness- Andrew Bird
All of My Days - Alexi Murdoch
Your Protector - Fleet Foxes
Whoever is making the Contemporary Grind lately is doing something right.
AND CAN I BRING YOU ALL BACK TO THAT BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN IN RAINBOWS WAS PLAYING?
*sighs*
Posted by: SPORK | September 15, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On.
Posted by: ... | September 15, 2009 at 07:08 PM
I'm totally with you, SPORK. We've definitely had some goodies. Starbucks actually introduced me to Fleet Foxes, bless its soul. And Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger was fun to blast after close!
And for all those old-school Starbucks fans...
The Decemberists - O Valencia!
Posted by: CoffeeMaster33 | September 15, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Hi Webmaster- I heard Avalon this week at my Starbucks in California-yeahh
Posted by: Irishgirl | September 15, 2009 at 07:24 PM
SPORK!
Totally. But it started to really confuse me how you kept changing artist-song to song-artist.
Posted by: Richard | September 15, 2009 at 08:09 PM
Springsteen: Girls in Their Summer Clothes. Heard it within the last couple weeks in store.
I was surprised to hear it, I thought Starbucks only played c.d.'s they sell in store?
Posted by: burnabybc | September 15, 2009 at 08:17 PM
PJ Harvey--Good Fortune
The Cardigans--My Favourite Game
Jill Sobule--I Kissed a Girl
The Shins--Phantom Limb
Mazzy Star--Fade Into You
Patrick Park--Past Poisons
Toad the Wet Sprocket--Fall Down
XTC--Senses Working Overtime
Josh Jopling Group--Human
Liz Phair--Perfect World
Nada Surf--Blonde on Blonde
I could go on.
Posted by: eleanor abernathy | September 15, 2009 at 08:19 PM
@Richard
I know I'm a mess, I was going to type up a better one with the artists/songs in the right place, but then my americano wore off and I took a nap. I should not open.
Posted by: SPORK | September 15, 2009 at 08:31 PM
@ CoffeeMaster 33, that's so funny, Starbucks introduced me to Fleet Foxes too! "Quiet Houses" was what I heard.
I also recently heard "Lost?" (just piano and vocals) by Coldplay. It was a pleasant surprise, since it hasn't been released as a single.
Posted by: BoldToday | September 15, 2009 at 08:37 PM
back when I used to hijack the music system.....
Dave Matthews
2Pac
Goo Goo Dolls
Live
Radiohead
John Mayer
...
Posted by: burned out | September 15, 2009 at 08:50 PM
There's a great band out there called The Bamboos, they're an Australian funk band. I can't believe they played them at Sbux once, it was great. Not sure what song it was, but I know for sure it was the Bamboos. Check em out.
Posted by: SBUX DRONE LOS ANGELES | September 15, 2009 at 09:48 PM
Dont Look Back - Antigone Rising
also LOVED all of the James Morrison stuff and A Fine Frenzy stuff.
Posted by: whatwhat | September 15, 2009 at 11:01 PM
senses working overtime by xtc and overtime by lucinda williams and phantom limb by the shins
Posted by: BlackApron | September 15, 2009 at 11:37 PM
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Viva La Vid - Coldplay
You and I - Ingrid Michaelson
Posted by: mike6545 | September 16, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Honestly, I am just glad we have the beatles.
Posted by: yay for beats | September 16, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Soul Meets Body and I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab For Cutie.
Posted by: eleanor abernathy | September 16, 2009 at 12:47 AM
Gravity Rides Everything - Modest Mouse
heard it probably a year ago and went back to put it on again but the program had switched over and the one it was in had over 3000 songs on it. I was so pissed.
Posted by: Zing | September 16, 2009 at 01:33 AM
I didn't actually hear it myself, but some girls at work were telling me that "Gangster's Paradise" came on, but it was a remake of the song. Hahaha.
I've also seen Wu Tang Clan pop up.
There's been some weird ones. Annoying ones that seem to play once an hour. I always bee-line it to the back when the opera comes on. No one likes it!
I've been putting the reggae on almost every time I'm on shift. Now it seems like all I listen to at home is ska/reggae.
My faves: "Harry J Allstars - The Liquidator" and "The Specials - Ghost Town"
Posted by: bcshift | September 16, 2009 at 06:21 AM
MGMT Electric Feel. I was hypnotized by that song, and ran back to turn it up every time it was on. It's still my ringtone!
Posted by: MElissa | September 16, 2009 at 06:45 AM
Michael by Antigone Rising
Currently I love the Creedence Opus!
My SM claims that there wasn't a hard drive disc for the Beatles launch, and I don't believe her. Why would they be selling The Beatles and not take advantage of playing them in the stores??
Posted by: Beantown Bearista | September 16, 2009 at 07:08 AM
mott the hoople-- all the young dudes
van morrison -- caravan
Posted by: flbarista | September 16, 2009 at 08:12 AM
My usual store had Christmas music going one morning...and it was probably May or June?? Poor basterds!
Posted by: redbean | September 16, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Mike Doughty - Bustin' Up a Starbucks. Yes, it's a real song; no, it didn't come down the satellite, we hacked the player.
Posted by: Shifted | September 16, 2009 at 09:52 AM
Oh man.... I give Starbucks a lot of credit for cultivating my musical taste. I started when I was 16 and work was where I first heard artists like Elvis Costello, Rilo Kiley, Pinback, Nada Surf, Kings of Convenience, Sondre Lerche, The Essex Green, Aqueduct, Belle and Sebastian, Wilco, Calexico, Cat Power, Earlimart, Flake Music (now known as The Shins), Great Lake Swimmers...The list goes on. Definitely pointed me in the direction of the music I listen to now at 22.
Posted by: . | September 16, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Your sm is lying! There is a Beatles disc!
Posted by: Shell | September 16, 2009 at 11:19 AM
bcshift: I can confirm the Ganster's Paradise. And Ghost Town is such an annoying song haha. I usually go back and change it. But that's why we have variety!
Beantown Bearista: Your SM is half right. It was loaded with the last disc, but was only unlocked once the promo started. So trust me - there's Beatles a-plenty in the stores!
And yes, the CCR Opus was awesome.
Posted by: CoffeeMaster33 | September 16, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Bliss-Wish U Were Here
Calexico-Frontera
New Order-Age of Consent (Actually, the Senses Working Overtime CD and The New Wave were the best compilations ever)
Posted by: Naptown Barista #2 | September 16, 2009 at 11:53 AM
The glam and senses working overtime CDs were awesome!
"hacking" the cd player by plugging in an Aux-in line is not "hacking." It's plugging in an aux-in line.
It could POSSIBLY cost you your job, and thousands of dollars in penalties for playing music without royalties to the publishing companies. I do it all the time, and the chances of you getting caught are slim to none -- but at least know the consequences.
The music isn't just for ambiance, it's a promotional tool as well, and corporate probably doesn't look kindly on you circumventing that.
That being said, blasting some Gun's N' Roses when there's no body around but people who don't care around closing time is AWESOME. Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast is pretty cool to see how old ladies will react.
Posted by: Will | September 16, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Eva Cassidy- Fields of Gold, one amazing artist gone too soon.
Posted by: InSidethaMallBUX | September 16, 2009 at 04:08 PM
We don't do the aux-in with the store player, but we DO have an iPod stereo in our back room -- everyone just plugs in their player when inspired and plays cool tunes. The only place the customers can hear it is in the men's room (vibrating the walls.)
Posted by: Just a Shift | September 16, 2009 at 05:50 PM
ages ago there was a peter gabriel/worlbeat/ new age tape that was awesome. a lot of the old contemporary grind tapes were absolutely loaded with good music. the cds were never as good as the tapes because they always had trash mixed in. then the good cds would all expire and it was all mambo italiano and all knids of other crap. the music went downhill right along with the company...
Posted by: jabanga | September 16, 2009 at 07:19 PM
I am just stoked we have The Beatles. favorite band ever! i usually end up skipping all the classical jazzy crap straight to Bob Marley or CCR.
Posted by: Back to Basics | September 16, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Back In Your Head - Tegan and Sara
Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
I've heard Death Cab for Cutie, some great Beck songs, lots of good stuff.
Posted by: Starbucks Barista 2005-2008 | September 16, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Handle with care would've been a good one had it not been censored...that killed it for me.
Posted by: . | September 17, 2009 at 01:40 AM
I can see it already. next week we will have an action item on the portal that forbids all partners to bring in their ipods to make sure we won't bypass any crappy music at open or closing time anymore.
Closing time... we should play that song nonstop in the last half hour, just to get the message across to all those people that sit down and fire up their laptops five minutes before we officially close. :-)
Posted by: me myself and I | September 17, 2009 at 08:48 AM
btw. I love that we are playing Carlos Santana lately.
Posted by: me myself and I | September 17, 2009 at 08:49 AM
@ me myself and i
come on! you totally love when people come in last minute to do that. ;]
Posted by: Back to Basics | September 17, 2009 at 11:14 AM
@ bcshift and Coffee Master 33
false. It was NOT Gangsta Paradise, it was Pastime Paradise by Stevie Wonder, the original.
Posted by: BaristaKat | September 17, 2009 at 02:54 PM
Yes, I actually kind of do like it. If they are nice, I'll let them know we are about to close BEFORE they unpack everything. If not, I wait until everything is out on the table, fired up, ready to go and then I tell them as friendly as possible we are actually closing the store right now and he has to leave until 6AM tomorrow morning.
:-)
Closing time, one last call for coffee...
Posted by: me myself and I | September 17, 2009 at 02:56 PM
TALKING HEADS. Who didn't get excited when Psycho Killer came on at 5 a.m.?
When I started working at Starbucks, KT Tunstall's Eye to the Telescope was always playing.
And agreed, the Senses Working Overtime was a great compilation!
There was also a song called Ca Va, Ca Va by Karl Zero that I love so dearly because it always made me smile.
Posted by: A 135er | September 17, 2009 at 07:37 PM
I still put on Ca Va Ca Va as much as possible. It was the theme song to HBO's 'Real Sex'. Tee hee
Posted by: northern shift | September 18, 2009 at 06:17 PM
and handsome furs! that gave starbucks more street cred.
Posted by: A 135er | September 18, 2009 at 06:20 PM
guantanamera
Posted by: satin | September 24, 2009 at 03:43 PM
hold on by tom waits
girls in their summer clothes by mr. springsteen
Posted by: steve m | September 25, 2009 at 09:40 AM
George Harrison "Apple Scruffs"
Wilco "Summerteeth"
Essex Green "Our Lady in Havana"
Al Green "Let's Stay Together"
Grizzly Bear "Two Weeks"
And currently loving the Beatles being played constantly. I know I'm annoying my co-workers by singing along to every single song. :p
Posted by: Chris | September 26, 2009 at 01:28 AM