This past weekend I had one of my best friends, Janooly, in town. On Friday we spent the day with her friend from high school, Paul. At some point during that day I brought up a postulate I have made before: why do women tend to buy more compilations -- soundtracks specifically -- than men? Last time I asked this I got one response, but no answer. So I will explain a bit more and hope that you can help me out.
It seems undisputable that women do indeed buy more compilations, in general, so let's move past that. The easy response would be to say that women care less about music as an art and think of it more as a social bond. In other words, they have a desire to seek out music that everyone knows because it will allow them to sing it with friends no matter what the song.* They may not actually sing it, but they will at least be able to recognize it and possibly bond with whomever is nearby.
If you look at soundtracks exclusively, then you could use the emotional argument. Being more emotional, girls want to be able to relive what they felt when they first experienced a movie. A soundtrack will bring them back to that moment.
Yes, these are gross generalizations about women, but I am thinking this necessary since the question I pose is a gross generalization itself. So, if you don't agree with either of these ascertations then why do girls buy more compilations/soundtracks? I am dying to know.
*This would explain why every girl at every Bar Mitzvah I attended in seventh grade knew every word to every song.
10/28/03 8:53 AM
A) Thanks for the link. And did you know that your site is the first Google place for a search for "Hey Ya"? I found this out at the internship today by doing just such a search. Quelle coincidence!
B) I think women/ girls (and I think it's probably more the latter) buy more soundtracks primarily because of reliving the emotions of the film. Hence a person otherwise disinterested in shoegaze suddenly pining for the Lost in Translation sdtk. But I also think some girls (ones I know) buy an album and listen to it until they are sick of it. This is more easily done when the album has internal variety (like a sdtk) instead of representing only one musician(s).
Wow. Long comment.
10/28/03 1:48 PM
As a woman, I can say, I have never bought a soundtrack or compilation for emotional reasons. In fact, some soundtracks I own are to films I have never seen, so I disagree with the emotion theory. I suppose some women might do this, but I know plenty that do not.
I think the main reason women own more soundtracks is the desire/willingness to sing and dance along with them. I think women, in general, enjoy singing (or dancing) along to soundtracks more than men (at least publicly/visibibly), specifically showtunes and themed movies. How many men do you know own the Rent soundtrack (or Boogie Nights or the Big Chill) and sing (dance) along to it with their friends? If you did know such a man, what are the chances that he is gay or made fun of for his affinity for engaging in this behavior? Do you follow?
There are several other reasons to buy soundtracks, such as liking the collection of good music on one CD, and not wanting to buy an album for each artist on there, but I don't think that reason is exclusive to women.
I could go on, but don't feel like it. bye bye.
10/29/03 10:33 AM
Hi kids. I agree with both of you, especially Kara (sorry PauL). When I first read your comments I was ready to come back with more questions, but I think Kara might have hit it on the head.
I do suspect there is more to this issue though. I'm not quite sure what but I'm hoping some more females will comment.