It is the end of the year, which means I like to crunch the numbers around my digital music collection and listening habits.
According to iTunes, out of 10,217 unique tracks in my collection, the one I played most often in 2016 was “Rey’s Theme,” composed by John Williams for Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). I played this beautiful piece 21 times this year.
When it comes to music, 2016 was apparently the year of Star Wars for me. Out of my 40 most played tracks, a whopping 38 of them are by John Williams for various Star Wars films. For instance, I played “Princess Leia’s Theme” from Star Wars (1977) 14 times throughout the year.
I love Star Wars music, but even I was shocked at how it dominated considering the diverse amount of music to which I think I listen.
Cover of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS soundtrack
Elvis Presley was the only other individual to crack my top 40. “Burning Love” (1972) came in at #4 overall with 17 plays. “How The Web Was Woven” (1970) finished in a 4-way tie for #37 with 11 plays.
I listened to 6,083 Elvis songs using iTunes or my iPods in 2016 (including additional plays of the same song, such as “Promised Land” [1973] 10 times).
On average, that is nearly 17 Elvis songs a day. I listened to 2,231 different Elvis tracks during the year, out of 4,050 unique Elvis recordings in my collection.
I currently have 6,167 non-Elvis tracks in my collection. With 5,815 total plays, I listened to about 16 non-Elvis songs a day.
Overall, I listened to 11,898 music tracks using iTunes or my iPods this year. That works out to almost 33 recordings a day.
These counts exclude the additional time I spent listening to records and CDs. While not as many CDs, I definitely played a ton of records this year. The funny thing is, many of them were also Star Wars and Elvis Presley. I suppose I am nothing if not consistent.
Thank you for reading my little blog. Here’s hoping you have a wonderful 2017.
The beautiful Ann-Margret appears as Elvis’ co-star and love interest, Rusty Martin.
As a variety of cars take their places on the starting grid, Elvis is a late entry.
Elvis’ main rival, who is favored to win the race, drives a red-orange racecar.
Elvis’ supporters take a helicopter to watch the race from the air above the desert.
In his silver and blue racecar, Elvis concentrates as the race across the desert begins.
Elvis tries to catch up to the leader.
Elvis checks to the right, wearing a lightning bolt on his helmet. (This actually looks a lot like the TCB lightning bolt that Elvis would later use as a personal emblem.)
Elvis’ supporters watch the race with mounting dread.
Elvis finally begins to close in on the leader.
Elvis pulls alongside the leader, who has a much bigger racecar than he does.
Elvis’ supporters can’t watch, for they fear he will crash out of the race.
Elvis’ rival crashes and the rest of the field passes by.
Elvis’ supporters celebrate as he takes the lead.
Elvis wins the race!
And Elvis gets the girl! (Lucky marries Rusty.)
I cover many subjects here on The Film Frontier. Beyond key ones like Star Trek, Star Wars, Superman, and Elvis Presley, I also give love to, among others, The Twilight Zone, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Charles Schulz’ Peanuts gang from time-to-time. I like to think this is a rather eclectic combination not soon to be found anywhere else.
For a 1992 US Postal Servicing stamp voting campaign, Berkey also painted “Elvis Stamp B” (above), which depicted Elvis Presley as he appeared in his historic 1973 Aloha From Hawaii TV special (right). Berkey’s image lost to Mark Stutzman’s “Elvis Stamp A,” which depicted Elvis in 1956, his first year of national fame. Stutzman’s 1950s Elvis image became an official US stamp the following year, while Berkey’s 1970s Elvis image was never issued.
The Mystery Train 