Create a Musical Playlist of the Songs That Shaped Your Life
The fourth article in our Tech for the Fun of It series—simple, enjoyable technology without the jargon.
Some songs do much more than entertain us.
A few opening notes can take us back to a school dance, a first car, a wedding, a family holiday or an ordinary Sunday afternoon that somehow stayed in our memory.
In this activity, we are going to collect some of those songs into a playlist: a personal selection that you can play whenever you like and share with family or friends.
You do not need to remember every title before you begin. Part of the fun is searching, listening and gradually piecing together your own musical story.
What we’re going to make
We are going to create a playlist called:
My Life in 12 Songs
A playlist is simply a collection of songs saved together in a music app. Instead of searching for each song whenever you want to hear it, you open the playlist and press Play.
You can arrange the songs:
in the order they became important to you;
by different periods of your life;
from quietest to liveliest; or
in any order that sounds good to you.
Twelve songs is a useful starting point, but it is not a rule. Your finished playlist can be shorter, longer or something you continue building over time.
What You’ll Need to Create Your Musical Playlist
You will need:
a smartphone or tablet;
an internet connection;
a music app such as Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music;
an account for the service you choose;
a pen and paper or a notes app; and
about 30 minutes.
Some services offer free listening with advertisements or limitations. Others require a paid subscription for full control over playback. You can still create the playlist first and decide later whether the available listening options suit you.
The buttons may look slightly different after an app update, but you will usually be looking for words or symbols such as:
Playlist
New Playlist
Create
Add
Save to Playlist
a plus sign: +
three dots: •••
Step 1: Begin with memories—not the music app
Before opening your phone, think about different chapters of your life.
Possible memory prompts include:
School days
What songs were popular when you were at school? Was there a song from your first dance, concert or record purchase?
First love
Was there a song connected with your first date, an early romance or the person you eventually married?
Family celebrations
Think about weddings, birthdays, Christmas gatherings and songs that family members always requested.
Road trips and holidays
What played in the car during a memorable journey? Was there a particular song associated with a holiday destination?
Work and weekends
Think about music played at work, at the local club, while getting ready to go out or during a regular Saturday activity.
Songs that still lift you
Which songs can improve your mood today, regardless of when they were released?
Write down anything you remember. You do not need the exact title.
Useful clues might include:
a singer or group;
a few words from the title;
approximately when you heard it;
the film, television program or event connected with it; or
the person who introduced it to you.
Avoid copying long sections of lyrics. A few remembered words may help you search, but your own memory of why the song matters is more valuable.
Step 2: Choose your music app
Use the music service you already know, if you have one.
The basic process is much the same in Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music:
Create a playlist.
Give it a name.
Search for a song.
Add the song to the playlist.
Repeat until the playlist is complete.
Spotify’s current instructions direct users to Your Library, the Create or plus button, and then Playlist.
Apple’s current instructions begin in the Library section of the Music app, followed by New Playlist and Create New Playlist.
In YouTube Music, you can open a song’s More menu, choose Save to playlist, and then select New playlist.
Step 3: Create and name the playlist
Open your chosen music app and sign in.
In Spotify
Tap Your Library.
Tap the + or Create button.
Select Playlist.
Enter a name.
Tap Create or Save.
In Apple Music
Tap Library.
Tap New Playlist.
Tap Create New Playlist if asked.
Enter a name.
Tap Create or Done.
In YouTube Music
One easy method is:
Find the first song you want.
Tap the three-dot More button beside it.
Select Save to playlist.
Select New playlist.
Enter a name and choose its privacy setting.
Tap Create.
You could name the playlist:
My Life in 12 Songs
Songs I Never Forgot
The Soundtrack of My Life
Memories in Music
Songs from the Good Old Days
Our Family Favourites
Use a title you will recognise when you return to your music library.
Step 4: Find your first song
Tap the app’s magnifying glass or Search button.
Enter as much as you remember:
the song title;
the artist’s name; or
both the title and artist.
Several versions of the same song may appear. These could include:
the original studio recording;
a later re-recording;
a live performance;
a remastered version; or
a recording by a different artist.
Play a few seconds before adding it. The familiar version is not always the first search result.
If you cannot remember the title, try searching for the artist, the film soundtrack or a distinctive phrase associated with the song.
Step 5: Add the song
Once you have found the correct recording, look for:
Add
Save to playlist
Add to Playlist
a plus sign; or
the three-dot More menu.
Choose My Life in 12 Songs from your list of playlists.
The song should now appear in the playlist. Repeat the process with your remaining songs.
Do not worry if you only find six or seven during your first session. You can return and add more at any time.
Step 6: Put the songs in order
Open the completed playlist and look for Edit, a pencil symbol or the three-dot menu.
You may be able to move a song by pressing and holding the handle beside it—often shown as several short horizontal lines—and then dragging it up or down.
You could arrange the playlist:
In time order
Begin with childhood and school days, then move through the different periods of your life.
By life chapter
Group family songs, travel songs, work memories and celebrations together.
Like a radio program
Alternate slower and faster songs so the playlist flows comfortably.
There is no correct order. Choose the arrangement that feels right to you.
If the songs keep playing in an unexpected order, look for the Shuffle symbol, usually shown as two crossing arrows. Switch Shuffle off when you want the songs to play in the order you selected.
Something extra to try: add the stories
A playlist records the music, but it does not necessarily explain why each song matters.
In a notebook or document, write one sentence about every selection.
For example:
“This was playing during our first long drive together.”
“Dad always sang this while working in the shed.”
“We danced to this at our wedding.”
“This reminds me of my first job.”
“The children insisted on playing this during every holiday.”
You could send the notes with the playlist or read them aloud during a family listening session.
Another option is to invite someone you trust to help build the playlist. Spotify and Apple Music both support collaborative playlists, although collaboration should only be enabled for people you want to add, remove or rearrange songs.
Share your playlist
Open the playlist and select its three-dot menu or Share button.
You may be offered options such as:
sending it through a messaging app;
sending it by email;
copying a link; or
posting it on social media.
For a first attempt, Copy link is usually the most straightforward choice. You can paste the link into a private message or email.
The recipient may need an account with the same music service. What they can play may also depend on their subscription.
A short privacy and safety note
Check the playlist’s privacy setting before sharing it.
The exact wording varies, but the important distinction is:
Private: only you can see it.
Shared by link: people who receive the link may be able to open it.
Public: other users may be able to find it through your profile or a search.
A playlist title or description can reveal more than expected. It might contain a full name, wedding date, birthday or information about a relationship.
Use a general title if you intend to make the playlist public.
Spotify allows users to add playlists to—or remove them from—their public profile. Apple Music also allows playlists to be displayed publicly through a music profile.
Before sharing, ask yourself:
Does the title contain private information?
Is the playlist private, link-only or public?
Am I sending it to the correct person?
Have I enabled collaboration when I only meant to share it?
A shared playlist lets someone listen. A collaborative playlist may let them change
it. These are not the same thing.
Avoid unofficial music downloads
Use music available through legitimate music services or music files you are entitled to use.
Websites and apps that promise to extract or download free copies of streaming songs may:
breach copyright;
expose you to misleading advertisements;
install unwanted software;
request unnecessary personal information; or
steal account details.
You do not need to download or copy the actual music file to make a playlist.
How to remove a song
Open the playlist and tap the three dots beside the song.
Look for:
Remove from this playlist
Remove from playlist; or
a minus symbol.
Removing a song from your playlist does not normally remove it from the music service. It simply takes it out of that particular list.
If you remove the wrong song, search for it and add it again.
How to rename or delete the playlist
Open the playlist and tap Edit or its three-dot menu.
From there, you can usually:
change the title;
add or change a description;
rearrange songs;
adjust privacy;
change the cover; or
delete the playlist.
Be careful when selecting Delete playlist. Check that you have opened the correct playlist before confirming.
Deleting a playlist generally removes the list, not the songs from the music service. However, the playlist order and your personal collection may be difficult to reconstruct unless you have written the song names somewhere else.
If you cannot find a song
Try these approaches:
Search for the artist instead of the title.
Add the approximate year or decade.
Search for the film or television soundtrack.
Check alternative spellings.
Ask a relative or friend who shared the memory.
Use a web search to identify the title, then return to the music app.
Try another recording if the original is unavailable.
Some older, regional or independently released recordings may not be available on every service.
Your life has a soundtrack
When the playlist is ready, make a cup of tea, press Play and listen from beginning to end.
You may remember people, places and moments that have not crossed your mind for years. Write those memories down while they are fresh—or call someone who was there.
The playlist itself is enjoyable, but the stories it brings back may be the most valuable part.
Download the printable guide
Use the one-page guide while creating your playlist:
Download the A4 quick-reference guide:
FAQ
What is a music playlist?
A playlist is a collection of songs saved together so you can find and play them as a group.
Do I need a paid music subscription?
Not always. Some services offer free listening with advertisements or playback restrictions. Features vary between services and subscription levels.
Can other people see my playlist?
That depends on its privacy setting. Check whether it is private, shared by link or publicly visible before sharing it.
Can I add more songs later?
Yes. You can add, remove or rearrange songs whenever you like.
What happens if I delete a song from my playlist?
It is normally removed only from that playlist. It is not deleted from the music service.
Can family members add songs?
Spotify and Apple Music offer collaborative playlist features. Only invite people you trust, because collaborators may be able to add, remove or rearrange songs.
Next time in Tech for the Fun of It, we’ll explore another simple and enjoyable use for everyday technology.
Comments