Asda Fleetwood - That's More Like It?

Fleetwood isn't for the faint hearted. With more than a hint of the managed decline about the place, 14 years of Conservative misrule has laid waste to towns stripped of much of their former industry, in Fleetwood's case deep sea fishing, that now have little to offer but dereliction, crime, low-expectations, obesity, and faded grandeur that shouts of better times. Nowadays, aside from viewing the Lake District's highest peaks from its promenade, the best thing about the town is the road out, albeit with a respectively nod to the Lofthouse's factory, still churning out all manner of Fisherman's Friends lozenges.

Nevertheless, the weekly shop doesn't do itself, although that probably isn't far off if AI can merge thought patterns with records of previous purchases. A rare trip to Fleetwood beckoned.

Despite the necessity of food shopping, wearily meandering around identikit supermarkets has in recent months taken on a new meaning. I have my doubts that people buy more items if the background music is on point as subjectivity of musical taste is a very personal thing, but I certainly take longer than previously, albeit without spending more than usual.

Interspersed with in-house advertisements, Asda Radio follows the template used by its rivals, as well as Dunelm, the home furnishings purveyor and the 'do I really need that?' emporium Home Bargains. There were perhaps more interruptions than at other supermarkets, which somewhat undermined the musical flow. Nevertheless, some classics from Tears for Fears and Soul II Soul were uneasily juxtaposed with dross - ooh, controversial - from Destiny's Child and Joss Stone:

Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels

Becky Hill (and Matoma) - False Alarm

The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face

Joss Stone - Fell In Love With A Boy

Soul II Soul - Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)

Destiny's Child - Say My Name

As with every shopping trip that involves listening to music, the above included some foot-tappers in amongst those you wondered out loud if they would ever end. Fleetwood Asda scored a mediocre, could-do-better 6 / 10 from an overall experience that wasn't exactly music to my ears. 

Morrisons vs. Dunelm muzak

A relatively fleeting shopping trip by my standards resulted in 'muzak' being monitored in multiple locations; well, two to be precise. Specifically - Dunelm (formerly Dunelm Mill) and 'big' Morrison's at Blackpool's identikit Squires Gate Retail Park.

Would any musical gems, rough or polished, be unearthed? I will let you decide on that; subjectivity, and all that. Aside from suffering the egregious Scissor Sisters, from which anyone could become uncomfortably numb, I thought it to be a solid offering, and whilst I cannot recall which music was heard in each location, be it via Dunelm's continuous playlist or Morrison 'Radio' being interspersed with promotional in-house adverts, there was still plenty of opportunity during both short visits for foot-tapping and whistling to at least some of the respective output.

Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'

Taylor Swift - Shake It Off

Michael Jackson - Beat It

Texas - I Don't Want a Lover

X Ambassadors - Renegades

Empire of the Sun - Somebody's Son

Alfie Templeman - 3D Feelings

As one has come to expect from background music in chain stores, the predictable (Texas) was laced with interesting under the radar tracks from the likes of Alfie Templeman and X Ambassadors. Although only representing a mere cameo of what one can expect from a longer visit - perhaps if in one of these stores for long enough the playlist is on a loop - this precis was far from unenjoyable. A solid 7.5 out of 10.

Lost in Music: Morrison's Revisited

An extended stay in Austria resulted in a longer than normal necessity 'big shop' at Blackpool's Squires Gate Morrison's. 

A mercifully quiet supermarket, arguably so much so as to question what on earth was occurring, allowed me the luxury to do what we all go for to said emporia, whilst also being able to take significant note of the background muzak occasionally framed between tracks as the speciously titled Morrison's Radio / FM (frequency modulation not facilities management, with neither being correct).

The playlist was undeniably eclectic, and aside from the strains of Annie Lennox accompanied by Dave Stewart, extremely unpredictable. Some gems were unearthed amongst others that best remained buried. I will allow you the luxury to differentiate between the two extremes for yourself...

Sonique - It Feels So Good

Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis

Take That  - Greatest Day

The Cranberries - Linger

The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling (I really hate typing "gotta")

Nelly Furtado - I'm Like A Bird

Maroon 5 - Sugar

Tom Grennan - Found What I've Been Looking For

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

McFly - Obviously

Pixie Lott - Turn It Up

Elle King - Ex's and Oh's

A generous 6.5 /10 for Morrison's latest efforts. 

This is an occasional series on 'in house' piped music within some of the UK's largest stores, and has in effect replaced the original purpose and subject manner of this blog, the latter which has now been exhausted.