I never appreciated background music in a store until I shopped in one that was silent. There is something reassuring and consistent about a classic 80s anthem complementing a shopping experience, and I've decided I need it. At Aldi, a smaller market, discount grocery store chain, the only sounds are the conversations of the customers and crinkling bags. There is no background music above the aisles, no Elton John or Journey to ease you through your selection of frozen dinners.
Imagine yourself in aisle 7, staring at the cereals, deciding between Cheerios or Fruity Pebbles.
Can you imagine shopping without this?
With the encouragement to not stop believing, I choose Cheerios.
At Aldi, you can hear each other breathing, and, in the early evening when customers pick up food after work and before dinner, you can hear the tired foot steps loud and clear. At Aldi, the bags of chips have a crunch with more clarity than your typical store. These are the moments in daily life when you have the painful realization of a song being stuck in your head, because when there is no music you sing your own songs.
Rihanna is played everywhere these days. When I was in Aldi the girl I was with had moments of blurting "Oh na na, what's ma name?"
Then I started to hum the same song, stuffing the groceries into spare boxes from the aisles.
At Kroger I'm walking through the produce section, Fergie is singing a soft ballad.
The smell of your skin lingers on me now...
I'm finished, the smell of the tomatoes and potatoes lingers on me now, and I feel like that's how it was supposed to be.
Imagine yourself in aisle 7, staring at the cereals, deciding between Cheerios or Fruity Pebbles.
Can you imagine shopping without this?
With the encouragement to not stop believing, I choose Cheerios.
At Aldi, you can hear each other breathing, and, in the early evening when customers pick up food after work and before dinner, you can hear the tired foot steps loud and clear. At Aldi, the bags of chips have a crunch with more clarity than your typical store. These are the moments in daily life when you have the painful realization of a song being stuck in your head, because when there is no music you sing your own songs.
Rihanna is played everywhere these days. When I was in Aldi the girl I was with had moments of blurting "Oh na na, what's ma name?"
Then I started to hum the same song, stuffing the groceries into spare boxes from the aisles.
At Kroger I'm walking through the produce section, Fergie is singing a soft ballad.
The smell of your skin lingers on me now...
I'm finished, the smell of the tomatoes and potatoes lingers on me now, and I feel like that's how it was supposed to be.
Now following your blog :D Also, that Cheerios line is fantastic!
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