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“Don’t rock the jukebox…
I want to hear some Jones;
‘Cause my heart ain’t ready…
“Don’t Rock the Jukebox” as performed by Alan Jackson
During a long auto sojourn some 40 years ago my husband and I first discussed our widely divergent musical tastes. I like show tunes, jazz and classical music; he favors country, blues and old Memphis soul.
He looked at me in wonder from behind the wheel and said, “You really don’t like George Jones?” When I assured him that I had lived quite happily without benefit of George, Merle Haggard and Joe Simon, he said, “Well what did y’all listen to up there in Chicago while you were growing up?”
“On the northwest side? Polka music, mostly,” I said.
So we’ve learned to settle for podcasts and conversation on long car trips, rather than assault each other’s ears with the radio. This humorous conversation came back to me recently as I shopped one of my favorite stores, a retail outlet that once played wonderful classical music for its customers. On this day country music was invading my senses as I wandered the aisles.
The manager appeared nearby. With a smile, I said, “What happened to the lovely classical music you guys used to play here?” He said, “Well, our employees like country music, so we play it.”
