Pandora's Psychoanalyses

Pandora now gives articulate reasons for why they play songs.  Though I don't listen often, I do give feedback about what songs I like, and I confess they're doing a pretty good job these days of feeding me music I really like.

After a few hours of listening to a mix of Christian music after the style of Rend Collective and Tree63, out of the blue they played Five For Fighting's "100 Years".  I was curious as to why... and the little info box said, "Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features pop rock qualities, a subtle use of vocal harmony, a prominent rhythm piano part, demanding instrumental part writing and major key tonality."  huh.  Not bad!  I enjoy minor key music intellectually, but it stirs up angst in me, so apparently my feedback over time has favored major-key music, etc, etc.

The next song was Counting Crows "A Long December."  I was curious if it would say the same thing; this time it said ""Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features mellow rock instrumentation, country influences, folk influences, a subtle use of vocal harmony and acoustic rhythm piano."

Goo Goo Dolls rendition of "Give A Little Bit" was played because "Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features pop rock qualities, a subtle use of vocal counterpoint, a subtle use of vocal harmony, repetitive melodic phrasing and major key tonality." 

I like what they've done with their algorithms--internet science at its best.