'No Scrubs' for cleaning, 'Complicated' for hair cutting: Spotify lists popular 'quarantunes'

MANILA, Philippines — Music streaming platform Spotify has culled data from millions of its users worldwide to discover what people have been listening to while trapped at home under novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine.

But rather than just finding which songs recorded the most plays, the streaming app turned to themed playlists made by listeners to track trends in people's music habits while going about their daily lives.

Surely enough, outliers were spotted in activity-linked playlists, such as TLC’s R&B classic “No Scrubs” for cleaning and Avril Lavigne’s angsty “Complicated” for haircuts and dyeing.

Month-long Spotify data between April 17 and May 17 only attests to how individualized soundtracks have been popping up everywhere to enliven arts and crafts, baking, cleaning, hair maintenance, homeschooling and working from home.

Here’s a closer look at how our music taste betrays how we feel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

More fun in the Philippines

Even locally, it’s a “Party in the U.S.A.” with Miley Cyrus’ anthem being a common addition to cleaning-themed playlists.

The hugot nation must also be mopping their floors with tears since Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” and Dua Lipa’s “IDGAF” figured in Filipino households.

At the end of the day, we’ll dance to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and WALK THE MOON’s Shut Up and Dance.”

Hairography

They say that we dye our hair or cut our bangs – or both – when we’re going through something.

Nothing serves as better evidence than a recorded 50% increase in hair-styled playlists, often featuring these self-explanatory titles.

• “Complicated” - Avril Lavigne
• “Sugar We’re Goin Down” - Fall Out Boy
• “The Middle” - Jimmy Eat World
• “High Hopes” - Panic! At The Disco
• “Stressed Out” - Twenty One Pilots
• “Hair Cutter” - Animal Collective

Daily Grind

The most productive increase reported by Spotify, interestingly, are work-from-home playlists, exploding by 1400% since February.

Aside from the usual classical route with Bach and Beethoven, along with pianist Lang Lang’s rendition of keyboard favorite “Für Elise,” more literal titles ended up in employees’ queues.

• “Work From Home” - Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign
• “9 to 5” - Dolly Parton
• “10,000 hours” - Dan + Shay ft. Justin Bieber
• “Boss Bitch” - Doja Cat
• “Delicate” - Taylor Swift
• “The Less I Know The Better” - Tame Impala
• “Light On” - Maggie Rogers
• “Blinding Lights” - The Weeknd