It’s time to take a stroll way, way (WAY) back down memory lane: Spotify has released a surprise ‘Wrapped’-style feature, and this time, they’re exposing our entire listening history in one fell swoop.
For better or for worse (in my case, decidedly worse) Spotify’s new ‘Your Party of the Year(s)’ compilation has laid bare our most shameful listening habits.
Rewinding it back to day dot, the feature includes incriminating evidence such as your all-time top artist, the very first song you streamed on the app and your most-streamed songs of all time – right down to the exact number of times you streamed them.
Spotify has dropped a surprise feature, and it’s taught me things about myself I didn’t want to know. (Spotify)
It’s a nice idea in theory, but look at it this way: if you happened to stream Taylor Swift’s Right Where you Left Me 229 times over the span of a particularly drawn-out breakup, the whole thing may prove a little hard to swallow.
Nevertheless, if you’re prepared for humiliation at its most data-driven, the feature can be found exclusively on the Spotify mobile app by searching “Spotify 20” or “Party of the Year(s).”
As you progress past the introductory gold wax seal, a very candid time capsule awaits – collated in commemoration of the app’s 20th anniversary.
Right off the bat, Party 20 unveils your Spotify app-iversary.
READ MORE: Actor’s widow marks three months since cancer death
READ MORE: Rocker left with concussion after being hit on stage
READ MORE: Liz Hurley speaks out on her unusual romance with Billy Ray
My first ever stream was a song from an H&M ad campaign. (Spotify)
In my case, this was July 4, 2017 – a date that paints a very clear picture of my teenage spending habits.
Let’s just say purchasing a premium subscription mere days after receiving my first-ever part-time paycheck was certainly no coincidence.
My inaugural song stream was a 2017 relic from an H&M Coachella ad campaign, featuring model Lucky Blue Smith and the short-lived band his equally-gorgeous siblings had formed at the time.
But as a timely reminder that it can always be worse, one user cited one specific early-2010s hit as their very first Spotify stream:
“I joined in July 2011 and my first streamed song was (cringe)…Party Rock Anthem.”
Following the exact number of all songs you’ve streamed on the app – my surprisingly low figure of 3,423 indicating I know what I like and pretty much stick to it – the embarrassment then commences in earnest.
The Weeknd took the top spot for my most-streamed artist, which has since triggered an existential crisis. (Spotify)
Owing to my Starboy obsession of ’17, followed closely by a similar pre-pandemic fixation on Blinding Lights, The Weeknd took out the top spot as my most-listened-to artist of all time.
Really, the only conclusion I have drawn from this revelation is that I desperately need to work on myself.
Following on from that, you then have the option of exploring a playlist featuring your 120 most-played songs of all time.
Save for a few breakup-driven lapses in judgement, the All-Time Top Songs playlist is, by design, a nostalgic offering resulting in little-to-no song skips.
The All-Time Top Songs feature was a pleasant walk down memory lane. (Spotify)
Speaking to nine.com.au, Head of Music at Spotify AUNZ Ben Watts describes the feature as a “birthday gift” from Spotify to its loyal listeners, highlighting “the moments that have defined your time with us.”
“The last 20 years have been defined by the fans who discover, the artists who shape culture and the world that listens together. Here’s to the next 20!”
But while the drop was a fun surprise for some, not all listeners were as easily impressed by Party 20’s limited offerings.
Several Reddit users noted Party of Your Year(s) neglected to include fan-favourite ‘Wrapped’ insights such as genre maps, as well as gradual shifts in listening behaviours.
“Kinda cool but this is so underwhelming for what it is, this could’ve at least had genres,” one pointed out.
“They have so much data on their users that could create deeper content, journey insights, self-identification narratives, social dynamics….but they give everyone the the same info,” wrote another.
Many listeners also expressed their frustration over an app-wide technical glitch, speculating that the influx of users attempting to access ‘Party 20’ had caused it.
“Is this what crashed Spotify?” One commented. “My sh– is nooooot working.”
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.