Background music

WHATEVER happened to background music in public places? Does one even notice it in the malls or restaurants?

- By Tony Samson

(Is piped-in music still there?) When waiting for the order to be served, can you notice French songs being played in this Chinese restaurant? Of course, when the sound is too loud, elderly customers ask for it to be turned down — I can’t hear myself think.

Dentists’ waiting rooms and elevators used to feature piped-in music of soothing instrumental renditions of popular tunes. The familiar melodies were intended to lull passengers through an elevator ride or distract patients from the muffled drilling sound of root canal work inside the dentist’s clinic while waiting for their turn. (Is that melody from “Camelot”?)

Movies feature background music to set the mood of a scene. Horror movies employ the crashing organ sound, or the squeaky violin when the sleeping child-sized doll suddenly opens its eyes. Of course, movie musicals present the songs front and center.

Does life also provide background music for the highs and lows of getting through the day?