What happens when the music goes silent?

I was recently confronted with a tragedy that shook me to my very foundation - something so overwhelming and soul-crushing that I questioned whether I had the wherewithal to overcome it.

My ipod broke.

If this sounds dramatic and over-the-top then you are clearly not a denizen of the fine metropolitan that is Toronto. Ipod’s – or MP3 players to be fair – are as required for commuting through the city as legs. If you see someone on the TTC who doesn’t have wires extending from their ears – be suspicious, they’re not to be trusted and are probably terrorists.

So there I was ready to make my journey home the other night, about to tuck into a track by The Bravery (a very underrated band, but I digress), when I was struck with the realization – sound was only coming out of one ear.

I did what every audiophile does in situation like this – I jiggled the cord. I took the plug out and blew into the opening as if my breath would some how give it life. And as frustration grew I even gave it a few hearty smacks. But the reality was beginning to set in…this problem was beyond even my technical savvy.

As I realized I would have to complete my journey home without a soundtrack I became panicked. I looked at the useless dead weight in my hands and contemplated throwing it on to the subway tracks – a fitting outcome for its horrid betrayal – but better judgment won the day.

The rest of the journey was a test, as my ears were bombarded by all manner of new noises and sounds. There was the presaging voice – which I can only assume to be that of God – announcing every subway stop before we even arrived. There was the hub and chatter of the people on the subway and once above ground birds chirped in the trees and children’s laughter could be heard all around as the first days of spring blossomed everywhere.

It was horrible – I’ve never needed my ipod more. With all due respect to the unwashed masses, I’ve constructed a tidy little world in my head, and I like it that way. In all seriousness it does help pass the time when faced with the same journey day in and day out and the right song can change your spirits on a dime. There have been a few occasions when the right song has kept me from going shit-fit crazy on a cramped morning subway.

So now I’m faced with a grim truth, I’ll have to take it to the Apple store to get it fixed. Finding it shouldn’t be a problem – I’ll just follow the first Emo-looking super-douche with tight pants – as he’s surely on his way to ogle the new Macbook Air. And I’ll have to talk to one of their over-eager “Geniuses” (pretentious much?)…but that’s not the point. The point is my ipod is that important to me – more accurately my music is that important to me.

It’s fuel for my head on par with coffee in the mornings, as well as the calming voice in my ear that tames the rage. Like Richard Ashcroft said, music is power. And that’s one to grow on!