In the past few days, I’ve become fascinated with the idea of ringtones as an expression of personality and identity. While I was reading a music blog, I came across this very interesting quote from U2’s The Edge who was working with the MIT h-lounge ringtone competion back in February, 2006 He said, among other things that he sometimes decides whether he will like or dislike a person according to how their phone rings. Among his turnoffs: the theme from “Swan Lake.”
“Music you do in private” he said, “But ring tones become a public display, like a pair or sneakers or a T-shirt. People are going to use ring tones as a real expression of what they’re about.”
This is something I had never really considered. Until know I have been using the boring old ringtones that come with my phone, because as much as I love Beyonce, I could grow very tired of her very quickly, if she started singing everytime my phone rang.
So I did a little digging into the h-com site and essentially anybody who wants to can make and upload their own original ringtones for download to a phone as an MP3 or as a Skypetone. (If I’m late to this particular party, please forgive me, but I’m here now.) The music is from ordinary folks like you and me. Some are professionals living in LA and some are 13 year olds cranking out tunes on a laptop.
It’s been a while since anything online has captured my attention as much as the idea of DIY ringtones that anyone can do and the notion that annoying cellphone rings (like the frogs or the duck. Now there are some people I could instantly dislike) could actually become a new form of personal expression that doesn’t come from Total Request Live.
It’s possible for anyone to try this themselves by downloading a number of programs including Hyperscore, which used to be free but will now set you back around $40 ($30 if you can get the coupon to work. Sadly I could not.) Hyperscore says you don’t need any music background. But be warned, I’ve been playing piano since I was 8 and all my ringtones sound like something a second grader would give up on a really bad day. But the challenge to do something original and have a place to share it with like-minded souls online is absolutely irresisible. That and the notion of making my own distinctive ringtone. If I ever come up with one, I promise to post it, but seriously, I think it’s going to be a while.