Dude Stops People Wearing Headphones To Ask What They’re Listening To

May. 26, 2011

By Brandon Scott Gorrell info

Brandon Scott Gorrell is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, NY.

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Upon seeing the title of this video I expected it to be some kind of lightly malicious, funny video in which passersby were somewhat harassed and annoyed by a juvenile sort of prank, but it actually turns out to be quite smile-inducing. It’s cute to see people grin sheepishly and ‘admit’ to what’s on their headphones, while others’ matter-of-fact reactions give an insight into their lives – who they really are and how they’re, at that moment, perceiving the world around them.

Music on headphones has the power to change monotonous daily walks home or to the grocery store into secret cinematic, meaningful adventures of which the listener is the only one aware. I’ve often thought about that with my headphones on – how a certain song can infuse so much meaning into a homeless person begging for change, the cars passing by, or a crowded downtown sidewalk, for example – but I’ve also thought it funny that no one has any idea about the world of meaning I’m currently swimming in. It’s sweet to be able to share that feeling, for once, by watching this video. TC mark

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  • http://avantgardebagpipesolos.tumblr.com/ Omar De Col

    that guy put his banana into his plastic bag

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Javannie-Owen/727585903 Javannie Owen

    What a great idea, makes me miss NY even more. I wanna go home !!

  • http://twitter.com/henryevil andrew

    I LOVE the woman at 2:43! She looks so happy!

  • Danielle

    this was so freaking cute! brandon, you're the best

  • http://galbatross.wordpress.com Duke Holland of Gishmale

    I never thought to ask.

  • valentine_kitchenson

    That was a perfectly good banana…

  • Lebron james

    why put people in this video who didn't answer you? if they don't want to be in your video leave them out

  • http://twitter.com/aemalkin amelia

    I really like this idea, but wish they'd spent 3-5 seconds more with each person to give a better sense of that music/place interaction.

  • http://twitter.com/adamhump adamhump

    like the video

    the other day I saw two people carrying on a conversation while listening to two different ipods… it seemed very futuristic, imagining them in two different and distinct emotional worlds, but communicating at the same time

  • Na

    This is cool. 

    You can also tell a lot about a person by their immediate reaction to being put on camera unexpectedly.

  • http://twitter.com/ellie_rex danielle garza

    Great video and article! So true. I wear my iPod everywhere and feel the exact same.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=598182642 Zachary Birney

    This stuff is so inspiring, great idea.

  • http://twitter.com/craigrandall Craig Randall

    I liked the very non-player looking kid, listening to Big Pun.

  • http://twitter.com/ellie_rex danielle garza

    It was also interesting to see who didn't want to be filmed. Kinda added a little more humor in there, too.

  • http://twitter.com/dianasof Diana Z.

    I always wonder about that when I'm on the bus! It's like everyone's in their own little world, it's nice that the video kind of takes them out of it.

  • http://twitter.com/brownnnbear Jocelyn

    but isn't it kind of sad that most of these people don't know what song they're listening to without checking their device?

  • JacksonNieuwland

    saving it for later

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VQNMEG3AILTODASQD7ESMWQ5GM tywo

    The man at 4:15 made my night!

  • http://brianburke.tumblr.com/ brian burke

    this is so great, and only 100,000 views.  any bets on how high it will go?

  • Lebron james

    yeah you're right, people are obligated to be on camera without their permission because it makes youtube funnier. i know that's the culture and this example isn't a big deal but it's still annoying

  • monotonous

    How can a walk through Times Square be monotonous? If you keep your eyes open you'll see something brand new every day.

  • http://dzine-studios.com Dan

    First off, I laughed when the Rasta-looking dude was listening to Bob Marley. I love it when stereotypes come true. And wow, only one person out of all those was listening to some form of metal (Korn, but they're not even that metal).

  • http://www.oneyearintexas.com Perfect Circles

    There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

    Nelson Mandela, 
    'A Long Walk to Freedom'

  • http://www.oneyearintexas.com Perfect Circles

    I'm going to start hanging out in Times Square until this guy asks me what I'm listening to or I get killed by a terrorist attack, whichever comes first.

  • greg

    This was the shit

  • greg

    no

  • Buzzing sound

    No.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=533690625 Crispin Best

    frick. feelin so nice right now.

  • plaintiago

    Great video, it made me smile and understand how everyone uses music to turn their daily routine into a different situation.

  • padface

    I loved the girl who was embarrassed by listening to Kanye West.

  • Rebecca

    my website has been doing just the same since january: http://metrophones.tumblr.com/

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    IT'S NOT METAL UNLESS IT'S METAL METAL, AMIRITE?

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    What? Like an Applebee's?

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    super high, brian. super high.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    no. it's sad that you care.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    you're gushing.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    that was my niece.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    I bet you made them uncomfortable.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    people have space issues.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    anti-sosh

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    That's what my tax accountant said.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    good thing you didn't, weirdo.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    this is Brandon commenting incognito

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    she's on pain pills.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    it's a free country

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    I hope you're making money.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    I hope you're making money.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    no I hope YOU'RE MAKING MONEY

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    DRUGS!

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    asking what you're listening to is an act of terrorism, IMHO

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    alliteration

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    jesus.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    my favorite is the guy who qualifies listening to Fenix TX by saying that it's old and his ipod is on shuffle.

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    poppunk, ownit

  • Jelly Roll Morton

    also that silly ass listening to OASIS in a sweatshirt and the lady listening to Frank Sinatra who was really cute about it being obvious that that song is Frank Sinatra, you uncultured swine.

  • http://profiles.google.com/petertiso Peter Tiso

    I've always wanted to sit down next to someone on the train who has headphones in, unplug my own, and offer my iphone-  we each plug into the other's device and listen to whatever they had on at the moment, get into someone else's groove, and then unplug when it's time to go.  There needs to be a special hand signal for this, but the ones I can think of would probably be terribly misinterpreted.

  • http://someharddrugs.blogspot.com Carolyn DeCarlo

    me too! so cute!

  • boogies

    why is that last guy listening to lady gaga?..

  • http://twitter.com/itchypeach etsena

    since 2004 bby!

  • http://www.facebook.com/ela.kaimo Ela Kaimo

    I want to do something like this :)

  • inflammatorywrit

    Give it a rest, Jelly Roll!

  • http://www.facebook.com/gregpphoto Greg Petliski

    Thats cuz metal is for angry teenage and 20-something year old white kids.

  • Danielle

    haha nope, just his biggest fan ya know

  • http://www.facebook.com/martcol Martin Coleman

    People should talk more.  Pity we need to wait for a stranger to shove a video camera in our face.  I enjoyed this and it made me think.

  • Grace

    Why did also throw a peeled banana into his bag?

  • anony

    omg qtpi! i luv how she said frank sinatra like c'mon

  • Megan

    What's the problem with him listening to Lady Gaga?

  • Guest

    Get over it.

  • http://metrophones.tumblr.com/ Rebecca Raia

    I am not, but it would be sweet! It takes so much of my time and effort, and as much as I looove doing it, it is a lot of work. It compensates though.

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