Have you ever wanted to get out of town, but you aren’t sure where you want to go? Spotify has recently created Prompted Playlists for listeners where Artificial Intelligence creates a playlist of specific songs matching a certain aesthetic based on your music taste. Some of these categories range from themes like “Aura Ring”, “Parallel Universe: My Taste in Another Era”, “Meet My New Favorite Artist”, “Beats to Battle a Zombie Apocalypse”, and even to, “Roast My Listening” along with several other prompts. One category that recently popped up on my account was titled, “My Next Vacation Spot”. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do, and I was curious about what the prompted playlist had to say about trip destinations relating to my own listening habits. As I pressed a button to generate a playlist, I received a list of locations around the world matching my music style.
One song emphasized was “CHANEL” by Tyla. Regarding this track, the Prompted Playlist stated, “Cape Town, South Africa – Tyla’s pop meets amapiano bounce – golden hour drives, shoreline views, and a groove made for warm nights.” Cape Town is famous for its Table
Mountain Aerial Cableway experience. Visitors can ride a cable car in under ten minutes to Table Mountain where they can enjoy stunning views of the city and beach beneath them. And, when you want to experience an extra splash of color in your life, the Bo-Kaap neighborhood is filled with a plethora of them. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, these streets are located on Signal Hill next to the City Bowl region. Back in the 1760’s, enslaved Asian and African residents lived in the neighborhood. All the buildings were only allowed to be painted white, but until they gained their independence in the 1830’s, the slaves painted the buildings different colors to celebrate their freedom! The beloved neighborhood is now nicknamed the “Rainbow Nation”. If you thought Antarctica was the only place one could spot penguins in the wild, you may be surprised because in Cape Town, folks can watch penguins waddle on Boulders Beach! Located in Table Mountain National Park, visitors can look at African penguins while listening to the soothing sounds of waves crashing on the shore!
Another inspirational song listed was “Shinunoga E-Wa” by Fujii Kaze. The feature read, “Kyoto, Japan – Fujii Kaze hits that romantic, melodic sweet spot – quiet streets, temple air, and a little dramatic glow when the sun drops.” On the Japanese Island of Honshu, Kyoto was once the capital of the nation from A.D. 794 to 1868. This gem of a city is one of Japan’s most romantic cities and is home to thousands of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and hundreds of other historical temples. Shoguns, Samurai, emperors, monks, tea masters, merchants, and other figures played a part in Kyoto’s cultural upbringing. Not only is Kyoto rich with history, but the city has its very own bamboo forest located in the Arashiyama district! In this forest, folks can walk along pathways and take in the breathtaking bamboo plants while passing underneath pristine pagodas.
Furthermore, a third song brought up was “La Perla” by ROSALIA, Yahritza Y Su Esencia. The generator expressed, “Barcelona, Spain – ROSALIA bends tradition into modern pop swagger – sun baked streets, late dinners, and bass that hits like warm air.” Barcelona’s most popular attraction is Sagrada Familila. Belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world with a height of 566 feet. After 144 years of construction with the project beginning in 1882, Sagrada Familia’s final touches were completed this past February! The church contains 18 towers representing the 12 apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and the final one completed this year representing Jesus Christ. Barcelona’s most popular street is La Ramba. Originally a river that ran through the city prior to 1440, the body of water dried up and was eventually formatted into a street during the 18th Century. The Colombus Monument, Gran Teatre del Licieu, La Boquira Market, and Placa Reial are some of the top attractions on this street. The Colombus Monument highlights a statue of Christopher Columbus made in honor of his voyage to the American continent. Gran Teatre de Licieu is Barcelona’s oldest theatre which previously survived two fires and two bombings in the 19th and 20th centuries. La Boquira Market offers food stands, tasting tours, and even cooking classes for those who love to bring out their inner chef. Lined with palm trees in a square located in the Gothic Quarter of town, Placa Reial is a place visitors can go to relax, dine, attend events, and view the Fountain of Three Graces. This fountain represents Zeus’s three daughters in Greek mythology including Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia.
Cape Town, Kyoto, and Barcelona are all places I would love to visit! It fascinates me how our own music tastes can now influence our travel bucket lists with the help of Artificial Intelligence. Is this a feature you would like to try in the future?
Sources
https://www.britannica.com/place/Kyoto-Japan
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00994
https://globalist.yale.edu/in-the-magazine/bo-kaap-a-lens-into-the-rainbow-nation/
https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain/what-to-do/attractions/boulders-penguin-colony
https://www.barcelona-tickets.com/sagrada-familia-tickets/sagrada-familia-finish-date/
www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/page/1248/placa-reial.html
www.foreverbarcelona.com/guide-to-mercado-de-la-boqueria-in-barcelona/
www.insidekyoto.com/arashiyama-bamboo-grove-guide-walking-tour
kyoto.travel/en/itineraries/6-hidden-spots-to-visit-in-the-saga-arashiyama-area/
southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/visit-the-boulders-beach-penguins
www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-columbus-monument.html
hotelarclarambla.com/agenda/en/culture/teatre-del-liceu-building-with-history-in-la-rambla/
