Is the car CD player becoming obsolete The Standard

The entertainment section was a major draw for many shoppers, with some stores offering free music downloads and in-store performances.

The Rise of Supermarkets in Zimbabwe

In the 1990s, supermarkets began to emerge in Zimbabwe, transforming the retail landscape. These new stores offered a wide range of products, including food, clothing, and household items. The supermarkets quickly gained popularity, and by the early 2000s, they had become a staple in many Zimbabwean towns and cities.

Entertainment Sections in Supermarkets

One of the unique features of Zimbabwean supermarkets was their entertainment sections. These sections were designed to provide a fun and engaging experience for shoppers. During the CD boom, supermarkets were giving over significant square footage to entertainment sections. The whole family could listen to songs such as Mapurisa by Andy Brown, MuGarden by Winky D and Zimbabwe by Thomas Mapfumo. Some popular entertainment options included: + In-store music performances + Free music downloads + Karaoke sessions + Gaming consoles and games

The Impact of Supermarkets on Zimbabwean Culture

The rise of supermarkets in Zimbabwe had a significant impact on the country’s culture.

The Problem of Music Taste

Music is a highly subjective and personal preference. What one person enjoys, another might despise. This is especially true when it comes to family members with differing musical tastes. While some family members might enjoy listening to upbeat and catchy tunes, others might find them annoying or unlistenable. This can lead to a frustrating situation where family members are forced to listen to music they dislike, often resulting in a strained atmosphere.

The last time I regularly drove a car with a CD player, the door pocket selections were Ndangariro by Thomas Mapfumo and Nyarara Mwanawe by Oliver Mtukudzi giving me an enduring fondness for each one. I still enjoy these two artistes when on a long drive. Now, I know there’s an upside to it, from a collector’s standpoint, as their CDs can be found so cheaply these days. If one walks into the streets of Harare, it is easy to find such CDs (although mostly pirated) for only a dollar each. But it still gets on my nerves that so many people these days only use Spotify/their phones to listen to music when CDs sound objectively better in most cases, and come with nifty booklets. The more I think about it, the more I realise CDs are incredibly underrated. CDs are a good blend of digital and physical, offering sharp, high-quality, digital sound with the tactile ritual of physical media. Usually when one technology is replaced by another, it’s because it’s objectively better, as was the case with DVD replacing VHS, or CDs replacing cassettes etc., but Spotify is not an improvement over CDs from a sound quality standpoint at all. Music streamed on my phone sounds so tinny and awful, that it’s borderline un-listenable to me. I don’t think that’s just nostalgia goggles or a placebo effect talking. People will say they “only listen to digital music”, but um, CDs are a digital medium already. I remember being forced to buy a CD player after winning 5 CDs at a radio competition. At that point, I dropped the use of all my vinyl records but with changes in technology, I will have to wait for the CD to be completely obsolute.

Here is the rewritten summary:

The Joy of Listening to CDs at Home

I’ll stick to listening to CDs at home, where I can unwind in a peaceful setting, free from the risk of losing them in the car. There’s something special about immersing myself in music in a quiet, private space. The absence of distractions allows me to fully appreciate the melodies and lyrics, and I can let my mind wander without interruption.

Benefits of Listening to CDs at Home