Bonnie Reding

Music makes everything better. Throw on your headphones and do yard work, walk the dog or run on the treadmill. Even scrubbing the kitchen floor is a little less torturous if you can sing along to your favorite tunes while you do it. Hey, it worked for Cinderella.

The songs on your ipod playlist are personal. They are the songs that get you moving, make you sing out loud or relax you. Songs on your playlist can remind you of your favorite movie or bring back visions of that oh-so-bad blind date you went on in college.

The best part about listening to an ipod is you don't have to justify your music choices to anyone. Don't worry, you no longer have to hide your 'Air Supply' CD case. All of your music is safe from prying eyes, hidden away on your mp3 player. They are YOUR songs. You don't have to be embarrassed, you can jam to 'Wake me up before you go-go' by Wham and no one is the wiser. Your headphones will keep your secret.

Former President George W. Bush caught some flak for the 250 or so songs on his ipod. They included 'My Sharona' by the Knack, songs by Van Morrison and lots of country music. There were complaints by pundits that his musical tastes weren't diverse enough. Come on, who doesn't like 'My Sharona?'

President Obama's tastes are much more eclectic. During the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama revealed his playlist during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. He likes to listen to Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, (even the Commander-in-Chief, the boss, listens to 'the Boss'), jazz legends, Sheryl Crow and Jay-Z.

By all accounts, President Obama has good taste in music. One has to wonder though if there are any guilty pleasure songs on his ipod. I bet he secretly listens to *N Sync when he hits the gym.

You don't have to be self-conscious by the music that speaks to you, but if you are still listening to the Carpenter's Christmas album in January, you may want to think about revamping your playlist. In the digital music age, the sky is the limit. Avoid road rage by listening to the sound of a thunderstorm or Buddhist Monks chanting. Have a colicky baby? Instead of burning out the motor on your hairdryer or vacuum cleaner, download a playlist full of white noise. Create a playlist that makes YOU happy.

I have a confession to make. There is a certain playlist on my ipod that I only listen to when no one is around. When I am alone, I can sing as loud as I want and no one will be forced to endure my off-key warbling. This playlist is filled with songs from my junior high and high school days and is named after the street my friends and I used to cruise down every weekend. This playlist runs the gamut of 80s hair bands, cheesy country classics and so-bad-it's-good rap. The most cringe-worthy song on this playlist is also one I still like, no matter how humiliating it is. It's 'Ice, Ice Baby' by Vanilla Ice. Don't flog me. I never said I was cool.

Perhaps Shakespeare said it best. He wrote, 'If music be the food of love, play on.'

For the record, I can quote Shakespeare and still like 'Ice, Ice Baby,' the two are not as incongruous as you might think. Embrace your playlist, no matter how refined or humiliating it may be. Grab your ipod, find your happy place and rock out.