February 12, 2004
What your ringtone says about you
The excerpts (shamelessly) published here, are from the same article mentioned earlier written by Gina Davidson for The Edinburgh Evening News, and one of the most thorough and entertaining ringtone articles I've ever read.
This following chapter is entitlted "What your ringtone says about you".
• The normal ring: you're either playing it safe because you have serious reputation to uphold and can't be caught out with a tune which could be looked upon as unprofessional if your phone goes off during a meeting, or you're extremely uptight and can't bear anyone to know anything about you.
• Grand Valse: The Dom Joly of ringtones - the one that gets everyone's teeth on edge. This is still being played on your phone because you're just too lazy to change it - or worse, don't know how to change it. Same goes for the Mosquito, Samba, or Orient.
• Anything by Mozart, Beethoven or Rossini's William Tell overture. This ringtone is trying to alert people to your instinctive good taste, love of classical music, and highbrow pursuits. Unfortunately with the sound quality of most mobiles, it comes over as tinny and annoying. And remember true intellectuals wouldn't even know how to use a mobile never mind download a tune as their minds are on higher things.
• Themes to Rhubarb and Custard, Dr Who, The Muppets, or Star Wars. You might think these tunes say retro cool, however they're more likely to shout geek, or student.
• Themes to Pulp Fiction, The Italian Job, The Godfather. A real film buff type here - or at least someone who'd like you to think they are. Be prepared for long nights of the soul.
• Anything by Bruce Springsteen. Baby we were born to run - away from whoever has this or any 80s torch songs on their phone. Could be wearing old baseball boots. Eye of the Tiger is possibly even worse: the owner might think it's motivational, any other listener will only be motivated to clear off.
• Animal noises. A real joker here. After all, who else would have thought of something so witty? Just ask why would anyone except a zoologist want to have a monkey mating call on their phone?
• Fly on the Wings of Love by XTM. One of the most recent top ringtone sellers. Most likely to be on the phone belonging to a Chav.
• Beyonce Knowles, Crazy in Love.Well at least you're not alone if this is what rings out as it was the top selling ringtone of the last year - and it's just won her a few Grammy's. Not the most original though.
See also related article posted last June: Your choice of ringtones reveal more about yourself that you might think
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