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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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iPods Give War a Soundtrack

Our playlists are for running; soldiers' are for shooting—or relaxing

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(Newser) – Thanks to iPods, the Iraq war has a soundtrack—and it’s different for each soldier, writes Jonathan Pieslak in his new book, Sound Targets. “People can put nanos in their flak jackets and they are ready to go,” Pieslak tells the New York Post, and CDs are popular in care packages or on the black market. And though soldiers might look uniform, their taste in music is anything but.

Soldiers listen to anything from Eminem to Slayer to get pumped before a mission, but may transition to country or gospel during downtime. “I had no idea people listened to country music until I joined the Army,” says one Cure-loving soldier. The downside? Music is unavoidable in stereo-ready vehicles: “You are screwed if you don't like what is playing,” the soldier adds.

Israeli army reservists listen to music on their MP3 players as they wait for the rest of their unit after reporting for duty at an army base July 19, 2006 at Beir Guvrin in southern Israel.
Israeli army reservists listen to music on their MP3 players as they wait for the rest of their unit after reporting for duty at an army base July 19, 2006 at Beir Guvrin in southern Israel.   (Getty Images)
Iraq war combat veterans Dave McBee, left, and Andrew Cotrel, right, listen to music while sharing a headset in the quad at the
Iraq war combat veterans Dave McBee, left, and Andrew Cotrel, right, listen to music while sharing a headset in the quad at the "Soldier On" veterans homeless shelter, in Leeds, Mass., June 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
US army Sgt. Kevin Quinoes, right, plays music for fellow soldiers on Thanksgiving day at the Four Corners forward operating base, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2007.
US army Sgt. Kevin Quinoes, right, plays music for fellow soldiers on Thanksgiving day at the Four Corners forward operating base, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
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Sometimes you're like, 'I don't want to play soldier today.' But then you hear The Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme song and you're like 'F*** yeah, hell yeah, I'll go out on a mission today.' - Spc. Colby Buzzell

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