9 Times Music Stressed About Phones In 2015
This year in music, turning off was a turn-on.
“Nomophobia” is the fear of being without your mobile phone. For billions worldwide, our smartphones have become an extension of ourselves—connections to never-ending news feeds, receptacles for selfies, maps, taxi services, a means of speaking to your mom—and being without them can result in a queasy mix of anxiety, FOMO, and low self-esteem.
With nomophobia the new normal, it’s no surprise that artists have started reacting against it. In 2015, pop music idealized the touchscreen-free life: because the constant divided attention of having one eye on bae and one on the timeline is creating all kinds of problems. Here’s nine times artists asked us to switch off—and wished they could too.
1. When Drake got mad that women he invites over won’t stop asking for the WiFi code.
2. And longed for a good old-fashioned phone call.
That ubiquitous hook ever since I left the city you started wearing less and going out more captures a unique break-up anxiety of the smartphone age—that you can always know what your ex is up to, even when they don’t communicate with you direct.
3. When JME said don’t @ me, and Skepta added don’t waste my data.
4. And DeJ Loaf warned men off blowing up her phone.
Adding: I’m very anti-social, social network ain’t my motion.
5. When Feather promised Jeremih: Camera phone, I turned it off for you.
6. When Ty Dolla $ign wished his girl would believe him rather than social media.
Still you be going through my ‘gram/ Tripping when you know them pictures old.
7. When Kacey Musgraves switched off so she could get high, distraction-free.
8. When Adele got nostalgic for a pre-smartphone age with "Hello."
As well as using a flip-phone in the official video, the British superstar sings: when I call, you never seem to be home. Don’t they have iMessage?