THE RETURN OF HARKIVE

July 17. 2020 | By Wayne Jessup

While we sometimes obey a latent tendency to swerve holidays, let it be duly noted that Tuesday, July 21st is Harkive Day, pushing on into its 8th year, affirmed as something near and dear to our hearts. The brainchild of Craig Hamilton, Harkive is part of ongoing research at Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research at Birmingham City University “exploring the cultural, technological, economic and social factors surrounding popular music consumption in the digital age”.

Harkive Day is driven by social media posts on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook, examining just how music impacts the very fabric of our lives. Simply post about the music around you and what it evokes, whether it’s chosen by you, or something you’ve frantically hate-shazamed, as simply or elaborately as you wish. Ranging from hilarious to heartbreaking, it’s an endlessly fascinating trip through #harkive, a day to reflect and take stock of, especially this of all years, just how music keeps you going.

A fine new twist with this year’s edition is the ability to research one’s own posting history via the MyHarkive Web App. Viewing my own checkered past, the initial entry dates back to the beginning, celebrating the release of Superchunk’s “Me and You and Jackie Mitoo”, (from I Hate Music). Featuring a video graced with a simple conceit of thumbnails of people posing with their favorite LP covers, there couldn’t really be a better salute to Harkive

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