What’s your ring tone?
Just the other day I realised: I don’t often I hear a fancy ring tone on a mobile phone anymore.
Maybe that’s because I’m fairly isolated from the outside world, working from home. Or maybe they’re just not cool any more?
Remember when mobile phones and then smart phones were the latest thing? My first mobile phone (2001) looked like a brick; the next one was a flip phone. So new and exciting!
The first ring tones were monophonic, and could only play one note at a time – but still, what a novelty it was to be able to download these lame versions of the latest hits.
Before long we got to have “real” songs and sound effects for a ring tone. I must confess to having Katy Perry’s “California Girls” on my phone about five years ago, when I got my first android phone … yup, I thought I was pretty hip, hop and happening.
And then I realised that I could *never* actually hear it, when somebody was calling me! Usually that was because it was buried in the depths of my handbag, and a fancy ring tone just can’t compete with the background noise of the shopping centre, office, or wherever I happened to be.
It used to drive the hubster crazy that I never heard or picked up my phone. So in the end I gave up and settled for the loudest, plainest ring tone to help me hear it!
But then I started taking lots of photos with my phone. And the constant “click, click, click” was embarrassing – especially when I was trying to do a sneaky selfie. So I started turning the sound off on my phone, relying on vibration alone to let me know if there was an incoming call or text.
It still drives the hubster crazy.
Fun and Crazy Ringtones
One of the more memorable ring tones I’ve encountered, was when a friend had Han Solo announcing: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” whenever a text message came in. There are times when I feel like that too, particularly about phone calls. But then I do have a bit of a phone phobia LOL.
Oh, and I’ve also heard it’s possible to set different ring tones to indicate different callers, but I haven’t got that far yet …
And can somebody please tell me – is it “ring tone” or “ringtone”?!
So what’s your ring tone?!
Joining up with …
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
I remember having a flip phone too! Thought I was soooo cool! lol I don’t hear fancy ring tones much anymore either (I don’t know if it’s ringtone or ring tone?) but I’m not in an office environment anymore. Like you, my phone is mostly on silent because otherwise it’s pinging and dinging all day long! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
The pinging and dinging would drive me mental – hubby whinges but my phone goes nuts sometimes as I manage a couple of Facebook pages for business as well as my own …
Jo Castro says
I’m not sure what my ring tone is called, but I want to change it because generally it goes off and I think – “Oh that’s a nice tune someone’s playing,’ and then realise it’s my phone! Yes – senior moments I know 😉
Janet Camilleri says
Hahaha I haven’t had that happen yet Jo 😉
Leanne says
I had a hot pink Motorola flip phone and thought I was in heaven. Now I have a pretty basic Samsung one but I do have Uncle Cracker singing “You Make Me Smile” as my ringtone because my phone hardly ever rings and I need to recognize that it’s mine when it does. I used to have “Moonlight Shadow” but (like Jo) I used to think – oh the shops are playing that lovely song – then I’d realize much later it was my phone ringing (duuurrrr)
Janet Camilleri says
I’d be more tempted to get a cool song for a ringtone if I thought I might actually hear it 😉 … oh that’s right I normally have the volume turned off my phone anyway! Silly me!
Kathy Marris says
I have a very boring ring tone, that almost everyone else has. I like to keep my phone on silent most of the time too because I get annoying Instagram and Messenger alert tones at all times of the day and night. I know I could turn them off, rather than put my phone on silent, but I prefer to work without interruption.
Janet Camilleri says
I’m exactly the same Kathy 🙂
Jillian Ross says
I always had the boring ring tone. Now I have the theme song from “I Dream of Jeannie”. I don’t think it matters what the ring tone is sometimes I miss hearing it!
Janet Camilleri says
I love that tune Jillian – years ago we made up a song to that tune and sang it to our cat of the time, constantly!
Deb says
I think when the different ring tones first came out it was a bit of a thing but most people can’t seem to be bothered with them nowadays. Plus they’re kinda annoying. I know people who set different ringtones for different people but I don’t do that. I can look at the phone to see who’s calling if I need to!
#teamlovinlife
Janet Camilleri says
Miss 21 tells me that setting ringtones is kind of a “middle aged” thing to do. So we mustn’t be middle aged. Ha!!!!
Denyse says
I change my ringtone fairly frequently. I like music and songs that stand out for me. I did have “Teach Your Children Well” as I am teacher-forever…but the words came on at the beginning so i have missed a call at times. Now I have a sweet song my husband plays, Music box Dancer and I have the ringtone. I make mine about memories. I never use the phone’s suggestions for ringtones but do vary theirs for my messages etc. One song I have used on and off American Pie as it is a reminder of when I had a sports-type car, with top down driving on a solo holiday from Cairns along the bends of the ocean road to Palm Cove. I think of that drive whenever I hear that song! Magic.
Janet Camilleri says
That’s a lovely thought to choose songs with memories 🙂
Alison says
Just catching up on this post, great subject. Mine is the theme song from I dream of Jeannie, whenever it goes off it makes the whole room smile, taken back to happy childhood memories and simpler times. Related topic, what alarm to you wake up to – early morning flight calls – leaving on a jet plane; Mondays – just another manic Monday; regular wake up 59th Street Bridge song (‘feeling groovy’) or Zip-ed-see-do-dah.
Janet Camilleri says
I love your alarm wakeup songs – what a great idea! My hubby is my alarm, I’ll have to ask him to sing for me 😉