Tech Tunes: Songs for CTOs

The great thing about music is that everyone can perceive it to mean different things. Just because a certain song means something to you doesn't necessarily mean it represents the same thing to someone else.

There is plenty of room for interpretation in the world of music, and art for that matter. However, I highly doubt any of you have heard a popular song and thought, "Hey, that reminds me of my bank's data center."

That's why I'm here. I picked 10 well-known songs and tied them to different types of technologies or issues that folks in financial services deal with.

To be clear, these aren't my 10 favorite songs. I actually picked the technology issues first and then matched them with the appropriate tunes.

Cybersecurity: Rockwell-Somebody's Watching Me

Every time I hear this song I think of that stupid Geico commercial with the money that has eyes. Still, I think it's a fitting tribute to all those chief information security officers out there. Always wondering who's watching them. Always that constant senses of unease.

Blockchain: Buggles-Video Killed the Radio Star

This is a fitting tribute to a technology that has the potential to put a lot of operations people out of jobs.

KYC: The Who-Who Are You?

This song is almost too on the nose. I mean, the name literally says it all. Still, if the shoe fits.

HFT: Tracy Chapman-Fast Car

Ok, this might seem like it's just about the title again, but the lyrics fit. Check out the first verse:

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
Me myself I got nothing to prove

Machine Learning: STYX-Mr. Roboto

Couldn't have said it better myself: Thank you very much machine learning for doing jobs we're not capable of. Thank you! Thank you!

Digital Currency: Pink Floyd-Money

Ironic that this song starts with the opening of a cash register, which won't exist in the future if some firms have their way.

Big Data: Billy Joel-We Didn't Start the Fire

I think a song that recaps 40 years of world history in just over four minutes is the perfect musical representation of data the human brain can't fully understand.

Algorithms: The Doors-Break On Through

When that algo starts humming and you're making money hand over fist...

Cloud Computing: The Rolling Stones-Get Off of My Cloud

As the finance world gets more invested into the public cloud, I think this is the perfect anthem to sort out disputes going forward.

Dodd-Frank Act: Lamb Chop-This is the Song that Never Ends

I like to think that Shari Lewis, the woman in this video, is every big bank and Lamb Chop represents the regulators.