Dear Urban Diplomat: I’m really, really sick of Bob Marley. Can I ask my neighbours to make a new playlist?
Dear Urban Diplomat,
I live in Kensington Market, so I’ve seen and heard it all. For months, the establishment below my apartment has been playing the same Bob Marley album almost all day, seven days a week. I don’t want to stir it up, but I do want the shop owner to switch up the playlist. How should I go about it?
—Negative Vibration, Kensington
Reggae in Kensington? Next you’re going to tell me there are one per centers on the Bridle Path, longboarders on Ossington and dog lovers in the Beach. But I get that your issue is not necessarily with the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley, OM, so much as with the lack of aural variety. I’m also going to hazard a guess that the proprietor isn’t the type who likes having The Man tell him what to do, so avoid barging in with hostile demands. Instead, bone up on the genre—start with Clancy Eccles, Larry Marshall and The Beltones—then strike up friendly conversations with the proprietor until you’re on good enough terms to convincingly recommend a few of your “favourite” artists. If that doesn’t work, try hanging felt blankets on your walls, which will dampen at least the most strident odes to Babylon. If all else fails, move.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/urban-diplomat-im-really-really-sick-of-bob-marley/&title=Dear Urban Diplomat: I’m really, really sick of Bob Marley. Can I ask my neighbours to make a new playlist?&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/urban-diplomat-bob-marley-kensington-market.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_240861" align="alignleft" width="292"] (Image: murdelta)[/caption]
Dear Urban Diplomat,
I live in Kensington Market, so I’ve seen and heard it all. For months, the establishment below my apartment has been playing the same Bob Marley album almost all day, seven days a week. I don’t want to stir it up, but I do want the shop owner to switch up the playlist. How should I go about it?
—Negative Vibration, Kensington
Reggae in Kensington? Next you’re going to tell me there are one per centers on the Bridle Path, longboarders on Ossington and dog lovers in the Beach. But I get that your issue is not necessarily with the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley, OM, so much as with the lack of aural variety. I’m also going to hazard a guess that the proprietor isn’t the type who likes having The Man tell him what to do, so avoid barging in with hostile demands. Instead, bone up on the genre—start with Clancy Eccles, Larry Marshall and The Beltones—then strike up friendly conversations with the proprietor until you’re on good enough terms to convincingly recommend a few of your “favourite” artists. If that doesn’t work, try hanging felt blankets on your walls, which will dampen at least the most strident odes to Babylon. If all else fails, move.){kind=link}
It’s a municipal bylaw infraction. When you’ve had enough, call 311 and file a complaint. They’ll investigate. Complain to them two or three times. Eventually they’ll advise you to take the store owner to court and will help you with that process. Usually sharing your intentions and newfound legal knowledge with the store owner will get you results. If not, proceed to court. You’ll win.
The Bob Marley album they are playing is probably his greatest hits or Exodus. How about you slip “Live at the Roxy” (1976) under their door, or the new Kaya remastered with the 1978 live bonus disc. Then you would have some variety once he started playing them. Attach a note saying that Bob would not want to spread the bad vibes of playing just the same album over and over again. Okay just trying to help.
The wonderful thing about Toronto is that every neighbourhood seems to have its own culture. It certainly spices up the average apartment hunt. If you chose to live in Kensington, to a degree you accepted a certain immersion into a certain culture. That said, it is awfully difficult to find an affordable apartment in this city, so we take what we can get.
Ask your neighbour to turn it down, and get yourself some headphones.