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My mum bought my wife an Alexa for her birthday against my half-hearted objections. Probably mostly because I'm a grumpy bugger (and our four year old likes using it to repeatedly request 'Mr Blue Sky' on a constant loop) it already annoys me.
Mainly because every third song prompts an invitation to sign up to £15 a month Amazon unlimited or something, but also because those requests that Alexa can provide often seem to be 'cut-rate' versions of songs, as if they would rather play you a B-side or studio out take or something.
I'm mostly just curious if anyone else has noticed this, Google search autofills my question as if other people have asked it too, but no useful answers...
Ta
There's no free music really. In theory you could create a free Spotify account and use that, somehow in practice these things are always more complex than they seem though! And always seem to default to Amazon's infrastructure.
Easiest way is to use Spotify on your phone and then pick Alexa as the speaker through the Spotify app.
You'd need to pick the songs rather than asking Alexa though.
We pay £7.99 for Prime Unlimited Music - the free music is restricted. We only have one user, hence the cheaper price, so can 'occasionally' mean me or the Mrs kick each other off. My older kids use Spotify.
We too have the cheapy one person option. Despite the fact we have a house ridden with echos and kids we still muddle through.
Top tip, if you put songs on play lists and ask her to play the play lists, it still allows multiple echos to play music at the same time. Don't ask me why, but it works.
I have wondered why there are so many "remastered in 2011" songs on there. I'd like to say it's because the songs have been remastered for the mp3 era and rubbish speakers. The cynic in me thinks it's because there are shady deals going on.
You could ask Alexa what she's up to.
Grumpy old guy content inbound. We have an Alexa and on balance it’s quicker to just whip out the phone and use Spotify. I have a fairly strong accent and Alexa isn’t down with it.
Plus it won’t play nice with the AudioPro speakers.
We don't bother with the 'Alexa' bit - just use the Prime App on our phones/laptops with mainly two Soundcore Motion Booms - bloody great portable speakers - paired for stereo
Can't say I've ever been Asked to sign up via alexa though I do get the ad every time I launch prime music app.
That being said I'm a prime (not music) subscriber.
I did notice though that s free weeks ago it went through a phase of playing really bad cover versions of songs, pub tribute act type ones that sound just close enough to be really really annoyingly bad.
I think Spotify through requires Spotify premium. It's what I have, it mostly works well.
Alexa gets in a knot sometimes, but I think that's mostly down to confusion between speakers or network issues. I've rejigged the infrastructure since I got them, I really should reset them but my GF then tells me off for "messing."
You know the Echo is also a Bluetooth speaker, yes? She can pair it to her phone and play whatever.
I’ve quietly witnessed my friends increasing frustration with their Alexa just refusing to understand a simple song request to ever consider buying one of the infernal devices!
I wish I’d bought one of the Apple HomHubs, (although rumours are that a new updated version might be on the cards), because I use Apple Music, and I don’t care about playlists, I download stuff, then either play complete albums or put in into ‘Songs’ and hit ‘shuffle’ - with around 54,000 songs, it can play for weeks! The main criteria is that the HomeHub is an outstanding speaker, especially with a pair of the Minis acting as satellites for better stereo.
Have you tried setting Spotify to be the default music service for Alexa? - I haven't but I hope that it would make Alexa play on Spotify when you say 'Alexa play the birdie song' and avoid you having to use clunky language like 'Alexa ask Spotify to play the birdie song'
Download the Alexa App, go to Settings / Music And Podcasts
Then link a Spotify account
Then click Default Services on the same screen and set Spotify to be the default
You will have to listen to Spotify adverts unless you have a paid for account
I hope that it would make Alexa play on Spotify when you say ‘Alexa play the birdie song’
I'd hope if you asked her to play the birdie song she'd arrange to have you euthanised to be honest but yes, if works exactly as in your example.
You can use less clunky language though and simply say alexa play Ed sheeran on amazon music, or alexa play tight fit on Spotify.
In both cases obviously you'll be best served if she doesn't understand your instructions.
My Alexa plays on command from my premium Spotify. Speaker is absolutely dog turd though!