Implement an actual shuffle function

[RoninTheOrigina]

Yes, you read that right.  The "shuffle" function in Spotify is nothing more than a randomizer.  There's a difference?  YES.

RANDOM - Play one song.  The next song can be ANY song in your playlist.  Including the one you just listened to.  Though I've never had this specifically happen, I literally just heard the same song that I heard 2 songs ago.  This is how Spotify's "shuffle" currently functions.

SHUFFLE - Take your entire list, shuffle them (like cards), and play the first song in the shuffle.  Once finished, move that song off the pile.  Once the pile is depleted, shuffle the deck again and start over (maybe pop a message up).

I know enough about programming (not much) to know that shuffling is probably a bit harder than random, but come on.  I may be in the minority, but I don't have a lot of little playlists.  I have one list with nearly a thousand songs in it, because I like all the music, and am rarely not in the mood for one of those songs.  But what I can't stand is hearing the same song over and over again.  I think there may even be songs in my list I haven't heard yet, while I've heard others 4-5 times.

I know it may not matter much, but I would probably lay down the money for at least a year subscription if this feature was implemented.

EDIT: Another user pointed out that I can see what all is queued up in my shuffle by clicking the Play Queue link, and that Spotify supposedly sets up a rolling shuffle of 50 songs.  It would be nice if this range could be expanded to say 50-100% of your playlist.

EDIT 4/6/12: I just dealt with the same song 16 tracks later.  The song played the first time yesterday afternoon.  I went home, listened for a bit on my home PC (just a few songs), then started listening again this morning.  If the list recycles itself after a day, or if you log in from another computer, I see that as an area for improvement.

[pendle-1936]

I am relatively new to Spotify and its great, but can someone tell me how to set up a SHUFFLE  list please, and looking ahead, how to delete or edit it.

[ConnorCG]

pendle-1936, I just sent you a PM with some information.

[pendle-1936]

Many thanks ConnorCG. I will give it a try.

[camillo75]

 Hi!

 How to easily reproduce bad "Shuffle/Random" in Spotify app:

- search for artist "Imany"

- click on "Random play"

- check in the created playlist how many times the songs "Shape of a broken heart", "You will never know", "Grey monday", etc are repeated also next to each other.

 

Using:

Android 4.4.4

Sasung Galaxy Note 4

Spotify app 2.2.0.636

[WaxwingSlain]

The Imany results don't surprise me, considering how few songs she has under her name.   All together, she only has released 24 songs, and it looks like five of them are remixes with the same title.

I believe the SHUFFLE feature is still broken, but the Imany results are not a good example.  

[camillo75]

Hi jimnitti,

You are wrong, the Imany results are a good example, because I don't see much remixes; I see 2 albums that are not shuffled properly; repeated tracks have same title and same duration.

A good shuffle algorythm should provide good results starting from simple situations; less tracks You have, the best should be the algorythm.

See the picture:

 

[WaxwingSlain]

OK, that makes sense.  Do you get similar results every time you shuffle this artists songs?  I just tried it and got a more (ostensibly) random mix.  The fact that the artist has two albums, you probably woudn't expect to see the first six choices the same two songs from one album repeated three times.

Yes, you're right.  The more I think about it, you've given us an excellent example.

[JRonSpotify]

Please implement FOR REAL shuffle!!!! pleeeease 😞

[FlyingPole]

Last edited in 2012 to say the are working on it. It is now 2015 and we are still waiting. I know a little bit of programming and it wouldn't be too hard to implement. Every other music streaming service gets it right so why not the most popular?

How I would do it is line up 2 queues. 1 Play queue and the second is just a temp queue. Basicly the playlist will fill the temp queue then when shuffling the songs take 1 from the temp queue at random and put it in the play queue. Then delete that song from the temp queue. Repeat until temp queue is empty, repopulate the temp queue with the playlist then continue.

Doing this will make sure you don't repeat a song until ALL songs in the playlist have been played.

[Crestron]

seeing this has been open since 2012, i can't see how spotify hasn't changed this yet!? Most people are looking for a Shuffled list, not a random list.

Spotify, please get this implemented...