The Current

Great Music Lives Here ®
Listener-Supported Music
Donate Now
Coffee Break

Coffee Break: World Emoji Day

Chip Cramer of Big Fork, Minn., and his family carry the prizes they won on the Midway at the Minnesota State Fair Friday August 26, 2016.  Of his giant smiling poo emoji, Chip commented, "They do say I'm full of it."
Chip Cramer of Big Fork, Minn., and his family carry the prizes they won on the Midway at the Minnesota State Fair Friday August 26, 2016. Of his giant smiling poo emoji, Chip commented, "They do say I'm full of it."Courtney Perry for MPR News

by Anna Reed

July 17, 2018

Today is World Emoji Day - an unofficial holiday celebrated on July 17 that recognizes Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese designer that developed the tiny graphic images in 1999.

Emojis aren't necessarily one set of images. In fact, each year new symbols are released. 70 new emojis will be rolled out automatically in a free software update later this year including new hairstyles, exotic animals like a kangaroo, parrot and peacock, and food such as mango, lettuce and a cupcake. There will also be new faces including a pleading look, a blushing heart-filled face, and a teeth-chattering chilly face. You know - for when the temperature in your studio is freezing.

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention a particular emoji?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive. Or, when you register for a Minnesota Public Radio account, you can send requests via Alexa, too Just say "Alexa, ask The Current to play Song by Artist" e.g. "Alexa, ask The Current to play Left of the Dial by The Replacements."

Songs played

Nina Simone - Here Comes The Sun
The New Pornographers - Your Hands (Together)
David Bowie and Giorgio Morodor - Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
Roy Orbison - Crying
The Vaselines - Molly's Lips
Sonic Youth - 100%
The Germs - Lexicon Devil
The Suburbs - Cows
Corey Hart - Sunglasses at Night