How do you feel today? Are you channeling Rhianna’s Shut Up and Drive, or maybe Timbaland… Excuse me? And, of course, there’s always the good old I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder. What do these songs have in common? They could be your ringtone! With the newest phones available (and even some of the old ones, to be honest) you can set your ringtone to anything you can imagine. So how do you choose?

First, start by reviewing the music you listen to on a daily basis. Is there a song you listen to every time you get in the car? What’s at the top of your most played list? This might be your best bet for expressing your personality through your ringtone. Pick some of your favorite artists and see what they have to offer.

Second, look at some websites. iTunes music store, MTV.com, wherever you get your music, check out what’s new and exciting right now. Be the first to download the ringtone – your claim to fame in a couple of months when the song hits #1 on the charts.

Finally, listen. Have you ever been at the mall or a restaurant when someone’s phone rang and, although annoyed, you thought, “That’s a great ringtone?” Emulation is the highest form of respect. Don’t be afraid to ask, “What’s your ringtone?” If he or she did not want to attract attention, they would have left their ring on “Classic Nokia”.

A few words of warning: Don’t forget to consider what you want others to hear. If you love Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Got Your Money (who doesn’t?), you might want to think about how you’d play with it if your phone accidentally shows up at a job interview.

Also, do you have a song that is important enough to warrant only special occasions? Do you really want the song you danced at your wedding to play when your grandmother calls you? Sometimes listening to something all day, every day, can kill your passion for it. Don’t make your favorite and memorable songs torturous to listen to.

Many mobile phones will allow you to choose ringtones for different people. This is incredibly beneficial in a variety of ways. For example, you can know your roommate is calling without bothering to look. The only reason he calls is to ask if he can eat your food. Better to leave it unanswered. Choose shades specifically for the family (Sister Sledge, maybe?), for your girlfriend or boyfriend, for your best friend, and of course, for the undesirables. That way, you not only express yourself, you express what you feel for others.

As with everything, you get points for variety! Change your ringtone frequently to match changing seasons, holidays, moods, or trends. You can download them from the web or use software designed for your phone, usually available through your carrier, to create your own ringtones directly from your music library. Daily routines can get monotonous, why not create your own personalized soundtrack?