Your Playlists About Love (and Heartbreak)
Featuring an assortment of Valentine's Day playlists from the community. Plus, updates on the directory listings.
Happy Valentine’s Day! While I’m personally not big on commercial holidays, I absolutely LOVE a good theme. Today, I’m unveiling the results of the first community playlist challenge, which was all about love (or perhaps a lack thereof).
As a reminder, here were the suggested prompts.
List a song that reminds you of each lover you’ve had
List love songs you’d want to be serenaded with
List your break-up mixtape songs
List songs for your wedding or commitment ceremony
List songs for your perfect makeout mixtape
I’m excited to share eight different playlists from members of The Music Directory that were curated for this occasion. We’ll begin with Cecilia Gigliotti’s introspective and cathartic mix for breaking up with one’s employer (oof, I’ve definitely been there before!). Below, she provides us with insightful reasons for each song’s inclusion.
a playlist for breaking up with your job
At the tail end of March 2023, I experienced a professional breakup. It’s hard to determine definitively which of us checked out first: that is to say, it was a little while coming. But it still hurt.
As with every change of fortune in my life, music saw me through. If you’ve been left by or are leaving a job (or even considering it), here are nine tracks that might give you the same solace, release, and joy they did me. Outfitted with contextual albums for further listening. And no five-stages-of-grief routine: they’re all there, in unconventional order, grief is nonlinear, so is everything, et cetera et cetera et cetera.
“Quick Fix,” Archie (When Will It End?, 2023)
The arrival of this EP was my introduction to Archie—I got a laugh at the title, which turned out to be prophetic. This track features a classic chord progression, a wistful yet resigned lyric, and a pleasing blend of vocal harmonies. Play on repeat in the immediate aftermath.
“How You Like That,” BLACKPINK (The Album, 2020)
An ideal entry point for the uninitiated into K-pop. Brash, bouncy, beat-heavy, with a pickup in energy to round out its three minutes. Play as a reminder that, if Jennie and the gang could be that confident and defiant during a year of humanity staring down the barrel of mortality itself, you’re going to survive this uncertainty.
“79 Shiny Revolvers,” Rayland Baxter (Wide Awake, 2018)
My sister suggested this one, and I took to it at once. The structure is deceptively simple: it goes down easy even though what’s being said is tough. “We can blow ‘em away the American way.” Play to acknowledge the sense of impotence that can accompany this type of experience.
“Another Love,” Tom Odell (Long Way Down, 2013)
Melancholy with an edge. This was one of those rediscoveries that I number among the great gifts we give ourselves: the song made an impression on me when it first dropped, but an intervening decade’s worth of life experience imbued it with so much more meaning. Play in your earbuds, then on the keys if you can: it’s easier than you think.
“Black Magic Woman,” Fleetwood Mac (English Rose, 1969)
Santana’s cover of this tune is more famous, but the original hits different. Founding member Peter Green wrote it about a girlfriend, and it seethes, writhes, undulates, shapeshifts as only a story of true feelings can. Play for regaining a feeling of desirability—because a work breakup can drain that well dry as much as a romantic breakup can.
“I Wanted to Tell You,” Matthew Sweet (Girlfriend, 1991)
Nothing like jangle-pop to brighten your outlook, from one of my favorite LPs. I recalled listening to this song months earlier in the job, when things were swimming, and returned hoping to recapture that sun. Play for a dose of optimism and very nicely produced guitar.
“Le Disko,” Shiny Toy Guns (We Are Pilots, 2006)
I did not even intend more than one instance of artificial firearm representation. It is what it says on the tin: all cross-body purse, black-on-black, beats two and four. Play while making yourself over into a Berlin club girlie as winter fades into spring, when the pale dawn finds you fathoms past sleep. No? Just me?
“99 Nights,” Charlotte Cardin (99 Nights, 2023)
This record spills over with retracing and regretting. Several tracks sulk—in a resonant, well-executed way—but this one stomps. “How am I supposed to feel alive?” she belts. “Baby, that shit don’t fly.” Lots of space in the production. A testament to purposelessness. Play to allow your anger to flare up. The singer won’t leave you to handle it alone.
“Happy Jack,” The Who (single, 1966)
This one doesn’t have an album. It doesn’t need one. Nor do you; all you need is to remember that, even when the whole world seems to be against you, no one can take away your power to choose to be happy. The irresistible drumming will take you a long way. At least it did for me.
More Valentine’s Day playlists & posts from the community
offers us a sultry Valentine’s Day mix featuring Joan As Police Woman, Yazmin Lacey, Diana Krall, and more.
“This playlist is Valentine's Day themed but doesn't necessarily fit with the prompts....(sorry)..but anytime I play it, people love! So I had to share...hope you don't mind. It's fun and upbeat and remind you of all your past crushes.”
(lovelorn on Apple Music)
Thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge and I hope you all enjoy these mixes. If you didn’t get a chance to submit, you are welcome to share your love-themed playlists in the comments. Also, if you have any suggestions for the next theme, please let me know.
Next, I’m rolling out updates to the directory as we speak. The spreadsheet is up to date, and I’m tagging folks on the website incrementally based on how many categories they are featured in (all single category adds should be done and I’m working on dual categories now). I expect to complete this process early next week. From there, I plan to take new submissions in March.
That’s all I have for now, so I’ll leave you with a couple of songs that didn’t make the cut for my playlist above.
Harmoniously yours,
Shanté
Great list, I can't get enough V-Day playlists! I just dropped my mix, featuring only new songs from this decade - https://www.thewaxmuseum.rocks/p/the-weekender-22
I also want to highlight label Jazz Dispensary's mix, so groovy! It's only on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7pDXk8vOp7U5fniBqSfgyW?si=bceff79027544704
A shot in the dark here, but I released a song on Bandcamp today. It will also be out on the major platforms on Feb 21. I think it might fit! Let me know if you’re interested in hearing! -Nathan