My favorite kind of playlist is the one that is totally random, but still fits nearly every day perfectly.
Yesterday was a weird day weather-wise, which makes for a weird day musically. I woke up and it was overcast and chilly, but still pleasant. New Found Glory and Eve 6 made perfect running music, even if “Here’s to the Night” sounds like it should be at the “shocking reveal” in a crappy teen movie. It was just the perfect combination to get me going, with crunchy guitars and anger in New Found Glory’s “It’s All Downhill From Here” followed by a heartfelt goodbye. I’m not sure what that says about me as a morning person.
Attempting to read while I listened to my iPod, which was playing my “Pop/Punk/Whatever” playlist that has been in process for a while, was impossible. “Down, Down, Down to Mephisto’s Café” is a pretty deep song that was not in the same language as my reading. Listening to jazz while it rains? Perfect. Windows wide open and the “Cowboy Bebop” soundtrack playing was the perfect environment to finish my Spanish homework.
A shower and a bowl of yogurt later and I’m listening to Whole Wheat Bread’s “Grass.” The band calls its brand of music “dirty south punk rock” or “crunk rock” and it’s definitely something to put a little swagger in your step as you “trudge” through the rain.
A little Strokes to get the toes tapping while waiting for the 85—late yet again—the jangly guitar a sharp contrast to the crunch of crunk rock, but so much better as a follow-up than the Lady Gaga that attempted to play. Don’t get me wrong, I like Lady Gaga, but some days require more rock sensibility, and the simplicity of the Strokes’ garage sound on “Soma” was perfect.
Even if the rain is my friend, setting an interesting mood for the day, ska music can’t help but brighten the day a little bit. When “Not Fuckin’ Around” by Big D and the Kids’ Table started playing, I almost couldn’t help but dance right there at the bus stop. Boy, that would have looked awkward.
Another oldie but goodie, “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz kept the vibe going, and lo and behold the bus finally showed up. I was actually going to make it to class on time with my homework done and everything. Giant strides today people: Not only was I up and showered before 10, but I accomplished something!
With a quick stop to print my homework I found myself jamming to a little Alkaline Trio. As I walked out of the office my musically-attuned body did that weird thing where the lyrics are depressing but the music is happy and so I’m both. “Stupid Kid” is a great song and it fit perfectly with my mood, so I was okay with it.
A brisk walk up Bascom to Ben Folds’ “Bitch Went Nuts” and I was ready for class. Rain be damned, I was in a good mood, I was on time and I was only moderately damp thanks to my hoodie.
“Church on Sunday” by Green Day from their Warning album was the first song between classes. I haven’t heard this song in a long time, but I still knew every word, and it was glorious, lifting my mood even higher.
With my second class over, the sun is out and “Fragil” by Allison comes on. Mexican pop punk is always great, and the added energy from the sun being out now made this song the perfect addition, especially since I was still stuck thinking in Spanish at that point.
The last song I’m going to write about is probably the one that solidified yesterday as a great day for my iPod. “Independent” by the Forces of Evil has the perfect sunny horn line and the perfect amount of anger with tongue-in-cheek lyrics for the weather. It was a reinforcement of the vibe that seemed to be a balance between the anger and sunshine already on my playlist.
This is probably the weirdest playlist I’ve seen in a while, but it seemed like almost every song hit just perfectly. I did skip a couple, like the random Backstreet Boys cover that Allister did, and the two Jimmy Eat World songs that just weren’t what I was looking for, but all in all, yesterday was a musically fantastic day. Now if only I could train my iPod.
What’s your perfect bi-polar weather day playlist? Let Jeremy know which songs motivate you at jgartzke@wisc.edu.
