Listen to the Girl

There’s much to be said about creating a good playlist. I think I’ve tried it all: Start off with a bang, then mellow it out; tease ‘em a little, some highs, lows, drop a bomb in the middle; play to scale, all the same theme; jump from genre to genre like a blind run through the dial. Everyone has their own playlist style, their own rules, but what I’ve found interesting about the Tao of the Playlist is that taste really has nothing to do with it; it’s all about the execution, technique. Don’t sweat the technique…. Been There.
It’s hard work, and it takes time. Years ago, early-early college, I started compiling and testing my essential 80s playlist. I had over 200 songs, which a) was awesome, because digital music, ipods, smart phones, etc. make lists as broad as this demonstrative b) sucks because the possibilities are based on player capacity, which aided my upgrading from platform to platform (cash money) c) blew my mind obsessively, because it was getting out of hand, and I couldn’t be stopped for reasons a and b. Total track count undetermined, my pc died and my list would go forever unfinished. It was lost. Shame, sadness, the backlash of hubris all set itself squarely on my lap. This had always been my dream. I had told everyone about my plans: Throw an epic 80s costume party--come dressed as your favorite 80s pop icon--and jam to this very meticulously cultivated soundtrack, which was set to end somewhere around 4am to back-to-back-back “Ceremony,” “Just Like Honey,” and “Only You,” respectively (reflection: I might’ve stolen Sofia Coppola’s ipod). I’ve been working on a smallish 80s list for a year now, and I want some feedback/suggestions/confessions of 80s pop love. The 80s were a bronze time for pop music--gold for me. I love this shit.

Scandal "The Warrior"

Nena "99 Luftballoons"

Scandal "Goodbye to You"

Pat Benatar "We Belong"

Pat Benatar "Love is a Battlefield"

Rick Springfield "Jesse's Girl"

Tommy Tutone "867-5309/Jenny"

Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star"

Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse"

Erasure "Victim of Love"

When in Rome "The Promise"

New Order "Age of Consent"

Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"

The Replacements "Color Me Impressed"

The Replacements "Bastards of Young"

GrandMaster Flash “White Lines”

The Cure "Just Like Heaven"

INXS "Don't Change"

Belinda Carlisle "Heaven is a place on Earth"

Modern English "I Melt with You"

Soft Cell "Tainted Love"

Asia "Heat of the Moment"

Hall and Oates "I Can't Go for That"

Jackson Browne "Somebody's Baby"

Hall and Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True"

Human League "Don't You Want Me"

Soft Cell "Where Did Our Love Go"

Roxy Music "More Than This"

Siouxsie and the Banshees "Hong Kong Garden"

Tracy Chapman "Fast Car"

The Tubes "She's a Beauty"

Eric Carmen "Hungry Eyes"

Simple Minds "Alive and Kicking"

Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls"

The Replacements "Unsatisfied"

Cetu Javu "Have in Mind"

New Order "Temptation" (7" Version)

Flock of Seagulls "Wishing"

New Order "Ceremony"

Jesus and Mary Chain "Just like Honey"

Yaz "Only You"

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again, the benefit of time. find this brilliance here.

Pat Marino appreciates the final good luck and goodbye.