Creating the perfect playlist is always a daunting task for
me, even if it’s just music for my trip home from work. Then there’s the
holiday gift playlist (see my “6 of 24” offerings), Mom’s birthday mix (which
she usually loathes), and perhaps the most stressful of all, the “someone
special” playlist. The problem with most playlists of this persuasion is the
tendency to go cheesy. So for Sound this week, I turned to my friends in life,
at work, and online to build the perfect romantic playlist — one that doesn’t
include any terrible songs by Journey.
Keith Dakin (WFNX program director): Dramarama —
“Anything, Anything”
This is a good choice from the guy we call “Tug Boat” (he’s
big and very loud). It’s of course a song from the ’80s because Keith is too
busy with his baby and eating cheese fries to listen to any new bands.
Special Ed (The Sandbox
host and Fletcher’s roommate): Hoobastank — “The Reason”
Despite being our resident “dick,” Ed actually has a cheesy
sensitive side. He suggested Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” which I quickly
shot down. Then Ed gave me this horrid but catchy classic. Have Ed and I sang
this together at random karaoke nights? Maybe.
Big Jim (WFNX afternoon host): Coldplay —
“Amsterdam”
Jim is 6’5”, has sleeves of tattoos, and hates most of the
world, but he also enjoys yoga and mellow Coldplay. Love them or hate them,
they are the kings of a playlist like this.
Charlie (The Sandbox
host): Nine Inch Nails — “Closer”
I guess the feasibility of this song depends on the sense of
humor of your significant other. Please note that Charlie has a turbo hot wife.
In fact, if you listen regularly, you know he has a turbo hot wife, sister, and
mother! They will love these accolades, I’m sure!
Chris Forsberg: Otis Redding — “These Arms of
Mine”
We have Forsberg on the air each week to talk sports, even
though he would rather talk about The Killers and ...
Dirty
Dancing. Really. He loves the soundtrack so much, this was his pick
for the mix.
Fletcher (me): Oasis — “Songbird”
The Gallagher brothers are really a couple of hooligans from
northern England who can write epic songs and look cool. To me, this is the
“prettiest” song Liam Gallagher ever wrote.
I asked for suggestions on Twitter and Facebook and got a
few more suggestions I thought completed the mix.
Allison Smith: Radiohead — “True Love Waits”
Liz Tibbetts: The Cure — “Love Song”
Ivan Perez: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs — “Maps”
Jill Arnold: Jeff Buckley — “Lover, You Should
Have Come Over”
Call it a romantic playlist, or just call it “the deal
closer.” Either way, I think this is a pretty solid 10-song mix. Ok, with the
exception of Hoobastank, we’ll say a solid nine-song mix. Sorry Ed.
Hear more of Fletcher’s picks and rants on 101.7 WFNX’s The Sandbox every morning from 6 to 10.
