A Playlist and a Story

This is my super-fun, foot-tapping, cubicle-dancing summer playlist. these are also the songs that i blast with my aviators on over my prescription glasses (hot, i know) and windows rolled down (a necessity for me since my air conditioning is busted). so, enjoy friends and here are a few notes on a few tracks: 

track 1: this trio is blowing up. you probably know ‘pumped up kicks’. great song, but i’m way more into ‘helena beat’.

track 3: i listen to this song at least once a day. damn you, atlas genius, for getting your trojan in my head (had to do it).

track 4: oh. em. gee. she’s back.

track 7: i vividly remember listening to this album for the first time 2 summers ago when i lived in a yurt… in idaho. oh, the glory days.

track 9: make sure you check out the sound of arrows music video for the single “magic”. get ready to smile uncontrollably. i promise. here: http://bit.ly/mLkqKh

Caption: “We’re on vacation, soo relaxed right now.”

Finally, please, please tell me your summer tracks. i love nothing more than finding new music to dance to in my cubicle.

“Here is a nice mix of music for a feel good Friday. There are some songs that most will be familiar with and some that you may not be to familiar with, but I hope that they all put you in as good a mood as I get while listening to them. Not much else to say as the music pretty much speaks for itself.”

Submit a playlist! If you’re a super stalker, you can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook.  If you like this site, we are always hungry for playlists!

This playlist starts slow but gets real wacky by the end. Not exactly a wake up playlist, but maybe a post-breakfast need to get going. Or maybe even a pre-pre-game to get you in the mood to start lazering keystone ice.

1) Prior to being turned into a Kanye West beat this song really allows you to get absorbed into your speakers

2+3) Just a lyrical touch

4) If you don’t get the urge to clap, I assume you are a paraplegic

7,8) No words, just move

9,10,11,12) You should actually have a smile on your face walking into work, or you should be eating gallons of booze … Either/or.

My name is Michael from New York. I am a grad student. I am currently in a very shitty living situation and I find escape in my headphones. I am a white Biz Markie with a cuter smile. I am a male Fiona Apple. I am zach galifianakis’ long lost cousin. I might be another Baldwin brother. I am a human version of 12” inch Subway Meatball Marinara sandwich. I don’t feel like dancin’ when the old joanna plays, my heart could take a chance but my two feet can’t find a way.

www.lagulchamania.tumblr.com

Submit a playlist! If you’re a super stalker, you can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook.  If you like this site, we are always hungry for playlists!

Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there. I’m Andrew Jackson, orange feline president extraordinaire. A little bit about me: I am the seventh president of the United States, I was adopted from the Seattle Persian Rescue and my nickname is “Old Hickory.” I have been known to leave small poops around the White House and my inauguration was no exception. You should have seen the state of the Oval Office on January 21st. I give frequent addresses, usually demanding more food and water for myself and my single constituent, a common barn cat named Molly. Like all democratic-republicans, I treasure state’s rights and, since I am from the south, I love me some Dolly Parton.

This playlist is one I like to listen to when I am giving myself a bath, chasing Molly or just lying around. I’m a big fan of Nina Simone and Radiohead, and I think the combination of the two is sublime. I hope you enjoy my music, and vote for me in ‘37! Van Buren is a twat.

Submit a playlist! If you’re a super stalker, you can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook.  If you like this site, we are always hungry for playlists!

It’s dark when I wake up; I hit the snooze                                                                     too many times each morning. 

                                            Yes, I eat
way too much pizza, and drink bottled booze
to Himalayan excess.  
                                This repeats
each week right through the winter, while I wrest
or, really, try to wrest, control of ME
from withered hands of boredom.  
                                               I confess
to list’ning idly in my room to trees
that, leafless, windblown, scratch my windowpanes.  
Some music, yes, that’s it, with sun and breeze
built in, like Lennon & McCartney’s “Penny Lane.”
    That song we all know makes us think of summer
    So check this out, I know winter’s a bummer.

Submit a playlist! If you’re a super stalker, you can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook.  If you like this site, we are always hungry for playlists!

Sup from Denver, Colorado. My name is Maeve. Don’t even worry about the last name. I struggle with it, too. Mmmkay, enough with the awkward foreplay, let’s jump to it. Here’s a snapshot of my musical style, or whatever: I am pretty much a musical whore. I love anything and everything. Some more than others, obviously, but it is actually an impressive feat to aurally anger me, so, congratulations Los Lonely Boys.

I digress.

I decided to be a cheeseball and pick a cliché theme for my first ever playlist. Since it’s the first month of the year of double ones, I chose a playlist consisting of somma my favorite track ones. Gross, I know. But enjoy. Also, I take no responsibility if a track is not, in fact, a track one. Turns out the internet can lie sometimes. And, for shameless self promotion purposes, feel free to check out my social media self @maeveww, where I pathetically wait for Michael Cera to find/fall in love with me and/or Sophia Coppola/Thomas Mars to realize that I should be their personal assistant/nanny/cook/driver… Seriously, though, I am a great best friend. 

Submit a playlist! You can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook!  If you like this site, please contribute!

Katie Morton and Olivia Watkins have been living in San Francisco for… a while. Katie recently returned from a stint in Africa doing a fellowship for Kiva.org, a non-profit focusing on microfinance in the developing world. While in Africa, she found time to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and rode around in matatus (Kenyan minibuses used for public transportation), where they play this song constantly. Katie lives in the Lower Haight and is working on turning her bedroom into a forest — please let us know if you have any foliage you’d like to donate to this cause.

You may recognize Olivia from her first playlist for The Playlist Project. She is still working at Twitter and still living in the Mission, though in a new apartment that is sadly without roof access, and has recently developed (as of last night) a penchant for sequined hats.

A note about the songs on our playlist: We attempted to have the tone of the playlist be optimistic, but also realistic. 2010 for us was a pretty crazy year, but we’re hoping that these jams send us and whoever else listens to them into 2011 ready to make exciting things happen and maybe find some stability while we’re all at it.

Enjoy, and feel free to holler at either of us via the interwebs with your thoughts — we can be found on Twitter @olivia and @kdrechselm and via other media if you do some additional sleuthing.

(Katie)

(Olivia)

(Playlist)

It’s hard for me to describe just how much this project meant to me this year, especially between March and May. I had just lost my job, was questioning my ability to do anything interesting online and then this site came together. This site helped to restore my confidence, and is a constant reminder that the world was full of interesting and creative people who make building, discussing, (and yes, even selling) stuff on the internet fascinating.  I appreciate every single person who visited the Playlist Project in 2010, all 9,764 of you. 

Mostly, I really want to thank all of you that shared your lives and submitted playlists this year. I know that the site dropped off quite a bit once I began working full time, and when Hayley went back to school full time, but I’m still extremely proud of what you all helped to build. 

More than anything, this site is an incredible resource for good music. Most “Best of 2010” only include albums or songs released in 2010, but the Best of 2010 list from the Playlist Project is made up of the songs and artists that mattered to people in 2010, regardless of when they were first released. 

Out of the 660 Songs, these were the Top 3 Artists most frequently selected by playlist contributors —

A special thank you to these 5 contributors who drove the most traffic to their individual playlists —

Beyond these “Top 5”, I really want to thank each and every one of you for sharing your lives on this site. 

Without Futher ado, a “Best of 2010 Playlist”. I selected a song from each individual playlist (all 49). Enjoy, and look back on the wonderful site you helped to create and sustain this year. Let’s do it bigger in 2011. 

— Danny

Submit a playlist! You can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook!  If you like this site, please contribute!

Submit a playlist! You can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook!  If you like this site, please contribute!

You may remember an earlier post by our young friend Joesph (http://theplaylistproject.tumblr.com/post/606990934/josephleritz)

In his own words: 

“Howdy everyone.  Well i submitted a playlist a while ago and thought it was time for another.  Last time I posted I was in high school. Now I am in college, I have matured so much…..”

I was driving home from college the past weekend, which is about a 2 hour drive, and needed some music to listen to. I decided to whip out some oldies. The whole trip from college to my house, then my house to college, I jammed out to some classic blues and R&B. I t was one of the most enjoyable drives of my life. I know that this is not a very interesting story for a playlist but….. I still hope that everyone will enjoy this playlist. Not only is it good for driving, it is also great for blasting it in your kitchen while cooking dinner and just enjoying life while the sun sets on a nice evening. I hope everyone enjoys it.

(This is Otis Redding and not Joe.)

Thanks for the update Joe!

Submit a playlist! You can also follow The Playlist Project on Twitter and Facebook!  If you like this site, please contribute!

Every Friday, there is a deluge of weekend themed playlists. I’m looking to change that. Here’s a look back at my weekend, and the songs that went with it. After you read this post, if you’re feeling bold, I’d love for you to submit one of your own. 

Friday September 24th —

After work, I headed to Oktoberfest in Lakeview. I bought the Groupon, which was 20$ for 3 beers, a brat, and the $5 entrance fee. The outdoor festival was packed with revelers. While I was disappointed by the lack of German costumes, I was impressed by the range of the cover band, effortlessly shifting between the Zack Brown Brand, Tears for Fears, and U2. 

Saturday September 25th —

Gap is struggling to make a buck. Based on the huge success of their Groupon earlier in the Month, there was a special flash sale (announced on their FB page) for 50% on  Gap denim from 12-3 PM in store on Saturday . 

Obviously, after stopping at Peet’s coffee (where they were playing some Vivaldi), I headed over to Gap to pick up their top of the line “Selvedge” denim for $50 (regularly $100). 

At Gap, they were playing some Neon Trees, Local Natives, Freelance Whales, and Miike Snow. 

After a break, I met up with some friends at Happy Village. 

The outdoor beer garden is incredible. 

We then headed back to the apartment where I softly played Hoodie Allen, Two Door Cinema Club, Bruno Mars, Atmosphere, and E-Dubble. 

Sunday September 26th —

Brunch at the Southern, with my Girlfriend and her parents for her birthday. Loved the alt country/southern rock that floated around the place while we ate our delicious meal. Definitely heard some Loretta Lynn and Ryan Adams. 

What music floated through your life this weekend? I’d love to know. The full playlist is below, it follows the order of the weekend.