Mixtape: Period playlist

Adam: I understand what's going on. You're all on the same cycle. This is very exciting. Your uterine walls will be shedding for the next three to five days. 

Shira: Nice memorization. Did you Google that? 

Adam: I may have. Because you're all women. And I think that's a beautiful thing. Oh... (takes out a CD and gives to Emma) I also made you this. To help soothe your womb.

When TOM comes over, all I want to do is crawl into bed, and eat cookies and cheesecake like a baby dinosaur, and spend the next three to four days in a foetal position. But why not a different approach besides Panadol Osteo and hot water bottles? 
In No Strings Attached, Ashton Kutcher's endearing character Adam, makes miserable and menstruating Emma and her flatmates a period mix with homemade soup and cupcakes. What a creepy cute idea! 
But nobody's made me a period mix to make me feel better, so hey, I made my own! Let the music heal the pain, with Ryan Gosling's voice crooning in the first track! (And I can't decide whether to laugh or cry to Leona Lewis' "I keep bleeding, I keep keep bleeding love...")


001 MY BODY'S A ZOMBIE FOR YOU :: Dead Man's Bones
002 BLEED IT OUT :: Linkin park
003 ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS :: fun.
004 RIVER FLOWS IN YOU :: Yiruma
005 HUG :: TVXQ
006 DROPLETS :: Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves
007 EMOTION :: Destiny's Child
008 SO SICK :: Neyo
009 I'VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING :: Michael Buble
010 JUST A GIRL :: No Doubt
011 BLEEDING LOVE :: Leona Lewis
012 SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY :: U2
013 THE TIDE IS HIGH :: Blondie
014 MISERY :: Maroon 5
015 RED RED ROSE :: The Weepies
016 EVERYBODY HURTS :: REM
017 RED RED WINE :: Bob Marley
018 WATERFALLS :: TLC
019 SLEEP ALL DAY :: Jason Mraz
020 BLOOD :: My Chemical Romance
021 HURT SO BAD :: Alicia Keyes
022 SAME BLOOD :: The Academy is...
023 DROPS OF JUPITER :: Train
024 BLOOD BANK :: Bon Iver
025 LOOK BUT YOU CAN'T TOUCH :: Poison

Playlist for every occasion

Commute playlist - I love staring out the window of a car/bus/train and pretending I’m the lead in a movie and this is the opening scene as the title credits pop up in the corner (fade up to a wide shot of a train rolling over a landscape as we slowly zoom in to see a young woman looking out the window of the third car). And I can totally pull off staring blankly out of a window.

The Candles and Bath Salts mix - You're home, maybe getting in the mood. Get some smooth music - John Mayer, and maybe Jason Mraz too - and let the mood happen.

Rainy day compilations - A mix of dreamy acoustic and melancholy alternative tunes to accompany the sound of drizzling rain.

Les filles qui chantent en français - Sing along, ingest a box of macarons, and pretend you're in a Sofia Coppola commercial.

NYC mix

For my Future Husband mix

Road Trip playlist - This is radically different from stuff you would play when you drive alone. This is socially acceptable music that's great in the background, with the occasional group sing-along thrown in, pop, rock, ballads, anything from the 90's.

Being productive mix - For when you have deadlines to meet and need to stay focused.

Holiday Harmony - Stuff to listen to while you decorate the Christmas tree or bake gingerbread cookies.

"Chrismassy music that isn't about Christmas" mix - People who work in retail will appreciate it.

ULB (or "Universally loved bands") mix - One Republic, Coldplay, Radiohead, Muse, Maroon 5, The Smith, The Fray, The Killers, you know, bands who, at any party, you could remark "I love *insert band*" and you're guaranteed to hear responses like "We do too!", you know, bands who everybody likes or claims to like.

Sing Me To Sleep playlist - Songs to help you wind down and drift off. "Wonderful" by Gary Go will lull you to sleep.

Good morning, sunshine - Waking up to music is as awesome as falling asleep to it. I'm not much of a morning person, but when I've got some great music while I'm still on autopilot, it's made early mornings so much better.

"Beautiful" mix - Includes tracks like, "What makes you beautiful" by One Direction, "Beautiful" by B2st, the same title by Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful Soul" by Jesse McCartney, "What makes you different makes you beautiful" by Backstreet Boys, "Just the way you are" by Bruno Mars, "Nothin' on you" by B.o.b, "You are so beautiful" by Junsu, "Fireworks" by Katy Perry... you get the gist. Because admit it or not, you like to be told.

Adventure: The soundtrack - Music to accompany your adventures and travels in a foreign territory.

The Unrequited Loved mix

Winter Pick Me Up mix - Upbeat songs to beat the winter blues.
Study playlist - Fact 1: Without decent music there's no way you'd get through your homework, essays and revision. Fact 2: Songs with lyrics distract the part of your brain which you use to repeat things to yourself when you're learning. The Solution: Lyricless compositions, film soundtracks and piano covers.

All Nighter mix - Unlike the Study playlist which is a bit too relaxing (because it was to help creative juices to flow), this soundtrack should consist of mid-tempo music to help you power through the wee hours. I recommend a mix of late night ambiance and study break freak out material, with broadway music like "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.

The Jazz Age playlist

Cry, baby - Tear-jerkers. Sob, let it out. Hurt right along with the music.

Old School R&B mix

Modelling playlist - Throw on some heels and walk around like you mean it. Perfect for when cleaning out your wardrobe.

60's Lounge - Inspired by Mad Men and Pan Am soundtracks.

Girl Power - Butt-kicking, girl power anthems by Shania Twain, Destiny's Child, Pink, and Christina Aguilera. Maybe something from the Charlie's Angel soundtrack too. 

Nostalgia mix

Weekend Walk About mix - Music for you wanderings.

Work out playlist

Coffee Croons and Tea Tunes

New Age Pianists mix - Yiruma, Yuhki Kuramoto, David Lanz, Keiko Matsui, Jon Schmidt, Keith Jarret, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Kpop mix - Because the Korean wave is taking over the world. Get with it.

British Bands mix

First Love mix - The audio equivalent of a romance novel.

Getting Dressed mix - A list of high-energy songs to get you psyched for the night out.

Party mix

"I know all the words to" mix

"Be Impressed With My Music Taste" mix - I might be alone here, but I'm constantly around hipsters and music snobs who listen to my playlist, and immediately judge me on my music taste. ("Is that Kpop?!") Now, though, I'm ready for them with my "awesomely interesting intellectual music". Staples of these playlists are MGMT, Belle & Sebastian, Pink Floyd, Grizzly Bear, Regina Spektor (both popular and yet well-respected as indie still. Go figure.) Including also any big artists who did side solo projects like Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Mixtape: Being productive

I tend to put mandatory tasks off until I’m out of time and running around, stressed and grumpy in a The Devil Wears Prada kind of way. “I don’t have time for this!” I might yell to my assistant. "And where is my skim double-caff extra-whip latte?!” "I need someone to babysit Bearemy tonight!" (I like pretending to have a personal assistant.)

I tend to find every little thing distracting and way more interesting. And everyone seems to be having a good time, according to Facebook. Staying focused and self-disciplined is not my best quality. I'm a pro procrastinator. Yet, somehow I've discovered that by playing the music, I have an easier time being productive. It’s similar to how some babies stop crying when you turn the vacuum on. I have deadlines to meet, so ciao! P.S I just spent the last hour on Facebook and making this playlist, while I could've done some research. Yep, that's me.

001 SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS :: Dylan and Victoria
002 ROMEO AND JULIET :: The Killers
003 NEW SLANG :: The Shins
004 HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY :: Fleet Foxes
005 DISTRICT SLEEPS ALONE TONIGHT :: Postal Service
006 IN THE ROOM WHERE YOU SLEEP :: Dead Man's Bones
007 HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN :: Jenny Owen Youngs
008 GREY OR BLUE :: Jaymay
009 CALAMITY SONG :: The Decemberists
010 HIGH AND DRY :: Radiohead
011 NO CARS GO :: Maxine Cyrine (Arcade Fire cover)
012 UNINTENDED :: Muse
013 SET A FIRE :: United Pursuit
014 BLESSED :: Hillsong
015 PILEDRIVER WALKTZ :: Arctic Monkeys
016 SPARKS :: Coldplay
017 LIFE IN TECHNICOLOR II :: Coldplay
018 BLUE :: Big Bang
019 FICTION :: B2ST
020 BUTTERFLY :: G-Dragon
021 SHE'S ELECTRIC :: Oasis
022 THE SWEET ESCAPE :: Gwen Stafani
023 CLOSE TO ME :: The Cure

Mixtape: NYC

This time last year, I was in New York City. The subway was crippled by snowpocalypse, the walk/don't walk signs read both, the homeless nights... Cue up a song like "Empire State of Mind," and I remember. By the way, who knew there were this many songs about New York?! But this playlist is very personal.

001 LET IT SNOW :: Frank Sinatra
002 UNDISCOVERED :: James Morrison
003 ALL THIS BEAUTY :: The Weepies
004 GIRL INFORM ME :: The Shins
005 NE ME QUITTE PAS :: Regina Spektor

006 THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK :: Simon & Garfunkel

007 TWENTYSOMETHING :: Jamie Cullum
008 MAKE IT MINE : Jason Mraz
009 THE HEART OF LIFE :: John Mayer
010 SHOW YOU HOW :: The Killers
011 OFF BROADWAY :: Ryan Adams
012 BACK TO MANHATTAN :: Norah Jones
013 LADY LIBERTY :: Okkervil River
014 OVERTURE / HANNIBAL :: Phantom of the Opera (Soundtrack)
015 FOR GOOD :: Wicked (Glee Cast version)

016 NOLITA FAIRYTALE :: Vanessa Carlton

017 SHE MOVES IN HER OWN WAY :: The Kooks
018 NEW YORK, NEW YORK :: Cat Power
019 SOMEWHERE IN MY MEMORY :: John Williams (Home Alone 2 Soundtrack)

020 A DANCE ROUND THE MEMORY TREE :: Oren Lavie
021 THE DISTRICT SLEEPS ALONE  TONIGHT :: The Postal Service

022 WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD :: Shane Barnard & Shane Everett
023 ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE :: Darlene Zschech
024 EMPIRE STATE OF MIND : Jay Z & Alicia Keys

Mixtape: Rainy Day Compilations

The weather has been wet and drizzly all day today and I'm feeling a little sick, and all I've wanted to do was curl up in bed, swaddled in clean sheets and a warm blanket, sipping chamomile tea, all the while my 'rainy day compilation' playing on iTunes:

001 SLEEPWALK :: Santo & Johnny
002 TEARDROP :: Massive Attack
003 QUIET :: This will destroy you
004 A DANCE AROUND THE MEMORY TREE :: Oren Lavie
005 HER MORNING ELEGANCE :: Oren Lavie
005 BE BE YOUR LOVE :: Rachel Yamagata
006 SPARKS :: Coldplay
007 SEPTEMBERISE :: Yiruma
008 WINTER SONG :: Sara Bareilles
009 TIME :: Hans Zimmer
010 TO BUILD A HOME :: The Cinematic Orchestra
011 NO SURPRISES (Radiohead cover) :: Regina Spektor
012 TRANSATLANTICISM :: Death Cab for Cutie
013 THE WOLVES (Act I Aand II) :: Bon Iver
014 THE SEA :: Corinne Bailey Rae

015 MOVIE NEVER MADE :: A Silver Mt Zion

016 GLYNIS :: Smashing Pumpkins

017 WHAT IF YOU :: Joshua Radin

018 SLOW DANCING IN THE BURNING ROOM :: John Mayer

019 FALLING SLOWLY :: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

020 MY FOOLISH HEART :: Bill Evans Trio

021 THE DISTRICT SLEEPS ALONE :: Postal Service

022 BREATHE ME :: Sia

023 BUTTERFLIES :: Sia

024 ONLY HOPE :: Switchfoot

Feel free to suggest/recommend any tunes that perfectly accompany the sound of rain. In reality, I spent the whole day cleaning my room due to many biting complaints. Little do they understand that I'm not messy, I'm creative!