“put it in a love song”: a musical love story
In the last several months, making playlists has become therapuetic for me. In the middle of family health issues, major life changes, and lots of instability, creating musical stories has grown into a creative outlet that brings me a lot of joy. I love going through my “Liked” songs and finding combinations that share a vibe before venturing out into other playlists and radios to discover new music that would fit the story I’m trying to tell. The playlists that emerge are the soundtrack, a digital time capsule to a particular feeling, event, or experience.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve been creating this audio love story told through a series of songs. And it is, in fact, a story. The songs and the order are intentional and follow a typical story structure. There is a clear beginning, middle, and end. There are main characters, rising action, conflict, a climax, and a final resolution. The pacing is intentional and determined by the tempo of each song. By the end of the playlist, we’ve gone on a journey with our two lovers. It isn’t perfect, but it is complete and the motto is progress over perfection!
I discovered the first song, “The Lady in Red” by Alphonse Mouzon, on the first vinyl record I ever bought. The song is triumphant, powerful, and you can just imagine someone falling head over heels for that stunning beauty strutting around in red. But the song that jump-started this particular playlist was “Can I Call You Rose” by Thee Sacred Souls. It sounds like it belongs in the ‘70s or ‘80s but they’re a contemporary band making love songs that we need more of. Michael Jackson’s “Can’t Let Her Get Away” underscores the climax of our story, the tempo and urgency alerting the listener that there is trouble in paradise. The playlist closes with Melanie Charles, a soulful jazz vocalist who, like Thee Sacred Souls, is reminiscent of previous musical era.
“put it in a love song” is a tender love story. I like to listen to it when I’m cleaning or running errands, or just looking for a soundtrack to my life that feels soft and romantic. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.