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"Thank You" Songs: A Thanksgiving Playlist

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:30:27 -0800

This week people around the country will be saying thanks for their blessings: family, friends, good health, etc. So it's a fitting time to make a playlist of music that captures this sentiment in song. Many popular songs that express gratitude have to do with thanking a romantic partner for his/her love, but there are plenty of tunes that are simply thankful for someone's kindness (Natalie Merchant's "Kind and Generous") or for good friendship ("Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold, later covered and used for the Golden Girls theme song).

If you wanted to say thanks through song, which tunes would you pick? I've selected a smattering of songs full of gratitude (including some silly ones), which you can check out if you

An American Playlist to Get You in the Voting Mood!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:30:44 -0800

OK, admittedly this is basically a playlist of songs that have "America" or "American" in them. But it's fun! And it doesn't hurt to hear "America" over and over in some great songs on Election Day!

A few of these tunes will get you to dance a little while waiting for election results, like "American Boy" by Estelle and "Kids in America." You can mature over the course of "American Girl" (Tom Petty) to "American Woman" (Lenny Kravitz), and check out both Jay-Z and Elvis Costello's American gangsters. And of course, we end on one of my favorite songs, "Young Americans" by David Bowie.

What are you listening to today (after you vote!)?

To check out my playlist,

What I Want For the Holidays: Motown Box Set

BuzzSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:34:34 -0700

Well, this just made my day — along with my holiday gift wish list. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Motown, a ginormous boxed set titled Motown: The Complete No. 1's is due to hit stores Dec. 9. This thing has 10 discs worth of Motown awesomeness with all the great talents representing. My favorites are mostly from the first few discs which cover the early years, featuring groups like The Marvelettes ("Please Mr. Postman"), The Contours ("Do You Love Me") and Martha & the Vandellas ("Heat Wave"), along with, of course, The Supremes, The Temptations and Four Tops. To see the full list of all songs included in the box set, click here.

There's pretty much nothing that gets me up and dancing like some old Motown, and after reading about the box set (and promptly emailing the link, along with a "wink-wink-nudge-nudge" to my friends and family) I simply had to make a playlist with some of my favorites off the lists of No. 1's. To see why love is like a heat wave but I ain't too proud to beg,

Playlist: Goodbye, September

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:30:12 -0700

I'm a huge fan of the Autumn months, so I'm excited that it's almost October. Still, September is one of my favorite months, as it always seems to signify — even now, years after school has been over for me — new beginnings and new possibilities. I like that there's a chill in the air, but it's not so sharp that you need the big puffy coat. It's almost holiday season, but it's not yet time to enter into the stressful frenzy of shopping and preparing. So, to mark the ending of this first Fall month, I've put together a little September playlist. To enjoy,

Jam Your Way to the Heroes Premiere With My Playlist

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:15:54 -0700

Hooray! I'm so ready to kick off the third "volume" of Heroes tonight! It's been a long haul for this favorite to return, due to the writers' strike, so I thought up something fun to get us through the workday while we wait out these final hours.

So grab your headphones and check out my playlist consisting of songs about (or, you know, just including) heroes. I thought of Alicia Keys's song "Superwoman," and that Scrubs theme song as well. And, admittedly, Bette Midler's sentimental "Wind Beneath My Wings" came to mind (because, seriously, Peter Petrelli, did you ever know that you're my heeeeeeroooo?). There are more hero-related tunes out there than I thought, so to see who else I picked just

Buzz In: Help Me Make a BBQ Playlist!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:45:54 -0700

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, folks! You know what this means: a day off from work (for many of us), the beginning of summertime — and barbecues! In the happy spirit of long weekend-ness, let's put together a playlist of songs so we can adequately start (as Fresh Prince might put it) "chillin' out maxin' and relaxin' all cool."

Speaking of Fresh Prince, the Will Smith "Summertime" tune is pretty much a staple on playlists like these. Weezer also seems to be in order here, so I'm including "Island in the Sun." I'd also throw in a little Wilco, maybe "Heavy Metal Drummer." And there need to be some older tried-and-trues, of course, so I'm including a little Sharon Jones ("The Dap Dip") and some Nick Gilder ("Hot Child in the City"). To see the other good times songs I've picked and to share your own,

Wedding Music: The Oldies-But-Goodies Reception

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:30:47 -0700

Yesterday I gave you some tips on planning your wedding reception music, which can be a challenging task when you try to appease everyone's musical tastes. You and your friends might have a different perception than your grandparents of what constitutes fun dance music — perhaps more "Golddigger" and less "String of Pearls." Yet if you truly want to make the oldsters happy and have a fabulous, danceable playlist (even for people who don't know how to jitterbug), check out my Oldies-But-Goodies Reception playlist.

From The Temptations to Sinatra to Louis Armstrong, you'll be able to shake your moneymaker and make your great aunts smile, so to take a listen,

Tax Day Playlist: Songs About Money

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:29:21 -0700

Well, guys, it's tax day. Maybe you took my advice a couple of weeks back and banged out your returns while watching some money-themed movies. But, if not, then you might want to pull out your headphones and listen to these songs about money while you stare at your 1040.

If you're getting a big refund, I've got songs about the things you can buy with money ("Material Girl," "If I Had a Million Dollars"). If you end up owing the IRS, you can take comfort in the songs about things that are more important than money ("Danny's Song.") And if things are just looking really bleak, you can turn to the Spinal Tap guys as they cry, "Give Me Some Money"!

To this list, you might also want to add some classic Beatles songs like "Can't Buy Me Love" and especially "Taxman." What other money songs would you rock out to on tax day? To check out my playlist, just

Buzz In: Help Me Make a "Songs for Spring" Playlist!

BuzzSugar — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:30:00 -0700

Ahhh. . . Springtime. This is one of my favorite times of year for music, when you can start taking more leisurely walks to work, ambling to the songs on your iPod. Or play some easygoing tunes in the car with the windows turned down — just a crack for now, but it's enough to feel the promise in the air. So, tell me: what songs best exemplify this season? What should I put on my "Songs for Spring" playlist?

I have some ideas to get things started. Belle and Sebastian's "Another Sunny Day" has that pleasant, mellowing effect, while "99 Red Balloons" makes me want to bop down a sun-splashed street. The songs can be thematic in terms of title or lyrics (like Outkast's "So Fresh, So Clean") or evocative in tone (like the lovely instrumentals of Blur's "The Universal").

No need to embed the music or include links, just put the song titles and artists in the comments below and we'll build a sunshine-and-soft-breezes playlist. To see some of my ideas and to add your own,

Valentine's Day Playlist: I Think I'm Falling in Love

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:30:00 -0800

During the run-up to Valentine's Day, I've been posting playlists that might capture your outlook on love this year. I've already tackled the single and empowered playlist, as well as the list for those of you who may be feeling a little bitter towards love. Now that the big day is here, I figured we should celebrate the exciting feelings that come along with new love.

"New love" could mean lots of things. The most obvious variation is falling in love with someone you've been seeing for awhile. Then there's that person you get your coffee from everyday because you're secretly a little obsessed with them. Or maybe it's slightly inappropriate, like your insanely good-looking and insightful professor with whom you'd enjoy spending V-Day in another life, perhaps.

None of these have necessarily been me of course, I'm just saying.

For those of you who have recently fallen hard or are working up the nerve to talk to someone you've eyed from afar, I present a playlist that helps you indulge these feelings. What songs do you listen to when you're back on the road to love? To see some of my suggestions, just hit play when you

Valentine's Day Playlist: When Love Turns Bitter

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:30:00 -0800

Ah, love. For something that can be so good, it's amazing how so very bad it can also be. And bad can turn to bitter around Valentine's Day, when the rest of the world is celebrating love's virtues just as you are in the middle of a breakup, still waiting by the phone, or figuring out how to tell someone it's over.

From now until V-Day, I'm posting playlists that might capture how you're feeling about romance this year. Last week I posted songs for the single person, and today I've pulled together some tunes that capture different variations on heartbreak and being "over it" when it comes to relationships. What's sweet for some this time of year can feel like salt in the wound for others, and a solid playlist might help the less lovey-dovey folks among us know you're not alone. What songs do you turn to when you're feeling bitter about love? For some of my suggestions, just hit play when you

Valentine's Day Playlist: Hey, I'm Single and I'm Fine With That

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

I think how each of us feels about Valentine's Day usually depends on our particular mood at the time (read: personal relationship status). Musicians are particularly good at articulating these moods of ours, which is why many of us rely on them more than ever this time of year. So from now until Valentine's Day, I'll be posting a series of themed playlists that might capture how you're feeling about romance this year. Whether you have a new person you're excited about, are in the midst of a break-up, or are happily going it alone, you're going to need a soundtrack to get you through the 14th, don't you think?

So first up, songs that empower and celebrate life as a single person. Valentine's Day can kind of suck when everyone in your office gets flowers delivered except for you. Fear not, for there are plenty of songs that you can stick in your ear to drown out all those happy (or is it sappy?) displays of coupledom and make you feel good about being on your own. What songs do you listen to when you're single? For some of my suggestions, just hit play when you

Playlist: 50 Songs for 50 States

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:15:32 -0700

When I asked Buzz readers to come up with a song for all 50 of the United States, I knew you'd get it done. But I wasn't expecting you to do it so quickly! Less than 24 hours after I first posted the challenge last week, every state had at least one suggested song, and the options just kept rolling in. (Interesting bit of trivia: The last state to get a song suggestion was Utah.)

Picking the list for my 50 Songs for 50 States iMix was tough with so many great options. I tried to keep a balance of genres and artists, and to incorporate suggestions from as many of you as possible. I also tried to pick songs that were on iTunes, but unfortunately, the picks for Maine, Maryland and North Carolina weren't available. To make up for their absence, I added saritalasweeta's pick of a song to represent Washington, DC. If you'd like to make a playlist of your own or just see what everyone came up with, all of the suggestions are posted here.

I have to give shout-outs to tikilite, glam sugar, jenybugs and rhondak for coming up with full playlists of their own, and to D-Diggity for nearly making it through the whole country using nothing but Johnny Cash songs. To see my playlist,

Playlist Challenge: 50 Songs for 50 States

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:13:54 -0700

Okay, Buzz readers, I know how great you are at selecting new casts for classic shows and hunting down the most buzzworthy movies, books and albums around, so I know you can handle this all-American playlist challenge! In honor of July 4th (and the great party PartySugar's been planning), I challenge you to name one song for each of the 50 states so that put together, we can make a playlist of 50 songs celebrating every corner of the country.

The guidelines:

The state name can either be in the title of the song or in a song lyric.
If the state name is in a lyric, please provide the lyric in your comment.
Official state songs do not count.

So get thinking and put your ideas in the comments section below! I'll re-post this challenge over the weekend and then I'll do a follow-up post with the master playlist on Wednesday, July 4th. If there are multiple songs suggested for one state, I'll choose one of them to put on the playlist. Good luck!

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Playlist: Honeymoon Vacation Songs

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:00:00 -0700

As the Sugar Network's wedding bliss goes on, we're devoting this week to honeymoons, which gives me an excuse to create a Playlist devoted to all things vacation. People take honeymoon trips to all sorts of places these days, but to me, the mere mention of honeymoons conjures up images of island getaways, beach-side nights, and, of course, a little afternoon delight.

So that's where I decided to go with this honeymoon vacation iMix. Clicking the link takes you to a URL that will ask you to launch iTunes, so just click "launch application" in the pop-up window. Since I'm now publishing the BuzzSugar Playlists on iTunes, you can even buy the iMix for your next vacation. Tell me what would be on your honeymoon mix, and to see the list of songs on mine,

Playlist: The Summer Road Trip

BuzzSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

We're smack-dab in the middle of Summer, and to me, there are few more quintessential Summer vacations than a good old-fashioned road trip. Of course, any good road trip needs a great Playlist, and there is no shortage of songs that pay tribute to motorized wanderlust.

In fact, when I made my trip cross-country several years ago, I asked all of my friends to burn mix CDs so I would have plenty to listen to en route. Of course, that was before these newfangled iPod Playlists, but I've used those original CDs as inspiration for my summer road trip iMix. Clicking the link takes you to a URL that will ask you to launch iTunes, so just click "launch application" in the pop-up window. Since I'm now publishing the BuzzSugar Playlists on iTunes, you can even buy the iMix for your next road trip. Tell me what would be on your road-trip mix, and to see the list of songs on mine,

Playlist: Father's Day

bellasugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:26:52 -0700

Surely you haven't forgotten that Father's Day is this Sunday. Whether you're throwing your dad a party or you just want to let him know that you're thinking about him, I've got a Playlist prepared for the occasion.

I briefly considered making a mix of "dad rock," like Bob Seger and John Mellencamp. But I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to get all weepy-eyed while listening to Harry Chapin's "Cat's In the Cradle." It gets me every time! I've got some other pretty sappy stuff on here, like Cat Stevens' "Father and Son," and Ben Harper covering John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy." But just in case you get too emotional, I've thrown in some slightly siller selections too.

What would you put on your Father's Day Playlist? Tell me below. Then, check out my iMix. Clicking the link takes you to a URL that will ask you to launch iTunes, so just click "launch application" in the pop-up window. That's right: I'm now publishing the BuzzSugar Playlists on iTunes, which means you can even give Dad the iMix as an e-gift if you need a last-minute present

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Playlist: Super Bowl Sunday

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 07:15:45 -0800

This Sunday, the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts will face off in the Super Bowl. Even if football isn't your thing, the big game is always a great excuse to party. (Just ask PartySugar.)

So I thought I'd put together a Super Bowl-themed Playlist to get your celebration started. This absurd set of songs features some fitting homages to the teams' home states, as well as some unavoidable sports classics and a few truly good tracks. What would be on your Super Bowl playlist? To see mine,

Playlist: The Colbert Vs. O'Reilly Showdown

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:18:48 -0800

Last week, I told you that Bill O'Reilly and Stephen Colbert will appear on each other's shows tomorrow, Jan. 18. So why not turn this epic TV battle into a major party event? YumSugar has created some special cocktails for the occasion, and I've come up with a Playlist for the big night. These 10 patriotic and argumentative songs should appeal alternately to fans of O'Reilly and Colbert. To see the righty vs. lefty Playlist,

Playlist: Hangover Survival Songs

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 05:32:38 -0800

The stars will be tossing back plenty of champagne at tonight's Golden Globes Awards ceremony, which, unlike the more somber Oscar night, is renowned for being a very big party.

With that in mind — and considering that many of us are recovering from a three-day weekend — I'm devoting this week's playlist to Hangover Survival Songs. With this song lineup, you can whine about how lethargic you feel while recalling your bad choices the night before. Tell me below: What would be on your list of hangover songs?

"I'm So Tired," The Beatles
"Lived in Bars," Cat Power
"Good Weekend," Art Brut
"Killer Parties," The Hold Steady
"Punks in the Beerlight," Silver Jews (First line: "Where's the paper bag that holds the liquor / Just in case I feel the need to puke?")
"The Bottle Let Me Down," Merle Haggard
"Death of a Party," Blur
"Hangover Days," Jason Collett ft. Emily Haines
"Sunday Morning Coming Down," Kris Kristofferson (Classic lyric: "I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.")
"Aftermath USA," Drive-By Truckers
"Silver Morning After," Beachwood Sparks
"Champagne and Reefer," Muddy Waters

Most tracks are available through the iTunes store.

Playlist: Best of 2006

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:18:22 -0800

Every Monday on BuzzSugar, I'll be posting a themed Playlist, and you guys can tell me what songs you'd choose for the occasion. This week, I was prepared to put my Top 20 Albums of 2006 behind me and start looking forward to 2007. But after seeing all of the great Buzzworthy picks for readers' top albums of 2006, I couldn't resist just one more nod to the great music that came out in '06. I've devoted this week's Playlist to 12 great tracks come from my best-of list and the readers' favorite albums. What would be on your year-end list?

TV on the Radio, "I Was a Lover"
The Hold Steady, "Stuck Between Stations"
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, "Handle With Care"
Justin Timberlake, "My Love (Diplo Remix)"
Regina Spektor, "Fidelity"
Bob Dylan, "Thunder on the Mountain"
The Pipettes, "Pull Shapes"
Neko Case, "Star Witness"
Drive By Truckers, "Gravity's Gone"
M. Ward, "To Go Home"
Cat Power, "Lived In Bars"
Calexico, "Letter to Bowie Knife"

Most tracks are available through the iTunes store.

Playlist: Cool Christmas Songs

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:00:04 -0800

It's time to break out the macaroni-and-glitter ornaments you made in second grade and plunk a candy cane in your hot cocoa, because Christmas is officially right around the corner. To help you prepare, I've devoted this week's Playlist to Cool Christmas Songs. (Every Monday on BuzzSugar, I'll be posting a themed Playlist, and you guys can tell me what songs you'd choose for the occasion.)

My 12-song mix starts out chill then gets a little rock-and-roll before heading into Run DMC and a song that namechecks Salem Lights. Tell me: What songs would go on your cool Christmas mix?

"Christmas Time Is Here," Vince Guaraldi (a.k.a., the "Charlie Brown Christmas" song)
"Oh Holy Night," Kelly Clarkson
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
"Blue Christmas," Elvis
"Baby It's Cold Outside," Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
"Wonderful Christmastime," Paul McCartney
"I'll Be Home For Christmas," Aimee Mann
"Santa Baby," Eartha Kitt
"Christmas in Hollis", Run DMC
"Cool Yule," Louis Armstrong
"Merry Christmas From the Family," Robert Earl Keane
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Judy Garland

Most tracks are available through the iTunes store.

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Playlist: Snowy Day Songs

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 07:23:24 -0800

There's no denying that winter is upon us, so we might as well just embrace it by introducing the first BuzzSugar weekly Playlist. Every Monday on the site, I'll be posting a themed Playlist complete with my song picks, and you guys can tell me what songs you'd choose for the occasion.

This week, I've rounded up 12 great Snowy Day Songs, many of them by bands from Iceland, Sweden, and other chilly climes. Some have snowy-day themes to warm you up, while others just sound cool and peaceful. Either way, this list will help get you through the long days of winter. (Most tracks are available through the iTunes store.)

Billie Holiday, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” A warm and cozy classic.
Low, “Last Snowstorm of the Year.”
Gwen Stefani, “Early Winter.” A breakup song in a weather metaphor.
Matt Pond PA, “Snow Day."
Mum, "Green Grass of Tunnel." The tinkling electronica makes me think of icicles.
Jens Lekman, "The Cold Swedish Winter."
Bjork, "Cetacea."
Del McCoury Band, "Rain & Snow."
Animal Collective, "Winter's Love."
The Fiery Furnaces, "Tropical Iceland."
The Pipettes, "A Winter's Sky."
Sigur Ros, "Svefn-g-englar." This stunning song just sounds like winter.

What songs would be on your snowy day playlist? Tell me below!

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