Long Weekend Playlists
Here in New Zealand we are currently enjoying the very start of a three-day weekend, our first ever national celebration of Matariki as a public holiday. Friday is a day off for school and for (most) workers. No doubt there’ll be shops cashing in. No doubt there’ll be some people angry about surcharges or their favourite spot being closed for the day. But as well as the chance to reflect, to enjoy a celebration that is of national significance – relevant to us as New Zealanders – it is also just a treat to have a day off (especially a Friday) and therefore a long weekend.
I feel like I should be allowed a day off then too – but not before I give you a few playlists for the weekend. I’ve got our regular weekly instalment with a 20-track playlist of the weird and (hopefully) wonderful. But I’ve also pulled together a few playlists I’ve made recently that you might not know about – or might want to revisit.
A friend asked me, sometime last year, to help her get into jazz. A fair request, and a challenge I was keen to be involved with – I love jazz. Some days I’m sure it’s my default genre, all time favourite. But I’m also aware that some people do not have (nor even want) the facility for it. The only great shame there is in missing out on some incredible music. There are so many “BEST OFs” that actually do a disservice to particular genres. I think especially anything “blues” suffers from those hideous FM-radio assisted compilations.
So I wanted to make something that was finite, that hit into a lot of the big names and some great tracks but wasn’t all obvious. I made this. A 30-track, three-hour jazz-sampler. I call it a starter-kit. Check it out. Perfect for if you love jazz. And just as perfect (hopefully) for if you’re a first-timer or haven’t felt you were so keen on the genre.
I don’t usually make genre-specific playlists, I like to wander all over the place, I hardly ever have even a day where I play the same genre back-to-back (if I do it’s jazz, or reggae). Anyway, here’s a 40-track, three-hour playlist I made last year called Shut Up & Listen. I guess that’s the idea behind it. Nothing more than that. It’s like a double-episode of the regular playlists I make on Fridays for this newsletter.
My favourite type of playlist to make back in the day, and how I got started on it, was the mega-long one to last the night. This came from iPods. Remember how cool it felt to be the DJ but not have to get up and change the flow; to try to predict the mood and make it happen or cut in detours (pre-planned) for along the way.
Well, last year some friends were coming to dinner, and I thought we’d have a (mostly) 90s trip-hop/ish vibe. I’m glad I put this together. It’s 70 songs and about six hours. Perfect for your weekend catchups, dinner and drinks etc.
Last weekend it was Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday. It fell just out of sync with when I write these newsletters, so I did a little post about it over on my website. I didn’t want to write too much – since every music publication online would be op-ed-ing all the obvious things to say say say. So my main thing was putting together an 80-track compilation playlist that covers chronologically the Beatles, Wings and his solo career; with more of a focus on the solo career since that has been the longest. Some of the best known and most obvious songs are there. But, again, some less obvious things. A really personal selection.
So if you missed that post you might just like to hit into the playlist.
After making that playlist last Saturday, I woke up the following day and wanted to make a Sunday chill playlist. So I did. And that’s what I called it.
Quite pleased with that one, good vibes, 40 songs, two and a half hours, I reckon it would work for a lazy nap or over brunch or anytime during the weekend. Perfect in the car. Perfect for socialising or to just listen to on your own.
I also don’t make a habit of making day-of-the-week playlists, but this Sunday one reminded me that earlier this year I made one called Monday Monday. And it has a few ‘Monday’ songs on it, sure, but it also just carries something of a Monday vibe. A good Monday vibe, mind you. So maybe that’s good to add in here as at the end of a long weekend you might need some adjustment music.
That’s it from me. Happy long weekend. There’s some music for you. (And a few bonus albums for relaxation and contemplation below at the foot of this…)
What new music are you digging? Share your own playlist favourites below if you want.
And of course, as always, there’s one more playlist – this week’s edition of A Little Something For The Weekend…Sounds Good! We are at Volume 70! That’s 70 weeks in a row of making a weekend playlist for you. I do love my job!
Have a great Friday, a happy long weekend if you’re here in NZ and Happy Matariki!
