The playlists

THE PLAN

So -- this was the request for my party guests:

THROW YOURSELF INTO THE MIX
AND MAKE S'S PLAY LIST!

Here's how: First think some thoughts about S and S's life and S in your life. Or, think about birthdays and life. Or just think about songs and your favorite songs and your favorite song that should be everyone's favorite song.

Then RSVP with the title of a song and the artist that you feel expresses what you'd like to say to S as she says sayonara to her twenties. We'll compile all your picks into one playlist, download the tunes, and play them at the party. And S will have a music-birthday-card from her friends.

THE RESULTS
Okay, all in all I now have sixty songs specially picked for my special day. I feel pretty loved.

I'm trying now to break them down into categories, so that the sixty songs can become, like a five disc "S's Thirtieth Birthday Series". Like the ones they used to see for Time/Life books.

Okay, Series One is probably the easiest to pick out. These are:

Songs With Significant Meanings about Getting Older
(Most of these were selected by women. Most came with well thought out messages about getting older. This is the disc I can weep to and think to and maybe, if I did it I guess -- do yoga to.)

FOREVER YOUNG - Alphaville
FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE - Bright Eyes
THE BEST IS YET TO COME - Frank Sinatra
EVERYTHING'S CHANGING - Keane
DWELLER ON THE THRESHOLD - Van Morrison
THE JIG OF LIFE - Kate Bush
AND THE BEAT GOES ON - Sonny and Cher
ONE HUNDRED YEARS - Five for Fighting
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW - Holly Cole
THAT I WOULD BE GOOD - Alanis Morisette
LET GO - Frou Frou

As a subset in that group, we have several that addressed aging with a bit more, well, tongue in their cheek:

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT - REM
ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG - Billy Joel
ISN'T IT GRAND BOYS - The Clancy Brothers

That's set one. More to come. Feel free to send along suggestions of your own...