Your 'rules' for making a really good playlist? Conditions apply.
 

Contrast, a theme, two songs by same artist, flow?

CONTEXT:
Been making playlists for ...30 years but this one has me puzzled.
I know this family friend that has helped me in a DIRE situation.

But, I don't really know her.
Different cultures, (me = American, Her = Mexico. She's um, 60% bilingual.)
She's (somewhat?) Catholic. Hey, if that's what helps her...

Also, we only talked briefly but share common ... themes in our lives.
Abuse as children, current, various, mental and (for me) physical 'troubles'.
This was like a few hours of talk. I never really cared for her before but...
She's my wife's sister, and drove 8 hours to help me with meds.
And, I don't even 'know' her.

So anyways, I've been working on this thing as a 'thank you' ...sort of note...for a week and a half. Non-stop.
Trying to get the context, contrast, flow, theme, PERFECT. It always ends up being so sad. Why depress her?

Should I just do instrumental, ''universal" songs? Verbal/Cultural differences...

Or, just, 'Hey, this is what I like. This is me.' stuff?
Or,'songs with messages' (lyrics) that she may take the wrong way or not understand? Hm.

Swinging in the dark here.
Here's what I've got so far:

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus (Acoustic)

LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations

Mogwai Punk Rock

XTC - Complicated Game

B&S - The State I Am In

Tori Amos - Enjoy the Silence

Darkel - some men

Baraka OST - Monk with Bell

Super Furry Animals - Miniature

Mr. Oizo - Steak

NEW ORDER - Elegia (full length un-edited)

Aphex Twin - Flim
DEAD CAN DANCE -The Serpent's Egg
Moby - God Moving Over The Face Of The Water.

Baraka- Rainbow Voice
Baraka - Finale.
M83 - Graveyard Girl3

I'm almost 40 and have been listening to music since I was in my mother's belly. Making mixtapes, back when it was cassette, since...a long time.

Any old-time experts out there, lend a fellow human, music lover, a hand?
thanks.
:bowdown:

P.S. Will edit later if I can upload the mix to hear for yrselvs.
Not sure if that's allowed on this site?

Pt1:
Google: 8tracks... 'http: //8tracks .com/ search/ %20nuke%2C%20earth. /results
Edit, you know what I'll just post 15 BS posts...so I can leave a link...Jesus Christ.

I would think some songs with "Thank you" in the title or lyrics? Of course you could then end up with some crappy songs like Dido's. But if you want to send a message then I'd start with that. Maybe some about friends, people helping each other out ("Lean on me", "Something inside so strong", "You've got a friend", "With a little help from my friends" and so on..)?

You're not allowed upload music here till you've been here a few months, but someone might do it for you. I'd ask a mod just to be sure you're not breaking any rules.

I haven't time to come up with a list of songs like the above but I'll think about it and get back to you later.
TH

He's not uploading music, it's just a playlist on 8tracks.

We have an 8tracks thread, although it's not the most popular thread on this forum with very few posters.

Here's the link

Also here's my profile, although I haven't made a mix in quite a while

8tracks online radio | Stream 47 playlists by loathsomepete | vancouver | free music apps

I got 1,000+ listens to the latest playlist posted on that thread.

LoathsomePete, you did not address my main question,
but, I appreciate your concern. So I will respond.

I guess...this is how you, yourself, make playlists.
So...if I'm smart, I can glean something.

'bleak, depressing, cold, sad, dark'...1st mix.
We may have something in common...just 'followed' you, btw.
Never heard most of those bands, or (obviously) songs. So thanks...
Oh wait...
Holy (smokes), Antony and the Johnsons, William Basinski. Great choices.
**** my mind is 80/20....

I've always heard that if you have to use lyrics to convey your message, you don't know music.
Well...some % of that is true, I suppose. Fuzzy Logic.
Awareness, Focus, Pattern Recognition, Memory.
Focus....so, this (fkn)...playlist?

Edit: 'sleeping/waking' in 2-3 hour shifts so...may go to 'sleep' soon.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Oh, just thought of this one, which helps me...% ...mainly the emotion and song title, for now:
THE BOMBS OF ENDURING FREEDOM - STAND UP NOW (IF YOU'RE BRAVE)

95% Metaphor.(N S A, dont you be watchin me!) (That's an ODB reference btw...)

I make playlists based off the meaning or context of the song, as well as the character of the person I'm making it for.

So, for instance in your situation, I'd probably go with something like this:

1. Carlos Santana - Make Somebody Happy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRpaneW6WJE

2. Glenn Campbell - Gentle On My Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtiHluArFc4

3. Gypsy Kings - Love and Liberte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DETw8JjCdxs

(more tunes go here... this is a short list... and then close it out with a bookender)

4. Carlos Santana - Angels All Around Us / Viva La Vida (Life is for Living)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgb8XB5PG0o

I left the tags off the vids so the thread isn't all jacked up with bandwidth.

*shrug*

YMMV

I tend to keep a theme. Sad, depressing, happy, or genre-specific. I think the most important thing is that the songs fit together.

Plankton, love it.
Really, I'm using that. Thanks.


BASIC QUESTION:
How do you make a playlist for someone who helped you, who speaks ...oh (heck) this is hopeless...ok. Um, 'Stand Up'...

So, making a playlist for someone who speaks mainly Spanish and you really don't know, does she even listen to music, like we do? But...who has done an enormous service for me...and this is how I communicate.

Playlists.

Music.

But, don't you think contrast ...helps accentuate the next song?
P.S. I was thinking the same thing (maybe): Hey, this is a CD for 'sadness', this one for 'uplifting', this one just in case you like to 'groove/dance'.

Or, a mix? in each CD? But what %? Or do different 'sad' songs naturally contrast?



Why am I obsessing over this thing???


Still, I am.
So...

I think whether you should use contrast or not depends on if the playlist is supposed to ble played start to end or at shuffle. Contrast may work if there is a specific order.