#36: Why Would Anyone be ashamed of their own tastes?

🎵 It's playlist time!

I used to be embarrassed of not knowing some classic rock songs or indie bands, discovering them “late” or “only” on that movie’s soundtrack. I would try to impress a hip boyfriend by sharing tunes that I thought would meet his coolness standards. I would confess to liking some Shakira songs with a touch of defensive self-deprecation.

I heard Camila Moreno sing in a small bar in Santiago de Chile before she got famous, I’d say smugly. He’s only known the Beastie Boys since ‘Hello Nasty’, a friend would exclaim, and I’d giggle along.

(Or I would take pride in not knowing certain films, which is another version of the same affectation. Oh, I haven’t seen Star Wars or The Matrix, I’d say, as if that was a sign of cultural refinement.)

Music is music. Wherever you first hear it, however many stars it gets from knowledgeable reviewers, no matter how cheesy / edgy: I believe that if it means something to you, if it makes you feel something—whether that is an aesthetic revelation or four minutes of fun that bring you back to that summer—it matters, to you. (And I’d argue that’s true of any art form.)

If this newsletter is a place where you discover one piece that moves you, where you get permission to feel what you feel and think what you think, then I’ll consider that my job is done.

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To celebrate the last Friday of February, here are seven songs that I like, and that have made me think about intrinsic motivation. As always, you’ll find the single songs as YouTube videos below, and the expanding playlist on Spotify:

If you enjoy this playlist, find previous ones here and sign up to receive the next instalments by email:

Please send me your suggestions; I’m always on the lookout for uplifting tunes and lyrics of autonomy, singularity and purpose to add to the list! You can reply to this post if you’ve received it by email, or:

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Be, I do · Nightwares On Wax

With thanks to Paul who introduced me to this hypnotic song.

I do me
Be the most magnificent, just be
Living life that's benevolent
The highest of the highest of
Anything equivalent
I do me

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Cosmic Dancer · T-Rex

With thanks to Billy Elliot, and that memorable opening scene 🩰

I danced myself out of the womb
Is it strange to dance so soon?
I danced myself into the tomb

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If you want to sing out, sing out · Cat Stevens

With thanks to a like-minded stranger on the Internet 🎶

And if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are

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Let my shoes lead me forward · Jenny Wilson

With thanks to said hip ex-boyfriend 👟👟

It's ok, hey come on, no time for education so let's go
I can't stand all these rules,
I'm gonna turn my back to everything I know
It's ok, come on, I won't do the things they learned me

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Try everything · Shakira (from the Zootopia soundtrack)

With thanks to Beloved, who indulged my drive-in cinema fantasy, and watched Zootopia with me in our tiny rental car on Cape Cod 🐚

Look how far you've come
You filled your heart with love
Baby, you've done enough
Take a deep breath

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Wannabe · Spice Girls

Teaching young women to own their desire to zig-a-zig-ah, since 1996 ✨

I'll tell you what I want
what I really, really want

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You’re the only thing in your way · Cloud Cult

With thanks to another like-minded stranger 💛

You are the wind, the flood and the flame
Nothing here can get in your way
You've come too far to care what they say
Now you're the only thing in your way