Let Me In #1
The title is the name of a restaurant in Jacksonville, FL that I visited one time last summer and had a fine vodka and soda. The full details of that night should at least be behind a paywall and at best never repeated. What I will say is that after that event, I went to a drag show/dance night and the DJ was playing Chappell and Charli and just being there for a little bit made me feel something really inspiring. It was a brat girl summer but also on the heels of the Era tour I was just really feeling the girly pops. As I’ve had to reckon with the loss of Kanye and Drake from the rotation though, I feel like dancing to these new fresh hot and sometimes queer girlies made me feel some connection to how it feels to be a “Girl, so confusing”.
Track 1: Alter Ego- Doecchii and JT
Who is Doecchii? I don’t know. Even less of an idea about JT but this bop slays. I am sure I came across this on a track radio after what- can’t remember but this was the song that got me to start a new playlist and think of a title so it’s powerful!
Track 2: Ferrari- James Hype and Miggy Dela
Ferrari reminds me of F1 and Shell gasoline. The brother of my college boyfriend was a mechanic and the brother said Shell fuel is the best for your car and so I pretty much only put Shell gas in my car since then. We broke up in 2009. Yes, I have sought treatment for my mental illness. Ramit Sethi says do not drive out of your way to save pennies on gas but I like my routines and I get the Fuel Rewards!
Also reminds me of the movie Ferrari which I saw at a movie theater in Portland, OR with couches instead of chairs that my mom said resembles a swingers club (no further comment). I resented Penélope Cruz’s accent for some reason more than Shailene Woodley’s. Prior to the movie coming out though, I went to the US Grand Prix with my ex-boyfriend (should regrettably go behind a paywall) and I made a friendship bracelet in Ferrari colors. Adam Driver was reportedly in the paddock as promo for the movie and I love celebrity. It later had a double-meaning when we saw Queen + Adam Lambert who played at COTA that weekend.
And on the topics of Italians and celebrity, I do recommend making time for La Dolce Vita which I rented on DVD from the library but is streaming on Criterion.
Track 3: Master of None- Beach House
This song is in Miranda July’s film The Future. When I started watching this movie, I realized I had seen it before but had little memory of it. Another movie that suffers from this same phenomenon is This is Where I Leave You- forgettable. I always get Beach House confused with Best Coast despite the fact they are not at all similar.
Track 4: 1 Thing- Amerie
Heard this is in a movie, can't remember now which, but I did start a Letterboxd as a result!
Track 5: Bra- Cymande
I remember talking about The Worst Person In the World with Grace when it came out. I had seen it solo at the Violet Crown in Austin and said it felt too long. I watched it again recently and even though I knew where it was going I still felt it was a little too long. I also watched the other two films in the trilogy- Oslo, August 31 (from the library) and Reprise (from ebay). After I finished Reprise, I dropped it in a Little Free Library in my neighborhood.
Track 6: DREAM-GIRLS- Camila Cabello
Official theme song of Uchi Miami! I have later said if it’s good enough for Camila Cabello, it’s good enough for someone I’ve never heard of.
Track 7: Guess featuring billie eilish- Charli xcx
I think it was the first track released off Brat and it’s completely different. I’m kind of over this song now but I love Billie so much. I went both weekends of ACL in 2021 to see her and my phone was pickpocketed but I’d do it again. That line “Charli likes boys but she knows I’d hit it” it just makes you want to scream after idk why!
Track 8: SLUT ME OUT 2- NLE Choppa
The name sounds like a Kim Petras track but reminds me of this guy. “Slut Me Out 2” implies the existence of “Slut Me Out 1” but I need to open an incognito tab for that. I took over the Bluetooth in my brother’s car for some time and until this song came on, he didn’t notice. We were driving to a tulip farm on an island that a preacher on a plane had told me about. Everything was closed because it was a Monday so instead we went for a walk in the woods. A nice wholesome story to balance these lyrics.
Track 9: bellyache- Billie Eilish
Two Billie’s in one playlist? Should be a no-no but this era of Billie is like a different person. I heard this playing in a Target and I said oh hell yes and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. I really fell for her in this video and the don’t smile at me cover always reminds me of COLORS.
Track 10: Taste- Sabrina Carpenter
I like the idea (I made up in my head) that this song is about the guy Sabrina stole that inspired Olivia Rodrigo to write “Driver’s License”. The romantic burgle that just keeps giving albums! After seeing Banshees of Inisherin, I went on a wee Barry Keoghan binge and that was even before the blessing that is Saltburn. Made my time with The Green Knight worth it in the end. I know this song is not about him but part of the reason I loved Short n’ Sweet was because of the celebrity/fanfare around their relationship at this time and the Taylor/Travis crossover at least at Coachella. Who even cares if any of it is real! I said I love celebrity okay!
Track 11: Strange Condition- Pete Yorn
From The Sweetest Thing! I had never seen this movie before so I don’t have a soft place for the outdated humor but this bit was my favorite part: SPOILER. I’m sure I had a burned copy of Musicforthemorningafter in high school.
Track 12: Congratulations- boyish
I stood behind them at a Michelle Zauner DJ set at the South Congress Hotel. I hadn’t heard them play but the crowd was still talking about their set. I remember one of them had “boyish” stitched on their sneakers. I think boyish may have suffered under the success of Boy Genius but rising tides lift all ships? My favorite line from this song is “got me medicated for a start”. I said at one point before seeing a psychiatrist, I think I’ll get prescribed Lexapro because everyone I know is on it. This is the medical equivalent of the idea that you are a product of the five people closest to you. I’m not on Lexapro but I am easily influenced.
Track 13: Say Mashallah- Khaled Siddiq, Mohammed Yahya, and Qasim Gray
I think I was gifted a subscription to the Pro version of Co-Star and it recommends movies and music for the day based on your chart so this rec came from the stars. I had a moment on a Saturday in September driving through Jersey City blasting this song with the sunroof open.
Track 14: Hollywood (f. Earth, WInd & Fire)- Victoria Monet
I don’t know much about her actually but I had this album saved to my TBListened for when I had a day to catch up on full albums.
Track 15: New Perspective- Noah Kahan
DANGER: this song is an earworm! I didn't care to pay attention to Noah Kahan at.all. until Meryl was playing him in the car and singing along. Then I listened to this album through and I am hooked! Fondly listened to this walking though Midway on a layover. I was in Boston recently watching Allie’s dog, Maggie, and I really saw that Boston is the big city of New England. I really felt it then and this album connected me to that feeling about New England. Allie said stick season is Maggie’s favorite!
Track 16: Horse- Quadron
Sometimes I just crave Robin Hannibal. For some reason, I wanted more Rhye and came back to Quadron and I feel like this happens to me every few years. Originally “LFT” was also on this playlist but I decided two songs from the same album was just irresponsible.
Track 17: You’re Still The One- Lake Street Dive
I believe I saw Lake Street Dive at a Three River Arts Festival in Pittsburgh and have been a fan ever since! This song is off an album of covers but I’ll listen to anything they put out. Not until I was working on this did I think to associate this song with an episode of The Kardashians. I saw Lukas Gage in Down Low at SXSW in 2023 and now that it's on Netflix, I’m interested in thoughts! The dance song from that movie was on a playlist way back that may be reprised.
Track 18: F.N.T.- Semisonic
I know this track from the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack but it was in The Long Kiss Goodnight. Soundtracks were so important to me in middle school. As young ladies, Kelly and I would spend a lot of time at the public library and learned a lot from the librarians. Now that I’m focused on moving to Seattle, I realized Kat Stratford should be on my vision board!
