I turned 40 this week. I’ll admit, I expected to feel more reflective in this moment or for this milestone to seem more significant, but the fact everything feels the same as last week I’m going to chalk up to a healthy self awareness of some kind. I have a strange relationship to birthdays in that I’m so bad at remembering other’s and gift giving is absolutely not my love language, I then feel absolutely horrible when other people remember my birthday and possibly the most awkward you could ever make me feel is giving me a gift in person. But I’m also a person with an ego who’s love language IS quality time, so most years there is something organized to celebrate my birthday, but the invite is delivered so casually and couched with caveats about how busy this time of year is and that I’m aware you are likely already being asked to spend at least 2 other weekends this month with us thanks to other birthdays and holidays, so like, don’t even worry about it…
I have learned by this point in life, I desire recognition, but also lets not make a big deal about it ok? I’ve really come to appreciate winking and the knowing glance that follows; the silent understated moments of connection that come with knowing someone or being present enough to pick up the vibe.
With new decades, it’s appropriate to more assertively request people’s time and attention, but in the spirit of my aforementioned neurosis, for my 40th birthday we asked everyone to bring a pizza which we then ate in the backyard with amaros and oysters and pie. Begrudgingly accepting that only playing vinyl thru out the party was impractical, I made a playlist mixing songs from 1983 with songs that sound like they could have been made in 1983, tossed with a collection of idiosyncratic sentimental tracks. It ended up nine hours long and in my humble opinion, somehow works. Below is a condensed version that I think paints a pretty good picture of how music has shaped me. If you’d like the full nine hour version, help yourself, just put it on random.
#17. 40 toppings
Listen here on spotify.
Bombay Bicycle Club - Turn The World On
New Order - Your Silent Face
The 1975 - Paris
Matthew And The Atlas - Record Store
Dennison Witmer - Further On
Madness - It Must Be Love
Jens Lekman - A Postcard To Nina
Carly Rae Jepsen - Bends
Dismemberment Plan - You Are Invited
Stars - Hold On When You Get Love
Rubblebucket - Donna
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
John Mayer - Last Train Home
Noah And The Whale - Now Is Exactly The Time
Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang
Lali Puna - Faking The Books
The Good Life - Don’t Make Love So Hard
Bruce Hornsby and The Range - The Show Goes On
Ben Folds - Sentimental Guy
Wilco - A Magazine Called Sunset
Lionel Richie - All Night Long
The New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno
The Rentals - Please Let That Be You
Madonna - Holiday
The Smiths - This Charming Man
Born Ruffians - With Her Shadow
The Clash - Straight To Hell
Taco - Putting On The Ritz
Monster Rally - Lovely You
Billy Bragg - A New England
Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched
The Band / Van Morrison - Caravan