Tall Tara

No, it’s not what apps I should use to keep track of the fetal kicks.

What do I put on my labor & delivery playlist?

I’m such a first-time mom.

GAH.

I’ve never been good at putting together music mixes, whether it was back in high school, making tapes for friends, or more recently, when my husband and I were courting. We would make mixed CDs for one another and it was always such a struggle. Picking out just the right songs, putting them in an order that made sense AND sounded good together, wondering about what the song choice said about me…so many things to think about.

I’d rather just hit ‘random‘.

But an event like this feels like it needs more than just ‘random’ and now that I’ve begun to think about what I want to listen to on the BIG DAY, I’m drawing a blank.

What if I put the wrong song on there and it ends up annoying me, ruining the mood that I’ve carefully established for helping me to get through contractions? Not only am I going to hate that song forever but it might just make the entire ordeal harder? If that’s even possible?

And then I start debating…do I want fast songs? Mellow songs? Songs with a good beat? Songs with a message (I thought “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa would be a natural choice) or songs without words?

Just to prove how awful I am at all this…I tried working on the playlist this past weekend and after three hours, I had a total of three songs on there.

Seriously.

Three.

Of course, they’re three really good songs ¹ but who has that kind of time?

Now can you see why I’m having troubles here? And can you see why I feel silly for having these troubles?

Honestly, this is one of the last things left on my to-do list to feel truly ready for the baby coming. ²

Well, this and getting the car seat installed. But in the grand scheme of things, they feel pretty equal in importance. Baby’s safety versus the soundtrack for one of the most amazing experiences ever?

Right?

This is where I ask for your help. I’m going to crowdsource ³ this query to those who know better.

What songs should I have on this playlist?

Any and all recommendations will be considered. Moms and music snobs (and those who are both) especially encouraged to chime in here. Thanks in advance for the help peeps.

It really does take a village to create a playlist.

{photo: vasta}

I agree with Gwen that the way we listen to, discover and acquire music is monumentally different these days.

The fact that my father-in-law knows what Pandora is and streams it on his boat amazes me.

And 2009 is the year that I realized that Gen Y really is good for something: music recommendations. (I kid. Sort of.)

But with all that said, there was one album that stuck out for me as the best. The album I couldn’t get enough of, that put a smile on my face and made me dance around my living room–all my qualifications for awesomeness.

Oh Jack.

There’s that thing about him being totally adorable.

This is just a gratuitous picture of Jack being adorable. I rest my case.

But then there’s also that thing where he incorporates sounds and influences from all over the world into his music…a dash of Fela Kuti, some disco throwback and a healthy dose of Brazilian Tropicalia…reminding us that like his album’s name, Everything is New.

Not bad for a young kid out of England. Who was your Jack this year?

(Hat tip to Bossy’s Ear Worm…a wonderful source of music recommendations from many different time periods. And definitely NOT a Gen Yer.)