What: “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” by Frank Sinatra
Who: Lonely broken-hearted folks. Think Frank getting over Ava.
When: Right before last call or driving around a sleeping city (sober!) at 3 a.m.
Where: Best if you’re sitting on a bar stool at your local dive bar (I like the Lost & Found and I think they might have this in their jukebox) with your head in your hands, feeling sorry for yourself and there’s no one else around except you and the kindly bartender…and a smattering of passed-0ut barflies.
Why: Usually Frankie’s version of any song is the most upbeat and positive rendition you can get. But with this song, he’s uncharacteristically morose, perfect for when you just need to wallow in your own misery to get it out of your system. And then the next morning, you’re all better. Hopefully.
What: “The Sunshine Underground” by The Chemical Brothers
Who: Stay-at-home NYE revellers.
When: At 11:56 pm, a little before the countdown begins.
Where: Wherever there’s a broadcast of that big Waterford crystal ball dropping in Times Square.
Why: Hit “Play” at about 11:56:07 pm and you have a great soundtrack to the ball dropping. Trippy. The music almost seems to be in sync with the 696 flashing lights. There’s the buildup of the drums which sound almost tribal whipping you up into a frenzy, and then the transition in music seems to signal when the ball hits 2006. The song continues for another 4 minutes, but you’ll be dancing and jumping around in elation. Happy New Year!
|
What: “Santa Baby” by Kylie Minogue
Who: Those who consider video iPods to be just another stocking stuffer and want to coax a lot more from their “Santas.”
When: Now. There are still 5 shopping days until Christmas! But of course that special-ordered Mercedes SLR McLaren will have to wait til next year.
Where: In the privacy of your Santa’s beach house/mansion where sufficient coaxing can take place.
|
Why: Kylie Minogue’s rendition of “Santa Baby” is the sexiest. Madonna’s homage to Betty Boop is more comical than sexy and Eartha Kitt’s is a bit old-fashioned and staid compared to this version. Kylie seems to have fun with it. You can just see the seduction of Santa taking place through all her breathy Marilyn-esque ad libs.
What: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Henry Mancini
Who: People who don’t mind waiting so much. They’re out there. Somewhere.
|
When: Standing in a ridiculously long line.
Where: At the DMV or, seasonally speaking, in the long line for the register when you’re out shopping for gifts.
Why: It makes the waiting almost comical. It doesn’t do you or the people around you any good to get irate waiting for your turn which will come eventually, so just laugh and hum to yourself. “Do do do doo doo doooo….”
|
What: “Let Down” by Radiohead
Who: Passengers-to-be or those already in the air.
|
When: After you’ve already checked in and are sitting there with your boarding pass.
Where: I say LAX instead of John Wayne or Burbank, simply because it’s more hectic. But this song is fitting in the waiting area when you’re seated and you can see the airplanes taking off and landing. It’s also a good soundtrack when you’re in the plane flying over the clouds, preferably during sunrise or sunset.
|
Why: It makes your waiting amid the buzz of the busy airport feel like an ethereal, zen experience.
|
What: “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin
Who: Two very randy consenting adults.
When: After a night of drinking when you’re feeling all revved up.
Where: Since it grossed out my brother when I specifically named places around L.A., I’ll just say, “Anywhere–bedroom, dark alley, backseat of a ’69 Chevy Chevelle SS.”
|
Why: That guitar is raunchy! The song just sounds like the urgency of clothes coming off…and the after effects of that. Oh, and check out Robert Plant’s vocal stylings if you need some, um, inspiration.
I think this will be my new weekly thing: songs inspired in and around L.A. moments.
|
What: “Ooh La La” by Goldfrapp (Windows Media Player or Real Player)
Who: For optimum experience, you have to be a girl in a Pontiac Solstice or a Mazda Miata, maybe even a convertible Mini Cooper. But it can’t be more upscale because that’s just a different soundtrack for a different type of person.
When: Sunny day, like today for top-down driving.
|
Where: Anywhere scenic where you can pick up some speed. For me, I was just driving into work but coming down 20th Street with the Santa Monica Mountains so vivid was a beautiful thing.
Why: Makes you feel free, optimistic and even a little sexy.
