a playlist in which an unexpected song (say something by U2, Green Day or any MTV hit from the mid 2000s) feels surprising but highly comforting

Songs to Dissociate to

a gift for someone based on what you've heard them play on the aux

music to write to

music that is based on math

a playlist that catches up with an old friend for you

songs to play for your kids so they think you were cool

replace the soundtrack to a movie that already exists

a playlist that feels like 100 degrees

a playlist which pays the humans who made the songs a living wage

a playlist that feels like riding a bike

songs that cure sensory overload

songs that make you dance

a playlist for a full day in the studio

a distracting playlist

a playlist for a party you want to leave

"safe" music to play if you're given the aux among people you don't know

a playlist to listen to in headphones next to someone listening to the same playlist in headphones

a 24 hour playlist to listen to in a single day

a playlist that gives you permission to do whatever you want to do

a playlist saying what you won’t text

songs that surprised you

a song for each thing you accomplished today

coding playlist

songs that make a whole room dance

a playlist for pre-stalgia: the feeling that you will develop nostalgia around these songs, knowing these songs will soon mean so much -- but not quite yet

underwater music

music for dancing at your desk

the soundtrack to a movie in which you're the protagonist

songs to listen to while waiting for the dentist

songs with vivid narratives

a playlist which satisfies your endless hunger for more playlists

opening tracks

a playlist for a party celebrating you and only you, attended by everyone you love

a playlist that feels nostalgic in the lonely way

a song for each of your instagram posts

A playlist for when you accidentally find more time in the morning sun

a playlist for the afterlife

music to listen to while wandering a museum

a playlist where each song correlates to a life changing moment or feeling to build your sonic autobiography

music that slows time

a playlist for someone you still love but isn’t in your life anymore

a playlist that is a gift to your future self

a playlist that meets someone else halfway

music that brings you back to moments when you felt a certain feeling that you don't ever want to forget is possible to feel

songs under 2 minutes

a long continuous story

a playlist that indulges your angst

a playlist for playing dress-up

cooking playlist

songs added one at a time by free association

music that no one listened to before you (forgotify.com)

a playlist with a single song you can play on repeat forever

a playlist of songs with lyrics that can be remixed easily in conversation to make jokes and memes out of

10 songs that represent the last 5 years of your life, chosen in 10 minutes

songs that aren't even a little bit about love

a playlist that is a poem

songs that would make your 16 year old self feel like you had experienced way more in life than you actually had

music you like to lipsync to in the mirror

a playlist that feels nostalgic in a collective way

a playlist for a long air flight

electronic music with noteworthy flute parts

a playlist that feels like a change of season

music that reminds you of being in a specific room

songs that conjure grief and joy at the same time

music that won't wake a sleeping person

a collection of novel use of language in track/album/artist naming

spooky music (that's not Halloween music)

a playlist of songs about a month or a time (November)

a playlist that revolves around a single song

songs can only be Names or Locations

a playlist that feels like it has a secret

songs to help you learn an instrument

music that makes the morning coffee taste better

songs about capitalism

playlist where title of each song is something your therapist (could)(should) say to you

songs that bloom

soundtracks to individual friendships

music for art teachers to play while students work

a playlist for your crush to convince them you're cool

songs you like to sing along to

songs that make you feel a different age than you are

musically uplifting songs with very sad lyrics

songs that will most definitely make you cry so maybe keep them all in one place so you know where to find them

songs you often share with other people

melancholy dance music

music that makes cheap wine taste like champagne

a playlist for when you woke up with sore eyes from crying too much the day before

theme songs for a cartoon about you

a playlist to listen to on the way to a social activity that you're nervous about

a playlist of songs your parents played when you were growing up

sounds from under the earth

a playlist for your alter ego

music for reading in transit

songs that are better with your eyes closed

music that softens your gaze

a playlist for two people to listen at the same time while separated, instead of talking on the phone. Nobody else can ever listen to that playlist.

a song for each of your chrome tabs

a playlist for when you're in physical pain

a playlist of songs from bands that start with The

about

Playlist Prompts is a collection of very specific playlist ideas started by Shea in 2020 and contributed to by many. So far it has taken form as:

[ongoing]
An open channel on Are.na
[2020]
A participatory newsletter (RIP TinyLetter)
[2021]
A poem published in the Are.na Annual, with an accompanying channel and playlist
[2022]
This website

Submissions and responses are welcomed on Are.na.

choose