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Did you know that April is National Brunch Month? What a great excuse to create my latest mixtape - Brunch!
When it comes to brunch, whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting, you want music that’s recognizable enough but not taking away from the conversation, gossip, laughter and food. The New York Times put it best in 2020 when they said that “music can energize the meal, making brunch more of an extension of weekend nights than a defeated epilogue.”
Along with my keen ear for tasty tunes, I consulted with Tammy Gordon and Jenna Golden on what they like to listen to when they’re at brunch. Combined, it’s a mix of old and new, with lots of up-tempo tracks that will catch your attention enough to sing along or get you moving a little in your seat.
So let’s get to it. Enjoy my new mixtape “Brunch”.
The ideal scenario for brunch is perfect weather so you’re eating outside or with doors/windows open, a great breeze blowing and the perfect combo of food and company. That sounds like a lovely day, right? Then let’s start the mixtape with “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers.
Skip ahead to one of my favorite Lake Street Dive songs, “Side Pony”. It’s a cool, retro-feel track that incorporates a bit of disco to make you groove in your seat and maybe even dares you to rock a side pony while pouring some syrup on your waffles.
Yacht rock isn’t a genre most people admit they like/love, but you have to admit that they’re some of the most recognizable songs. Enter “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” from England Dan & John Ford Coley. One of the corniest, syrupy-sweet songs ever…and I guarantee you’ll be singing along to the chorus.
It’s important for the brunchers to recognize songs and “Groove is in the Heart” by Dee-Lite is one of the most recognizable and played songs out there (Spotify has it at over 200 million plays). It’s bright, it’s funky and it’s fun - everything you want from Lady Miss Kier and the boys.
Guilty pleasures - we all have them. They can be food related, movie related and especially song related. So don’t slam me when “MMMBop” comes on from Hanson. It’s one of the greatest pieces of ear candy out there and has aged so well since coming out in 1997. It’s another song that will gain your attention when you’ve moved onto the pastries.
Blondie had a string of hits back in the day and are still touring, putting on an incredible live show. Most people will know “Call Me” or “The Tide Is High” but I chose “Dreaming” to make the mixtape. The song, which was partially inspired by ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” is a bop. The feel-good vibes of the song work so well late in the brunch mixtape.
We close out our three hour, 50 song mixtape with Soul II Soul’s “Back to Life”. It’s a double meaning coming out of brunch - We’re back to life in that it’s time to get to our everyday life and chores but also, brunch has revitalized us and we’re back to life, ready for anything.
What else do you want to hear while brunching? Feel free to send me your suggestions of songs you’d want to hear over some eggs, french toast, good coffee and a bloody mary or mimosa. In the meantime, sit back, enjoy the meal and the music.