On Friday nights, we put the kids to bed, open a bottle of wine, and take turns picking songs for hours. Sometimes, we riff off the other person’s choice (maybe the same time period, maybe the same theme), and other times we make a sharp break with what came before. We strictly alternate, and don’t reveal what we are going to play ahead of time. The hours fly by as we talk and argue about songs and music and musicians. We play whatever we are in the mood for, and no one has veto power. Here’s this past Friday’s playlist, when all was said and done.

Shooting the moon (Ok Go)
Lose yourself (Eminem)
Telephone (Lady Gaga, feat Beyonce)
Wouldn’t it be nice (The Beach Boys)
God only knows (The Beach Boys)
She’s a rainbow (The Rolling Stones)
Wish you were here (Pink Floyd)
Positively Fourth Street (Bob Dylan)
Suspicious Minds (Elvis)
Wonderful Tonight (Cream)
Unchained Melody (Elvis)
Juke box blues (Reese Witherspoon)
The sound of silence (Disturbed)
Leaving it up to you (George Ezra)
Landslide (Smashing Pumpkins)
I still believe (Frank Turner)
Superstition (Stevie Nicks)
Good Times Bad Times (Led Zepplin)
Layla (Eric Clapton)
Ophelia (the band)
Bridge over troubled waters (Simon and Garfunkel)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (R E.M.)
Where the streets have no name (U2)
Sugar we’re going down (Fall Out Boy)
Say it ain’t so (Weezer)
Army (Ben Folds Five)
Innocent (our lady peace)
I’ve just seen a face (The Beatles)
Good Riddance (time of our lives) (Green Day)
Seven Nation army (The White Stripes)
Once in a lifetime (talking heads)
I’m gonna be (500 miles) (The Proclaimers)
Into the mystic (Van Morrison)
Evangeline (Emmy Lou Harris feat The Band)
Long back veil (Dave Matthews Band)
Country road (Jack Johnson)
Living on a prayer (Bon Jovi)
Are you gonna be my girl (Jet)
The unforgiven (Metallica)
Hey ya (Outkast)