The latest book by bestselling author David Levithan is not just one love story, but an anthology of short love stories with a little something for everyone. And with a title like 19 Love Songs, we just had to ask David to put together a Spotify playlist . . .
So, if you write a book titled 19 Love Songs, you should be prepared to share nineteen love-song recommendations, right? I’m somewhat obsessive about my playlists. (I’ve been making annual mixes for my friends for over two decades, and monthly mixes for myself for . . . a while.) To keep this spontaneous, though, I’m going to go with first-thought, best-thought and see which nineteen love songs come to mind—some relating to the book, some not. (And all of them fitting my definition of “love song” being “a song that tells the truth about love” and not “a song where love goes smoothly and the two people end up together.” Here goes . . .
1. Robyn: “Dancing on My Own
2. Death Cab for Cutie: “Transatlanticism”
3. Taylor Swift: “Out of the Woods”
4. Dar Williams: “February”
5. Aretha Franklin: “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes”
6. Tracy Chapman: “The Promise”
7. Crowded House: “Something So Strong”
8. Freya Ridings: “Castles”
9. Indigo Girls: “Power of Two”
10. U2: “With or Without You”
11. Oasis: “Wonderwall”
12. Stevie Wonder: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)”
13. Belinda Carlisle: “Fool for Love”
14. Joni Mitchell: “Carey”
15. Tori Amos: “1000 Oceans”
16. Patty Griffin: “Be Careful”
17. Björk: “All Is Full of Love”
18. Lucinda Williams: “Passionate Kisses”
19. The Beatles: “In My Life”
