The High Fidelity Inspired Playlist For Staying At Home

A few weeks ago Hulu released their updated take on the classic book and film High Fidelity and in true millennial fashion I decided to sit down and binge watch the whole thing. Even though I adore the 2000 film version starring John Cusack (we all know this by now—I love him) I held no skepticism towards Hulu’s revamp. I always wanted an updated version on that story and its technology, culture, and music to reflect a new generation—one that I am part of. Personally, I think that it absolutely delivered too. I may expand on my review in another post, actually I probably will, but that’s for another post. This post is about how it spurred me to take it back to my first cultural favorite: music. So I began to get back into the groove of playing my records and unplugging every night.

Enter: COVID-19. Don’t worry, I’m not here to spread panic, (dis)information, or remind you of any king of social etiquette to follow. Mostly, just like a wide majority of the planet I am impacted by this event and trying to spend time at home and not online. So, burnt out of watching movies (for the time being) I channeled my inner Rob and made a Stay at Home Playlist for Colin and I. Well, actually, I made a giant master-list that I will continue to add to and crafted a smaller, more specific one for us tonight. I didn’t do a meme playlist either—there is not a single title referencing disease or anything like that. This is a list designed for being home needing a break from all this, and just jamming with a beverage of choice. The songs are dramatic, sad, happy, love songs, party songs, rock songs, soul songs, pop songs, all kinds of songs. For the list I took major inspiration from both on-screen versions of High Fidelity, thinking about the tones and tastes of both casts, and tried to fill the vain of what these characters would choose if they were quarantined themselves and mixed it with Colin and I’s tastes and preferences. Tonight my boyfriend and I are unplugging from everything (except YouTube…we need the songs) and enjoying some tea (and maybe beer) and jamming out. So here it is.

Danzig - Mother (Live 1993)

Rick James - Super Freak

Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

David Bowie - Heroes (Live AID 1985)

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sex Sugar Magik (Woodstock 1994)

The Police - Wrapped Around Your Finger

Dio - Holy Driver

Nirvana - Aneurysm (Live in Seattle 1991)

Black Sabbath - War Pigs

Prince - The Question of You

Buddy Guy ft Rolling Stones - Champagne & Reefer (Live)

Chris Cornell - Fell On Black Days (Live Acoustic on Kevin & Bean)

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car (Live 1988 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena)

Prince - Purple Rain (Live at the American Music Awards 1985)

Demi Lovato - Take Me To Church (Live Lounge Cover)

Passionfruit - Paramore (Live Lounge Cover)

CKY - Sink Into the Underground (Live at Sonisphere 2010)

Charles Bradley - Changes (Live)

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow

Ed Sheeran - Dirrty (Live Lounge Cover)

David Bowie - Space Oddity

Sam Smith - One Last Song

Here is the link to this playlist if you’re interested. And here is the master-list that I intend to keep adding to.