boston progress radio

For my 21st birthday, I received my first mix CD. I played the hell out of that CD; it was probably the only CD I played for the next two months. I remember feeling touched, feeling emotional in a different way, because somehow, the songs conveyed all of the emotions that couldn’t be put in to words.

Today on Boston Progress Radio, love is taking over the airwaves. And by love, I don’t just mean the gooey nauseating kind of baby-making-love. By love, I mean commitment to growth. By love, I mean support and nourishment for the soul. (Ok, and maybe a little of the baby-making-kind of love. Heck, where do you think Asian American babies come from?) Love for partners, love for fam, love for community. Boston Progress Radio is a labor of love.

So, I set out to make a mixtape/playlist of love songs that capture this. And I wanted my playlist to feature Asian American artists. Because, heck, Asian Americans can love too, right?

And, I’ll admit. It was hard. At first, I thought that the entire list had to be happy love songs. But you know, love isn’t always about the happy or easy times. Love is about all of the times. It’s about staying true through the dark days and the sunny nights. Loving means being committed to struggle together for something better.

I don’t think this is the perfect list. But, it’s my nerdy/techno-g33ky way of expressing the love I have for the wonderful things that I have in my life. This is my love song.

Enjoy.

Today, the Smashing Pumpkins*

This song was on my original mix cd. I just really love this song. It’s kind of a bittersweet and kind of just happiness. Sure, only James Iha is Asian American. But I think this song just rocks/rocks me every time I hear it.

Tallymarks, Thao Nguyen*

Tallymarks is about struggle in love. It’s a simple little song, maybe a little sad. But I think in the end it’s about a willingness to communicate and grow, together. Thao Nguyen kind of has a Cat Power-esque sound, though not quite so depressing. Her vocals and guitar work are a little cuter and a littler sweeter without being sugary.

Inda, the Ken Oak Band*

Apparently, this song was on the “She’s the Man” soundtrack, but I have no recollection of the song being in the movie. But, I will say that there’s something to be said for a man rocking out on a cello. And, yeah, well, the song is kind of pretty catchy too. It gives me hope that I too can find what I need.

What I am to You, Norah Jones*

Jazzy, understated, and just sweet. I think “Come Away” is just a romantic album. “When I look in your eyes, I feel butterflies.”

Try.Wait, Jay Legaspi

Jay Legaspi self-admittedly writes a lot of songs about love. Try.wait expresses the patience that often goes along with love. Doesn’t mean it’s always easy, but who said love was easy?

Everything, Magdalen Hsu-Li

Magdalen Hsu-Li is an artist I first heard of in college, I think she’s grown a lot as a singer-songwriter. “You are everything to me.”

Lover Come Over, Vudoo Soul

Here’s the baby-making track of the mix. I think that says it all.

Karoline, Kevin So

The line that got me in this song was the one about not wanting to leave your arms. Whether these are the actual arms of a lover or the metaphorical arms of a community that has sheltered and nourished you, I can relate to that - feeling torn about staying or going.

Skipping in NYC, Cynthia Lin

This is a happy love song. What could be happier than a girl and a guitar skipping down the streets of Manhattan singing, “I think I’m love…”

Delovedly, Misha

This track comes of an album appropriately titled, “Teardrop Sweetheart.” Delovedly is sparse with a jazzy track with a cute quirky sound. I like the way the vocals are recorded here… but I still don’t quite know what “delovedly” means. Hmmm.

If You Should Die, Bamboo Shoots

Love and death… why do these seem to go hand in hand? Maybe I have overly romantic ideas about love carrying on until death and beyond. But I like the indie sound of this song.

Expat, Benny Mao

What’s love without a discussion of home? I believe it more and more, home is where the heart is. Maybe this song sounds like it belongs in Rent, but hey, I like Rent. And Rent is about love and struggle and community too.

Be Be Your Love, Rachel Yamagata*

To me, this song is about the inevitable doubt that goes along with love. And I think in the realm of love, a little doubt is necessary. Because when you stop questioning, I think you stop growing. Rachel Yamagata is a singer-songwriter with punk rock roots; I totally dig her vocals.

Right There, Native Guns

Lest you think that hip hop and love songs are mutually exclusive, here’s a track from Native Guns that is enough to make any girl or guy swoon. I am so down with any song that talks about bell hooks.

“What we have is what’s left after the music is gone.”

*These tracks aren’t actually up on the radio because we aren’t in touch with these artists. The rest are all up there - and for the sake of our listeners who can’t stomach one mix over and over, the playlist will repeat a couple times throughout the day.

Last 5 posts by delia

• Rocket 2 U - May 13th, 2008
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• Our Month - May 2nd, 2008
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Tags: Love.