Brunch is a sacred thing here in Washington, DC. I’ve been brunching since before I was 21 – which was a mistake, by the way – and have even begun to become an old person who orders the same thing every single time I go (bottomless mimosas, eggs benedict with spinach, and home fries). Like many other situations in life, especially those which involve alcohol and/or lesbians, the soundtrack to a good brunch is integral.
I made this playlist in honor of International Autostraddle Brunch Day, and you can bet your side of vegan bacon that it will be playing at mine. As in, at mine in my home in Washington, DC, which you should come to. I live in a really beautiful house, and you’re totally welcome to pet Eli! Unless you’re gonna kill us all or whatever. That’s not cool. Maybe you don’t live in DC and you want to have brunch in Ohio, where Grace has told me she will Skype me so we can brunch together still. Maybe you live in some of the other cities and countries where brunch is being hosted! Come to brunch. I bet there’s a brunch by you. Or maybe skip it altogether and cook eggs in your panties. Whatever works, really.
jayne mansfield, 1956, via retronaut // life magazine
The theme of my brunch is midcentury, but what I really mean by that is that I like the website Retronaut and the movie The Graduate a lot right now. So I smashed up some retro tracks with my own indie bullshit and what happened is now here for you, the soundtrack to this new international observance of my own city-wide holiday: brunch. May the spirit remain with you forever, and may you always look cute in the morning.
This playlist is four hours long because you never know how long the carafe will last.
Playlist: Bitches Who Brunch*
[Stream It Here]
Across The Universe – Fiona Apple
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye
Ain’t No Other Man – Christina Aguilera
Angel In The Snow – Elliott Smith
Between The Cheats – Amy Winehouse
Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
Blame It On the Girls – Mika
Bye, Bye Love – Simon & Garfunkel
Crimson & Clover – Tommy James and The Shondells
Do You Realize?? – The Flaming Lips
Dog Days Are Over – Florence + the Machine
Flowers Never Bend With the Rainfall – Simon & Garfunkel
Fluorescent Adolescent – Kate Nash
The Girl From Ipanema – Amy Winehouse
Golden Age – TV On The Radio
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren
Hello, I Love You – The Doors
How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees
I Can’t Help Myself – The Four Tops
I Only Have Eyes For You – Ella Fitzgerald
I Say A Little Prayer For You – Dionne Warwick
I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
I Want You Back – Jackson 5
I Want You To Want Me – Cheap Trick
I’ll Be There – The Four Tops
I’ll Be Your Mirror – The Velvet Underground
I’m in Love With a Girl – Big Star
If It Ain’t Got That Swing – Ella Fitzgerald
Killer Queen – Queen
Kokomo – The Beach Boys
Lean On Me – Al Green
Les Champs-Élysées – Joe Dassin
Love Me Do – The Beatles
Love the One You’re With – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Lovesong Of The Buzzard – Iron & Wine
Mind Games – John Lennon
Move Over – Janis Joplin
My Girl – The Temptations
Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ – The Velvet Underground
Pennies From Heaven – Billie Holiday
Police & Thieves – The Clash
Positively 4th Street – Bob Dylan
Postcards From Italy – Beirut
Queen Bitch – David Bowie
Ragged Wood – Fleet Foxes
Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson
Relax Max – Dinah Washington
Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
Rockferry – Duffy
Save Me From What I Want – St. Vincent
So Happy Together – The Turtles
Song To Bobby – Cat Power
Stand By Me – Ray Charles
Starman – Seu Jorge
Stormy Weather – Lena Horne
The Strangers – St. Vincent
Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
Sugar Magnolia – The Grateful Dead
Sweet Virginia – The Rolling Stones
Take 5 – John Coltrane & Dave Brubeck
Take The A Train – Duke Ellington
This Time Tomorrow – The Kinks
Vagabond – Wolfmother
Valerie ft. Amy Winehouse – Mark Ronson
Warwick Avenue – Duffy
When They Fight, They Fight – The Generationals
Who’s Lovin’ You – Jackson 5
With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
Woman – John Lennon
You’ve Got The Love – Florence + the Machine
*Much thanks due in this post to the website “Bitches Who Brunch,” which features brunch reviews throughout DC. Definitely check it out.
Add your favorite Brunch related tracks in the comments below!
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone of the team will make it for you.
oh god this is too good
Going to your brunch, Carmen, and so excited to hear this. Quality playlist.
omg yes!
this is the #1 most amazing thing
I feel like I would 100% be there if Ring Of Fire was not on that playlist. I really wish I was kidding.
The best version of Ring of Fire is Adam Lambert’s.
this is amazing. I wish I could get the cafe we’re having ours at to somehow play this.
This is owning my Saturday. Just need a Spotify link too.
This will be playing at the ChicagoStraddler brunch at my house tomorrow. Oh yes.
excellent.
I’VE GONE NATIONAL.
So surreal that so many of us will be brunching across the globe tomorrow. I will defo be listening to this as I mentally prepare for not making a fool of myself in front of all the nice straddle-type people
cant wait for brunch bb
this is by far the best playlist you’ve ever made for this website. i’m not even going to brunch and i’m probably going to listen to it all day.
kudos!
Totally concur, favorite playlist! It’s just a fun listing.
I am going to listen to this while writing papers and pretending I am actually eating a delicious brunch and drinking mimosas
new zealand brunch is happening in TWO HOURS because we’re so ahead of you all time-wise. YAY
I keep hearing “Bitches who brunch” to the tune of “Ladies Who Lunch” from Follies.
A toast to that invincible bunch
The dinosaurs surviving the crunch
Let’s hear it for the bitches who brunch
Everybody RISE
P.S. If you understood what I just wrote, let’s make out.
Company, not Follies. Now that’s embarrassing…
” If you understood what I just wrote, let’s make out.”
– my life is better having seen that
As a classic rock and jazz fan I obviously love this playlist! It makes me wish I could go to the D.C. brunch but I have baseball tickets that afternoon (Go Tigers!) Can’t wait for more chances to meet other Autostraddlers though!
I am sad I live WAAAAAAY too far from Chicago to participate (like, 2 hours’ walk from the train which is an hour from my house, y’all), but I will be rocking in my panties on Sunday morning in kindred spirit!
ain’t no party like a pantsless party cause a pantsless party don’t stop
THESE SONGS ARE MY FAVORITE SONGS. I LOVE YOU.
I CANNOT WAIT to be one of the Bitches Who Brunch today!!! Thank you for the playlist!
YES TO OHIO BRUNCH WHILE SKYPING CARMEN. Great playlist. Does rolling out of bed at eleven and scarfing down Frosted Flakes count as brunch?
Now I have to brunch every day.
So much respect for your knowledge of classic rock/power pop, I never thought I’d see Big Star on Autostraddle!
Love this. All brunches should have this playlist, vegan bacon, and queers.
Can we have a spotify version plz? I like it so much I want it on my phone :)
This is super awesome. I’m into this big time.