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When I was a kid growing up in New Jersey, my friends and I had a lot of birthday parties at the Florham Park Roller Rink. We’d clunk around in our rented skates, sipping on Slush Puppies and awkwardly trying to recreate the moves of Olympic figure skaters (I was probably more of a Tonya than a Nancy). As an adult, I figure this experience can only be improved upon. I haven’t skated in years and I’ve never actually been to a roller disco, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t already thought about what color spandex I’d wear, what kind of lighting I would require and who I would select for Ladies’ Choice. In my mind’s eye, I would be very graceful. In reality, I would probably crash into a lot of walls, Wile E. Coyote style.
This playlist is actually a streamlined version of a set I DJed at a cool queer bar in Brooklyn called Happyfun Hideaway last year, only that time I played “Truly Madly Deeply” three times in a row and they curiously haven’t invited me back since.
Playlist: Slow Skate Night
I’m Your Baby Tonight – Whitney Houston
Real Love – Mary J Blige
If You Leave – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
True Faith – New Order
Begin Again – Purity Ring
Girl Panic! – Duran Duran
Some Things Never Seem To Fucking Work – Solange
Too Close – Next
Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
Secret – Madonna
Masquerade – Berlin
Shiver and Shake – The Cure
Voices Carry – Til Tuesday
Every Time I Close My Eyes – Babyface w/ Mariah Carey
You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
Edge of a Broken Heart – Vixen
Just Like A Pill – P!nk
Obsession – Animotion
Bulbform – Trust
Temptation – Heaven 17
Do You Remember The First Time? – Pulp
Goodbye Seventies – Yaz
Boy – Book of Love
Sex Dwarf – Soft Cell
The Men All Pause – Klymaxx
I Wonder If I Take You Home – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
Baptism – Crystal Castles
Don’t Dance With Strangers – Annabella Lwin
Shine On – House of Love
I Heard A Rumour – Bananrama
Fix – theSTART
All Mine – Portishead
Not In Love – Crystal Castles w/ Robert Smith
Take A Bow – Madonna