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If you’re on aux at the function, before reaching to put on “I Love It” (by Kanye West [ft. Lil Pump]) for the tenth time, consider this: not. I am consistently frustrated at any party or bar because the music is just… terrible. If I pull up to Scarlet Pub and they’re playing Cascada’s “Every Time We Touch” one more time—well, I’m still going to dance but I won’t be happy about it. Truly, I’ve sat through testosterone driven pre-games and the same top hits from the past five years on repeat enough. Catchy, cute, and beachy tunes; these songs have a lot of fun and laid-back memories for me and my friends. So, out of the goodness of my heart (and the sake of my ears) I’ve cultivated a mixed list of light and fun pop/EDM songs I’ve collected that are truly my go to for a large crowd in my apartment, friendly for all. 

I. Side Effects (ft. Emily Warren) – The Chainsmokers 

This 2018 single is mostly electronic with tinges of disco in the instrumental. A song about impulsivity and the nature of millennial relationships, it is perfect to start out a playlist for a night out. Even from the beginning of the song, the base—deep and heavy—seems like it’s leading us into trouble. The Chainsmokers, known for their catchy EDM and pop hits, give us another song to get stuck in our heads on the walk out of the house. 

II. Right to It (ft. Ashe) – Louis the Child 

This tropical pop song makes me wish I was on an island with a piña colada. Louis the Child creates a “Sunday barbeque, day-drinking type of vibe” and the music video sets the tone right: relax with your friends. Absolutely indulgent and simple, the feel good lyrics forces the impending thought of fall and winter to the back of my mind. Ignorance is bliss…

III.Till It Hurts (ft. Ayden) – Yellow Claw

No night out is complete without remembering heartbreak. I usually listen to Yellow Claw for their EDM mixes and typically ignore their original music. In this marriage of pop and hard EDM, the mushy love sick vocals are cut with the hard electronics of EDM. Seeing them live before brought this song to life for me—every time it plays I am brought back to the excitement and energy of that show and winds me up to ensure a fun time for all.

IV. 1 Night (ft. Charlie XCX) – Mura Masa 

Another song about excess, Charlie XCX in this chill pop hit by Mura Masa flaunts her indulgence while still being vulnerable to falling in love. Another tropical tune to this playlist, “1 Night” is a demonstration of longing but dismissal of short lived pleasure; reminder we are but flesh and blood, not impervious to emotion and love.

V. Malibuu (ft. Lani Renaldo) – Matt DiMona

Yes, another tropical, beachy song. Bite me.

Lost and trying to find each other, this duo male/female vocals overlayered by an almost overly simple synthetic beat, this song is perfect to have on in the background while you’re kicking back with your friends.

VI. I Don’t Think So – Ben Phipps

(find video here!)

Getting out of “the feels” and all this lovey-dovey stuff, let’s tell that person who hurt us too many times to bug off one last time with this song (and not a horribly drafted, embarrassing, drunken text. You know who you are!). This EDM song is all about letting go, with a catchy chorus and danceable beat, you’ll stop thinking about him/her/them and you’ll enjoy your time out!  

The first one in the left corner: It’s a first communion rosary, and it’s not cheap.

The black one in the first line: That’s a widow rosary and it’s old.

The white one in the second line:  is a commemoration rosary. It has a miniature picture in the round part. I haven’t seen that since the 70′s.

In the third line, multicolor one: It’s an Anima mundi, I have only seen those in the hands of Rosary ministery’s old ladies. The oldest ones are from the 80′s after Juan Pablo II came to Mexico for the first time. It’s one of the old ones, I know because the crucifixes are different.  The third one on the fourth line: Red and gold. The style is old, the metal is dark, that’s a 50′s rosary, probably a quinceañera one (or it’s maybe older, from the 40′s when the brides carried red roses with their offerings).

The fifth one on the fourth line: It’s a quinceañera rosary with Ignatius’s tear. The style is old and in my part of Mexico is orphan girls who used it. At least it was when I was young. The third one of the fifth line: the blue one with the anchor. That one I have only seen in Veracruz and it doesn’t look new. The fifth one on the fifth line: That’s a 90′s wedding rosary. Black and white patterns were popular on that date. The fourth one on the last line: That’s a first communion rosary from the 30′s. It’s delicate and most probably silver. The rest wrench my heart too, the humble everyday rosaries with wooden beads and knots. Those are cheap and bear the wear and tear of their user handling. But those  I described are much more.

Those are mother’s rosaries.

I’ve done this to several men, and they catch on rather quickly. You’ll be able to have a conversation right then and there, and it works long term too - they might’ve forgot their manners by the time you talk to them again, but by repeating this, they’ll eventually learn to let you talk without you having to do this at the start of every convo. Source: I have a very stubborn older brother, who eventually learned too.

1. When they interrupt you, stop talking. Don’t try to raise your voice or battle them. Be completely quiet and wait.

2. Ignore everything they’re saying. Do not actually listen - just wait until they shut up. Don’t make a point of anything they say, do not answer to anything they say, do not refer to anything they say here. Literally do not listen a single word. Let them rant as long as they want.

3. When they finally shut up and wait for your reaction, say: ”I wasn’t done talking.”

4. Start over whatever you were saying when they interrupted you. I don’t care if it was a 10-minute explanation of rocket science. Start. Over. Repeat you original thought, but do not add anything related to what they just said while talking over you. That gives them the idea that it’s okay to interrupt you, you’ll still listen and pay attention and they’ll get their point clear without having to listen to yours. (It’s especially funny when you get done and they expect you to keep going talking about whatever they talked over you. The face when it sinks in that you didn’t listen a single word is glorious.)

5. If they interrupt you again, return to step 1. If you find yourself repeating the cycle over 3 times, tell them: ”you’re not letting me speak. Either you listen and wait for your turn, or our conversation ends here.” If they try to make excuses, laugh it off or keep interrupting, end the conversation. Prove them that if they wont let you speak, they’re not worth your time.

Why does this work? First, because sometimes talking over is internalized and men don’t actually notice they’re doing it. Being vocally called out makes them realize it and pay attention to it - especially if it happens more than once. Secondly, by refusing to aknowledge anything they say when they interrupt you, they’ll soon realize they will not get their own point across if they keep doing that. Peoole and especially men have the need to be heard and paid attention to when they talk - when you make it clear that by talking over you, they will not have your attention, they’ll learn to wait until you’re done, because they know that’s when you will be paying attention and actually listening.