Pair with My Name Is by Eminem I’m not gonna respond to that. It’s so insulting. Not to speak of a gross generalization. I bet that’s how she speaks to all of us. Like we’re not individuals. That sugary voice of hers, thinking she can make us do anything. I’m not like that. I’m a grown-up. I make my own decisions. I’ll come home when I’m good and ready. Not a minute before, and even if it’s in the middle of the night and she’s asleep. I’ll use my own entrance. I don’t need her. I’m telling you, Lady, my name is Felix, not Here Kitty Kitty.

Pair with Baby, One More Time by Britney Spears — Skepsis: Could be a scam. Me: But what if it isn’t? What if it’s the sign I’ve been waiting for? Begging for? Skepsis: You’re such a sucker sometimes. Me: Am not! I just try to be open to whatever messages come my way. Skepsis: It doesn’t work that way. It’s…

Pair with As I Am by Justin Bieber featuring Khalid — “What do you think?” She asks. “Is it good enough? It’s not good enough, is it? I don’t think it’s good enough. Let me have it back. I’ll do it over. I’ll try again. Just don’t expect too much because that might not be good enough, either. I suck at this. But you already knew that, didn’t you? I knew that. I tell myself every day. ‘You suck at this!’ is what I say to myself. You suck. You suck. You suck. I suck. I’ll just sit in the corner over here and never speak again. Sorry, I suck!”

Pair with Thinkin Bout You by Frank Ocean — There is infinite wisdom in the pause — the space between breathing in and breathing out. When I am filled up with energy and have the choice of using it for something before I let it go again, that is where the insights congregate. The deep truths. Where new thoughts are born and old dogmas put to rest. There is room for a velvet revolution in there. Peaceful yet monumental. I want to be in that soft bracket all the time.

Pair with Cover Me in Sunshine by Pink + Willow Sage Hart — She peeks out from behind the door. She looks no more than six or seven years old. Her eyes are blue. She is barefoot. Her once-rose dress is shabby. The music must have caught her attention. Or the laughter. I signal it’s safe for her to come out and join. She shakes her head in a storm of wild copper-red curls. I smile and try again. Still a no. I leave her be to watch the dance. I won’t force her. I know I can’t force her. This is how far she has come in more than thirty-five years.

Pair with the song of the same name by Semisonic — It’s 1 AM at the club. The music is too loud, and people are too drunk. She is tired and wants to go home. She stands in line at the coat check. “Can I have your ticket?” the girl behind the counter asks when it’s her turn. She opens her clutch bag to find it. The spring knife is still safe at the bottom, but she notices that blood has gotten on the ticket stub. With her heart beating in her ears, she hands the bloody stub to the girl. She gets her jacket and walks out with a sigh.

Pair with One by U2 The boy discovers a snail in the leaves along the trail. The snail sees the boy’s finger approach with what seems like lightning speed. Therefore it retracts its upper tentacles. The boy keeps trying to touch the snail’s eyes; the snail keeps retracting them. Neither the boy nor the snail acts out of malice. The boy thinks the snail looks funny when it does that. The snail tries to protect itself. It is not a conscious act, just a reflex. For both of them. Boys and snails have done this through all time. As have we.

Pair with Please Don’t Leave Me by Pink. — “I’m just gonna take Springfield to Main and then go left there,” he says. “Yeah,” she says, “that’s probably best.” “Wha?!?” he says. “I said, I’m gonna take Springfield to Main….” “…And then turn left, yes,” she says. “I think that’s a good idea.” “Are you sure?” he asks. “Do you wanna see what the GPS says?” “No,” she says. “I trust you.” “Okay, I dunno what I did,” he says, “but whatever it was, I’m sorry. Was it the turtle? It was the turtle, wasn’t it? I should’ve known you didn’t like it on you. Please, don’t leave me!”

Pair with Why Does It Always Rain on Me? by Travis Things happen to Bonnie Boohoo and they are not her fault. People let her down, people set her up, she gives too much, and people repay too little. No, she doesn’t want you to feel sorry for her, she just wants you to understand how much she is up against. In many ways this predicament of hers is wonderful. It lets her wear magic glasses that tilts the perspective to victim and leaves out any disadvantageous reflection on her. And she doesn’t have to lift a finger. She can just sit and wait for her woeful expectations to be met.