Afternoon to all the hot boys out there on ManPlay! I got a question from a reader yesterday that I hadn’t gotten before, asking about what I thought was the best music to have on when you’ve got a date over. This is a difficult question that is going to vary for every person, but it is, without a doubt, an important one. If I go to a date’s house and the date is going really well and he pours me a glass of chardonnay, I expect there to be some nice tunes playing at the same time! Music can influence mood more than pretty much anything else, so it’s important to find just the right music to set the mood that you’re aiming for. Here are a few scenarios and some of my time-tested fave albums that can work for those particular moods. Be sure and let me know what you think!

The scene: It’s 7:30. You’ve made a dinner reservation for 9:00 at a trendy new restaurant close to your apartment, so you don’t need to leave the house for over an hour. Your date is meeting you for the first time at your apartment and you’re excited about it. You’ve got a selection of drinks at the ready and now just need to know what music to throw on.

The suggestion? Definitely go for something light and jazzy. It might be a stereotype for gay men but head for the jazz diva vocalists we all (should, at least!) know and love like Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. There are positively thousands of collections of albums and playlists out there that feature many of these jazz greats and are just the perfect sound for a romantic drink and chat for an hour or so. If you’re feeling like a little more of a chill-out playlist is in order, I can’t recommend the Verve (Re)Mixed series highly enough. There are several volumes and you’ll recognize the modern takes on some classics from scenes in shows like Sex and the City and from playing in tons of chic stores and restaurants. Some of the tracks may be a bit too dance-y for what you have in mind though, so give it a listen before and know which tracks you might want to skip.

The scene: It’s 9:30 You have plans to go to a hot new club and dance the night away starting around midnight so you have a couple hours to kill. With this in mind, you have two main things to consider. Do you want to get the party started at yours? Do you care if you guys end up getting carried away and never make it to the club after all?

The suggestion? Your best bet in this case is to play it by ear but be prepared. Play some club-ready music that is also sexy. I would suggest either of the albums by The Ting Tings which will both get your toes tapping but could also get you in the mood if you end up staying in. Another good option is the entire first MGMT album, Oracular Spectacular, which is both stylish and sexy and good for pepping you up before going out, if you so desire.

The scene: It’s 10:00 in the morning. Your date has spent the night and, although it wasn’t particularly planned on, it was a perfect way for the night to finish. Now it’s the morning and you decide to whip up a little breakfast and hang out for a bit while you both get ready for your respective days ahead. You have maybe an hour. What type of music should you throw on?

The suggestion? It’s wise to put on something low-key and relaxing, particularly if either of you might be nursing a hangover from the night out before. Good late-morning weekend music is pretty easy to select. While I’m sure we’ve all been in one of these situations before where Jack Johnson starts playing (any of his extensive catalogue), there is a reason for this. It is all at once relaxing and charming and puts you in a good mood nearly instantly. If this seems too obvious of a choice, go for something a bit more electro, like Moloko. Any of Feist’s albums are solid bets as well for this scenario. You never know what might happen in this situation, as your breakfast might be so good he ends up staying for a second helping. Whether that is of you or your breakfast remains to be seen. Just have a couple extra albums as backup so you’re prepared for either situation.

Have you played any of these albums in these situations before? What else would you suggest? Do you have one particular artist that always makes you feel sexy and you find you put on more than any other? Let us know in the comments and, as ever, discuss with others in the ManPlay chat rooms! Happy listening!

John xo

Categories: Gay Men Hot Boys John