By Jarvus Ricardo Hester
I knew I was in trouble when I realized I had created a playlist for absolutely everything.
A playlist for writing.
A playlist for traveling.
A playlist for long walks.
A playlist for Sunday mornings.
And a playlist that’s probably best described as “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had coffee.”
Music does that.
It quietly moves into our lives and begins organizing our memories.
A song comes on, and suddenly you’re back in your first apartment.
Another song reminds you of a summer you haven’t thought about in years.
One chorus takes you back to a road trip.
Another reminds you of someone you’ve spent years trying to forget.
Music has an extraordinary ability to preserve moments.
It’s a time machine disguised as entertainment.
And if you really want to know someone, don’t ask them what they do for a living.
Ask them what’s on their playlist.
This weekend, we’re opening our music library and sharing a few songs that continue to inspire us.
Not because they’re trendy.
Not because they’re climbing the charts.
But because they continue to tell us something new every time we hear them.
The Mood Playlist
“A Change Is Gonna Come” — Sam Cooke
Some songs transcend music and become part of our collective history.
More than 60 years after its release, Sam Cooke’s anthem continues to remind us that hope and perseverance never go out of style.
“Golden” — Jill Scott
Joy should have a soundtrack.
If it does, this song deserves serious consideration.
It’s impossible to hear it without feeling a little lighter.
“Love’s in Need of Love Today” — Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder has always understood how to wrap profound truths inside unforgettable melodies.
The message feels just as urgent today as it did when it was first released.
“The Sweetest Taboo” — Sade
Cool.
Sophisticated.
Timeless.
Some artists don’t chase trends.
They create them.
Sade remains in a category all her own.
“Speak to Me” — Florence Price
Because at Mood, we’re always making room for classical music.
Florence Price’s work reminds us that beauty often lives in places we’ve been taught to overlook.
Music isn’t simply background noise.
It’s autobiography.
It’s therapy.
It’s celebration.
It’s memory.
And perhaps that’s why we keep returning to the songs we love.
They’re familiar.
They’re comforting.
And they remind us who we were when we first heard them.
Now It’s Your Turn.
Who are your strongest musical influences?
Share your playlists, favorite songs, concert photographs, vinyl collections, and music videos on Threads and tag Mood Magazine NYC or The Morning Show NYC.
Throughout the week, we’ll feature our favorite community submissions in Mood Magazine NYC, give contributors a shout-out on WHRL Mood Radio Harlem, and celebrate your stories across our social media platforms.
Because music isn’t just something we listen to.
It’s something we carry with us.
Our stories deserve to be told.
It’s time we tell them.
Be a part of the story.
