If I’m feeling sad, the last thing I want to listen to is "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers. If I feel like dancing, I am not going to blast "Bach Cello Suite No. 1." That may be someone else’s prerogative, but I’m more of an alternative rock person myself. There is an appropriate time and place for certain music. This, is where the magic of playlists comes in.

Playlists are my lifesavers. Rather than having to look up each individual song that I feel like listening to, there they are. All in one neat package for me to open and reopen whenever I feel like. I have an endless selection of genres including, but not limited to: New Discoveries, Favorites, Jazz, For Writing, EDP (Emergency Dance Party), and a playlist for songs that specifically remind me of Gilmore Girls.

It’s the modern day version of the mixtape. What better way to show appreciation for a friend than by making them a playlist of the songs that remind you of them. I’ve had friends make me lists of their favorite One Direction songs in order to convince me to like them (it worked a little bit). I’ve had people share their most beloved R&B songs when I’m trying to explore new genres.

Playlists take time and they take work. I’ve been working on some for several years. Others, like my two-thousand and fifteen through seventeen tracks (based on songs that make me remember certain points of that year) are finished after a certain span of time. And if you want to go the extra mile, you can even focus on the transition of songs to improve a playlist’s flow.

Music is special for a lot of people. It helps to build relationships, form memories, and can reflect one’s thoughts and emotions in ways they didn’t believe possible. A very particular example: Whenever I hear “Sweater Weather” I always think of ice skating with my friends. There is also the magic of hearing a song that can immediately take me back to childhood.

My dad introduced me to a lot of the bands I like today. He would burn me CDs of artists that I liked or of music that he wanted me to listen to. We would blast Kelly Clarkson in the car on some days and on others, it would be the Gorillaz. To this day he continues to give me piles of CDs.

Taking the time to collect music for a person, or even for yourself, is a way of showing love. Making a playlist with dedication tells someone that you care enough about them to: a) know what kind of music they would like and b) take the time out of your day to do something nice for them. If you have the free time, or are poor (like me) and looking for an inexpensive gift, make a playlist for someone this week. Keep making playlists and enjoy them in whatever setting you choose.