Questlove has created an energy playlist for you
Ahmir K. Thompson, also known as Questlove, seems to have boundless energy. Just look at his resume: he’s a producer, podcast host, Academy Award-winning director, author, DJ, and drummer for the hip-hop band The Roots.
He is also known for his inventive playlists. “I started making playlists for a certain world leader,” he told us in an email. “Somehow the customer list expanded to 400 people.”
He didn’t specify which world leader, but he has created playlists for the Obamas, including an epic three-part soundtrack for the former first lady called “Musiaqualogy by Michelle Obama.” It was happening during her Book tour 2018.
We also wanted to be on the customer list, so as part of our 6-Day Energy Challenge we asked him to make a playlist of some of his favorite songs. Luckily for us, he agreed.
“I take my title as ‘curator of the people’ seriously,” says Mr. Thompson, who owns more than 200,000 records. And this playlist, which bounces through many genres, illustrates the meticulous care and extensive knowledge behind his choices. It includes an ‘irresistible stomper’, ‘the original god of Afrobeat’ and a ‘bright, sunny, chaotic’ track to get you moving.
Press play and read his comments below.
Questlove’s Energy Playlist Liner Notes
1. “Peace Planet: Badinerie from suite no. 2 in B Minor” Through Exception: After the song ‘Imaginary Places’ by rapper Busdriver, this is my favorite rendition of JS Bach’s club classic. It motivates you.
2. “I have no home” Through Clarence “Frogman” Henry: There’s nothing like a Scorsese sing-along – this song is from “Casino” – to get you moving.
3. “Contaminated Love” Through Gloria Jones: Go ahead and admit you thought Soft Cell were the creators. Gloria Jones recorded her version in 1964.
4. “Devil in the Blue Dress” by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels: The first 15 seconds are the most urgent warning of a groove avalanche. I knew this band was from Detroit before I heard their name.
5. “I want to take you to the next level” by the Jackson 5: The Jackson 5 has found a perfect way to combine two Sly Stone songs about… elevation (ahem) – this title and the more popular “Higher” – into one original.
6. “Everything is just great” Through Lily Allen: I love department store music. (I once spent $10,000 on the mother role of unremarkable music collections.) The fact that Lily Allen manages to energize us with this background music is miraculous.
7. “Caribou Hunter” Through Earth, Wind & Fire: After spending a high-altitude weekend in Caribou, Colorado some time ago, I’m shocked that Earth, Wind & Fire has come up with something this energetic. I got a migraine within the first two hours!
8. “barefoot” Through Robert Parker: My grandmother and I didn’t really bond over the music, but when Spic and Span Cleaner licensed this song for their product, we couldn’t help but dance along.
9. “March of the Swiveling Heads” Through the Beat: Someone once said that ska music sounds like the joy a child expresses when he grows extra chicken fingers. Add to that the fact that this song was included in John Hughes’s best film and this is one hit you can’t lose.
10. “Land of 1000 Dances (live)” Through Wilson Pickett: I applaud any American singer who can adapt to jet lag and go that fast in Japan. I’ve been playing there for thirty years and have never reached this feverish level.
11. “Gone, Dad Gone” by Violent Femmes: I was under the impression this was a Gnarls Barkley song, but that was a cover of it. I love the sound of Gordon Gano’s original performance. It is an irresistible pestle.
12. “I Just Want to Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert: Not since Earth, Wind & Fire’s immortal “Beijo” (1977) has an interlude transformed black dance culture like Lil Uzi’s “Rock.” I had never had a song on repeat during a DJ set until this came out.
13. “Agitation” by Erykah Badu: There is no consistent danceable rhythm to follow; it sounds like a jazz song from the 70s. It sounds a lot like my life: beautiful, bright, sunny, chaotic and hectic.
14. “Shakara” by Fela Kuti: If I made a list of energetic songs and didn’t include the original god of Afrobeat, it would cost me credits.
15. “Whip It” from Devo: I need to record a song that we all know and love. More than forty years later, still going strong.
16. “Let yourself go” by Graham Central Station: Larry Graham was the legendary bassist for Sly Stone (although he is known to some as Drake’s uncle). On this song he uses the high energy of his former employer and adds Southern-fried gospel for an unbeatable formula.
17. “I Have Something on My Mind” by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: This is the album version and is already energetic. If only you could see them cooking LIVE!