the meet cute
a fateful encounter between the main characters as future love interests
this installment of a filmless score will be even more personal and vulnerable than the previous ones: this is the occasion where i tell the story of how i fell in love. before i dive into that tale, let’s explore the definition of a meet cute, courtesy of StudioBinder.
“A meet cute is a common scene found in romantic films in which the love interests first meet. The typical approach to these scenes is comedic and/or romantic. They can include awkward misunderstandings, slapstick comedy, or love at first sight. In most cases, the characters feel either a mutual attraction, aversion, or some combination of the two.”
this definition is apt at describing how i encountered the love of my life. i should preface that the moment when i connected with my now-fiancé was not the first time we met. we had a few mutual friends during our freshman year of college and stayed on the same dorm floor in downtown Atlanta. so of course, i’d noticed him at meetings called by our RA. i peeped him sitting in the dining hall, looking very content in his own company with headphones on (i always wondered what he was listening to and admired his personal style). we even followed each other on Tumblr the summer before the second year of college.
i may or may not have made a verbal slip when my male best friend from high school asked the two of us where we were staying during our sophomore year move-in day—we were all residing in the same building, so we chatted near the entryway for the lofts in between carrying boxes. i was a bit flustered and accidentally said his room number. at the time, it was kinda embarrassing. perhaps some part of me knew deep down that i’d be spending a lot of time with the beautiful person standing right in front of me (to my credit, the rooms ended in the same digit, just three floors apart).
what happened shortly after during the 2013 Labor Day Weekend was a truly fateful event. my roommates decided to have a kickback in our dorm, and we all invited folks from our independent friend groups. my best friend is one of those guys who knows EVERYBODY. you couldn’t walk anywhere on campus together without someone stopping him to chat or hug. so he invited my now-fiancé to hang out in my room. when they first arrived, i was thinking, “who does he think he is, inviting someone without asking?” but that feeling quickly faded as we all played games and indulged in some party favors. i even gave my future significant other a tour of my dorm room, and we bonded over shared music taste as we looked at the myriad posters on my walls, many of which i’d gotten for free from the local record store Wax ‘N’ Facts.
Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta coincides with Dragon Con, a pop culture convention where people from various fandoms attend panels and wear their best cosplay. as a group, we decided to walk a few blocks to one of the main hotels that hosted the event, so that we could people-watch and admire the creative costumes. we also wanted to take turns riding the hotel elevators to get a good view of the city. before we left the dorm to walk around downtown, i’d already boldly proclaimed that i wanted this guy to spend the night with me, and he agreed. later that evening, we returned to the student housing and laid on the grass in the courtyard, looking up at the stars in the sky. and the rest is history.1
this is the energy that informs the meet cute playlist. this point in our developing story is one of the first times that our main characters cross paths and/or reconnect. that glimmer in each other’s eyes from across the room speaks a thousand words. with just 16 tracks, the meet cute is one of the shortest playlists and has the fewest official videos so far. therefore, much of the analysis will focus on the lyrics, instrumentation, and prospective worldbuilding rather than the visuals. below, i feature each song in chronological order.
since this playlist is a prelude to “the party and the after party,” the moment our characters lock eyes may coincide with any of the following: a day party before the main event, running into each other on public transportation on the way to the function, walking into the party, on the dance floor, or in the kitchen while pouring drinks and grabbing snacks.
the playlist opens with Victoria Monét’s “F.U.C.K.” the song has a sparkly and cinematic video set in a western saloon, featuring Tanérelle (one of the muses i mentioned in the femme next door). the title stands for “friend u can keep.” the stars of the video play femme fatales who conspire to rob the saloon. after they succeed in their crime, “THE JAGUAR & HER STUNNING COHORT” appears on the wanted poster as the video concludes. the pair strut off into the sunset together, with Monét riding on a horse. i included this song because it’s likely that our love interests initially play coy before they become inseparable.
“I'm just tryna jump your bones, we don't gotta jump the broom, you know”2
the next track is “Lipstick Lover” by Janelle Monáe. i didn’t plan to put Monáe and Monét next to each other, but it works because they are both queer icons. the “Lipstick Lover” video is an NSFW, sensual, and orgasmic affair with high sapphic energy that takes place at a day-long pool party. no further explanation needed!
from there, “Golden pt. 2” by Berhana featuring Mereba shows the anticipation of preparing to meet up with a crush. there’s a split screen of each person singing on their way to the beach, and the two panels merge when the singers embrace on the sand. this would fit in with a story where the characters have a series of meet cutes, not just one singular event. but this moment would be a defining one in the course of their blossoming love story.
with its glistening beat, “Oh Boy” by V. Cartier sounds like an ideal theme song for suddenly falling in love. there’s something quite cozy about the song, so i think it’s perfect for imagining that the story takes place during a transitional season. the unexpected love connection surely catches our characters off guard, as Cartier sings in the pre-chorus.
“I wasn't looking for love, a kiss and hug
Is all I've wanted from you
And then you came along and you made me change my mind
Now this wasn't part of my plan
And I don't even understand
Just how I'm wrapped around your finger, can't deny”3
“Lil Baby Crush” by Jordan Ward keeps up this momentum. i believe that many of Ward’s songs could fit with this overall project. the video showcases a meet cute featuring the singer and a love interest as she walks into the party he’s at. with Ward being a talented dancer, the video naturally includes a dance break (the type that i previously described in the posse). the perspective of the song (especially the following second bridge) also aligns with that of the bad boy love interest.
“All these years, hard to say one thing
You’ve got friends, and they know my body well
Can’t be mad, my business out in the streets
I still hope you come see for yourself”4
additionally, the “Lil Baby Crush” video recalls another motif referenced in the posse, in which the party is a figment of the protagonist’s imagination, so they are left all alone in the end.
“Broke” by Topaz Jones and Elujay marks Jones’ second appearance in a filmless score (the first time was main character energy). the song describes the establishment of a no-frills connection—the characters might not be ballin’ quite yet, but they find pleasure in spending any time they can together. i also love the simplicity of the cover art: the featured models have their jean pocket linings tied together, representing both their empty pockets and the symbolism of being connected at the hip.
compared to some of the other songs on the playlist, “DAY PARTY” by Destin Conrad (with background vocals from Ambré) is more blunt in its approach. as previously mentioned, our main characters likely experience a series of encounters before the singular event that changes the course of their lives. while i imagine the grand bash happening at night, there’s a likelihood that they attend an all-day affair (and keep running into each other). even if the characters decide to play coy, this song playing in the background might signal what’s really on their minds.
“Drink, smoke, f*ck
(I'm at the day party)”5
“Let’s Walk In The Night” by SAM MORTON featuring Alabaster DePlume is one of my favorite songs from 2024. i recently watched the video for the first time while drafting this post, and it’s exactly what i envisioned it would be like. the video opens with a young couple independently anticipating their upcoming date and arriving by different means of transportation: she rides the bus, and he walks to the meeting point. they hug tightly when they finally convene. then, they hold hands while walking to the fair.
“Let's walk in the night
Stood under the lights
Lips red and wet and breath paused kiss with all our might”6
the lyrics imply that the connection is intense, but both people are anxiously waiting on the other to define the relationship. to circle back to my own love story, we were unofficially together for two weeks before deciding to be exclusive. i still remember our first date at the fast casual Indian restaurant NaanStop.
“Dreaming, wondering who will say, "Will you be mine?”7
“Loud Places” by Jamie xx featuring Romy provides another moment where the video portrays exactly what you’d expect upon hearing the song. i’ve loved this song since its debut in 2015, yet it still manages to give me goosebumps like the first time. in the visual, the xx bandmates ride their skateboards and take the train together. they skate through the city at night. rainbow confetti flies everywhere as they enjoy each other’s company at their final destination: the skatepark.
“I have never reached such heights
I feel music in your eyes”8
at this point, we are more than halfway through the playlist. the next track is “Lonely” by Yeek. he’s another artist with many songs in his discography that would fit this project. the song title refers to not leaving someone feeling lonely. in the visualizer, Yeek live mixes in a living room while a woman sits on the floor with headphones on. she’s engaging with his set, reading magazines, and lighting incense. there’s also a screen projection of Yeek performing the song. “Lonely” might appear in a moment where the characters duck off into a corner of the party, where they can be more intimate.
“VIRGO’S GROOVE” by Beyoncé (from her standout album Renaissance) likely needs no introduction. this is one of those tracks that could play when the scene around the characters fades into the background. as Beyoncé sings, “come be alone with me tonight,”9 it’s almost as if there’s no one in this world but them. it also makes sense that the party might occur during Virgo season, since the developing plot is expected to coincide with late summer.
the video for “Dance on Me” by GoldLink portrays another serendipitous party scene. the main character arrives at an illicit gathering that takes place at his job and attempts to shut it down. however, he sees the girl of his dreams with another man’s arm around her shoulders. of course, his focus shifts to stealing her attention. as the beat switches up10, he starts dancing with the girl, but someone interrupts their flow. then, he does a dance solo to fully captivate his love interest.
it’s worth noting that the DJ in the video appears to be Topaz Jones11. at the time of publication, i couldn’t find any confirmation of this being true. still, it seems highly likely considering that rubberband., the director duo for “Dance on Me,” have also directed a few of Jones’ visuals.
“You Could Be” by Anz is an anthemic electronic groove featuring George Riley, an artist whose career i’ve been excited to watch these past few years. the song comes even more alive with its fun animated video. for instance, i enjoy the callbacks to older technology (such as a boombox, boxy TVs, and a Razr flip phone). i also love how the lyrics briefly appear in a magazine issue and the way text messages are shown on the flip phone, which ties in some of the visual themes i’ve referenced from videos featured in prior installments.
“No Bad Vibes” is the unspoken motto for the party that our characters are attending. it’s also the title of a jazzy electronic track by Bluewerks & DARGZ featuring Marisa Dargahi and Joe Webb. i previously mentioned the possibility of the characters crossing paths in the kitchen of the house party; this is the type of song that would play as they smile at each other from across the island while mixing drinks.
“Cuz when we met that night
I hope that you felt it too
There were no bad vibes”12
Lizzie Berchie’s “Dance In Your Arms” is a sensual tune with standout horns and a tantalizing drum beat accompanying Berchie’s sweet soprano vocals. the song’s descriptive lyrics perfectly narrate the type of dancing that the protagonists would do together.
“Carry me, I wanna go with you
Hold me in your sweet, sweet love
I′m with you everywhere you go
'Cause the rhythm is my flow”13
it’s yet another song that could play during a moment where time stops as the characters embrace.
last, but certainly not least, the playlist concludes with “Red Light” by abhi//dijon. i’ve mentioned elsewhere that this duo’s music was fairly central to the initial phases of my relationship. so it was only right to throw it back to this track that i’ve enjoyed with my partner on many occasions.
“It's like I'm in a room that keeps on spinning
And I can feel every heartbeat
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
And I'm crawling on the ceiling and I can feel every heartbeat”14
both “Red Light” and “Dance In Your Arms” describe the metaphorical feeling of being on the ceiling. it’s as if our the protagonists are wrapped up in the physical sensations of lust, love, and rhythm—they’re high on these feelings and completely lost in the moment when together.
the meet cute: the playlist
prior sync placements
according to Tunefind, only two songs on the playlist had existing sync placements in film & television (but plenty of the artists have had other music of theirs featured in popular media). check out each link to see which shows or movies they appeared in.
our mutual best friend gotta be a witness when we tie the knot.
timestamp 1:01 — the sample is “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This” by Idris Muhammad
the sample is Tweet’s “My Place.”
the DJ appears at timestamp 1:43.
the way i’ve rinsed so many of these songs but the way you describe them makes me want to re-listen over and over again. such stunning writing!