the party and the after party
the main event turns into the nightcap and the morning after
we’re picking up right where we left off with the developing plot of a filmless score. but first, a little recap: we’ve established the film’s genre (coming of age), met the main character archetypes (main character energy; the femme next door; bad boy love interest) and their day ones (the posse), plus we arranged a serendipitous meeting between the central love interests (the meet cute). now we gather again for the main event, the nightcap, and the morning after.
welcome to the party and the after party. this playlist is the oldest one in the series and derives its title from The Weeknd’s 2011 song of the same name. the title track appears halfway through the playlist to serve as a transition point—it’s 7-minutes long, so the whole song wouldn’t be featured as is on screen. yet, its languid momentum and intoxicated narrative style fit the essence of this plot development. different snippets of this track might play during the party and the after party—i could envision it being played over a lustful eye-locking sequence, a makeout montage, or a striptease scene. one of my favorite elements of this song is the sample of “Master of None” by Beach House.
“You always go to the parties
To pluck the feathers off all the birds
On your knees
I would not beg you please”1
because we know that the bad boy love interest is trying to tidy up his image, it’s possible that The Weeknd’s drug-induced monologue—which occupies the latter half of this track—would be more like a flashback to the wild nights he used to have. if it wasn’t apparent by now, this song further clues the audience in to the prospective film being NSFW and Rated R (with a few risqué moments that risk an NC-17 label).
the following playlist annotations have been organized to distinguish between the songs you hear at the party and the ones that define the afters. since we’ve already established that the meet cute likely occurs at the party, there’s considerable overlap between the sentiments of that playlist and this one.
the “party” plot finds us at a point of heightened energy during the main event. some folks are still arriving while others strategize their next move. the dance floor is packed, and the intoxicants are flowing in every direction. majority of our characters weren’t the type to heavily sneak out and around in their teen years, so a little debauchery and hedonism in their early 20s seems par for the course. although i initially envisioned this as an end-of-summer affair, i invite you to imagine it on a different timeline—what would change about the story’s possibilities if it were set on New Year’s Eve? or Valentine’s Day? what about some random Spring night?
there are 34 songs on the playlist, so this time, i’ve left some tracks out of the analysis to allow for discovery upon listening to the full mix. some songs reflect characters’ inner monologues, while others are specifically for:
dancing
pairing up
splitting up
the come up
and the comedown
the party
the playlist opens with Alex Wiley’s “Village Party II Intro”—this song serves as our introduction to the host (considering the adlib “welcome to my party”2), but also describes how the characters are preparing to embrace each other and expand each other’s worldview. there’s an eerie, sinister energy to “Village Party II Intro,” which may foreshadow problematic events to occur later in the story (or things happening at the party outside of general view). it may also highlight the lurking skepticism behind any of the characters’ ability to trust (which is something they will overcome and soften around with the help of the other characters).
“Everyone’s invited”3
“Favorite Star” by Quadron perfectly captures the moment when the audience gains clarity about the developing on-screen partnerships. like the video, the daydreamer of the group might imagine a dance sequence that’s centered around someone choosing between suitors. or our femme next door walks into a room as this song plays, knowing that she’s still on the bad boy love interest’s mind after the meet cute.
“Never have you looked so cute
As when suggesting me
To start something new
Labeled in your head
As a simple flame
But simple makes you melt
Every time you hear me sing”4
“Stay Flo” by Solange plays when the individual crews reconvene at the party after floating around the room. the femme next door is dancing with her girls as they cheer each other on. the bad boy love interest catches her eye from across the room and winks.
this hipster-AF video for “Walkin’” by Thundercat is so of its time. i don’t think the party will have any supernatural scenarios, but the video’s quirkiness would be ideal for a party set at the turn of the 2010s. lyrically, the song reminds us that there’s someone for everyone.
“When it's just you and me
There's no place I'd rather be
You make my days bright as the sun
Each moment with you I adore
'Cause there is no one like you girl
I'm just a fool for you, baby
I can't keep my cool”5
Kidz at Play were not very shy about this song title: “The Ratification of Post Trés-Asses Late Night P*ssy in Faquier County, Badussy.” with its various moods and tempos, this song represents the energy of the overall party. if someone scanned the room and zoomed in on specific attendees, the discovery would match the various personalities that comprise this Kidz at Play song.
“B*tch I’m outside
and I’m looking for the parties
Sweating out this hair while I whine it so politely”6
when “Only You” by Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala plays, the DJ would make the crowd go wild by mixing this cover with the original by Steve Monite. my favorite part of the cover is when the intended feminine vocal part switches from saying “only you, baby” to “only you, Theo.” plus, the video’s lo-fi setting fits right in with aforementioned descriptions of the film’s aesthetic.
“Only you, baby
Can put out this fire
Only you, baby
Can put out this fire burning in my soul”7
marking Yeek’s second appearance in a filmless score, “In The City, Outta Town” gets everyone back on the dance floor after a brief lull.8
with its electro-pop sound, BLACKSTARKIDS’ “SOULMATEZ!” represents young love. somebody at the function is falling in love and falling hard!
“Come pick me up (Come pick me up)
It's feeling like your teenage love
We makin' love (We makin' love)
Until the sun, it wakes us up”9
Kindness’ “Gee Up” is definitely for summoning a lover to the dance floor. but with the video’s informercial aesthetic, it would also make a great backing track during a BTS/bloopers montage from the party scene (where we learn that the actor who played a non-dancer actually has the most professional training)
Azekel livens up the party even more with “Wetty Betty.” if there were ever a moment for a live performance at this event, this funky tune offers the perfect vibe. it’s a song of eternal youth, another opportunity for the camera to pan around the room and capture the heightened energy that’s been conjured. the refrain of “we ain’t tryna hurt nobody”10 makes it clear that this night is intended to be non-violent (the aforementioned sinister energy briefly re-emerges through the villainous laugh that appears at the beginning of the song). hopefully our characters vacate the premises before anything dangerous goes down.
“Oh, don’t you feel so alive
When you’re down and out, rocking steady, with wetty betty
Oh, don’t you feel so inspired
When you’re high and dry, rocking steady, with wetty betty
Ready or not she’s going down”11
“Pretend” by Radiant Children—who first appeared in the playlist main character energy—begins with the lyric “sorry I’m late, I didn’t wanna come to the function.”12 this sentiment represents the inner monologue of the friend who reluctantly attends the party and spends the majority of the night pouting—until a groove they can’t deny plays over the speakers. the breakdown at the end of the song reflects a mood switch.
“Man I feel so (ugh) lonely at the party
I lost all my friends
Yeah I’m far far away
(I don’t wanna I don’t wanna speak, ugh)
I wanna get out of my body
Tell me why
I, feel so outta place”13
“2AM” by Forest Claudette is for dancing like no one’s watching and preparing to exit the function with someone you’ll spend the night with.
the after party
think: stocking up on snacks at the convenience store, hotboxing in the car and showing each other smoke tricks, watching the sunrise together.
with Kaytranada and Shay Lia playing in the background, our characters are taking a lot of “CHANCES” by being unafraid to try again with love. this is the type of song that either introduces the party, or it’s the last call (which is why i’ve placed it in the “after party” section). i imagine someone shimmying off the dance floor to make their rounds before departing (or they already plotted an opportunity to sneak out discreetly).
by the time “Talk Down” by Dijon plays, some folks have already made their Irish exit, promising to text their friends once they’ve safely arrived at their next destination.14 as Dijon names the music playing on his stereo, imagine riding in someone’s car while they try to impress you with their song choices on AUX. or perhaps you, as the passenger, are bestowed with AUX privileges and cue up songs that you hope won’t get said privileges revoked.
“And when you speak
I might bend to listen to you
Hallelujah, my God
Fast asleep in the back of my car
I like it when you talk down”15
“drunk nights” by Baby Geoff could be heard at any point during the evening, but i think it really fits the “after party” section. it’s giving “stick your head out of the sunroof while crossfaded on the way home.”
“Just intrigued
By your lips
When the weed
Smoke covers
Your face”16
right about now is where things get really kaleidoscopic—somebody in the crew got a little too tipsy and doesn’t really know up from down! therefore, the following queue of songs would be mixed and played in the background. the various DJs playing each song at its respective location would be shown within the montage.
Smino’s “Matinee” is about seeing the future and imagining the possibilities of falling in love. if the main characters spend all night together until sunrise, they would probably wake up in each other’s arms with enough time to catch a matinee. this song speaks to the bad boy love interest’s intentions to take the femme next door to places she’s never seen before (aka a more intimate affair). Smino’s clever interpolation of E.U.’s “Da’ Butt” cues us in to the fact that the night is nowhere near over.
“I been drinkin' all night
And I'm smokin' all right
St. Louis to Shanghai
St. Lucia, can't lose, we loose, we Goose'd up, baby”17
Solange’s “Binz” is definitely for the afters as characters decompress from the party. one member of the femme next door friend group is already at home, rolling a spliff, doing their nighttime skin routine in lingerie, dancing in the mirror, and blissfully reflecting on the night they just had.
meanwhile, a budding couple has decided to go to a club with Caribbean music and drinks pouring until late. Althea & Donna’s “Uptown Top Ranking” is playing over the speakers. time really slows when their hips meet on the dance floor. mouths aren’t moving, but minds are being read. the recurring thought: “it’s almost as if we’re the only ones in this room. is it too forward if i ask to take you home?”
“Uptown Top Ranking” would transition into “Loso Na Madesu” by Brian Nasty featuring Natanya, marking her second appearance in the series. before the live mixing ends, both songs would be heard in moments where one character is getting to know about another person’s background and heritage. perhaps one of the posse members stayed behind to help the host clean up, and this sparks a deeper connection between them.
“Loso Na Madesu” would still be heard in the background and fade out as the hype dies down. imagine any of the following: someone studying family photos sitting on the mantle and credenza, then asking questions about the liveliness of an auntie’s smile; looking at their tchotchke collections; grazing the retro wallpaper in their hallways; playing the piano in the living room; studying oneself in the mirror of the medicine cabinet.
“When in doubt
Girl, you can call me
For anything
I'll make myself free”18
next, Blood Orange's “Charcoal Baby” plays as the conversation turns into making out on the couch. or a few lucky characters walk into a lounge near closing time, and someone booked the club to celebrate their birthday, so there’s cake, shots, streamers, and confetti. it could also represent visiting someone’s family home and being swiftly embraced by their loved ones. the video shows a split-screen of two different parties, albeit more family-friendly than some of the scenes in a filmless score.
“SOFT LIFE” by KALLITECHNIS provides a romantic moment to imagine a future together. this track is for the ride home, interwoven with moments from the next phase of the story. this sensual groove sets the tone for the characters’ increasing physical contact. think: aphrodisiacs on deck, intimate caresses, an oasis of their own design.
as the night draws to a close, the question of “are you coming through??” weaves the following batch of songs together. it’s highly likely that one of the characters was on DD duty and had to make the rounds of dropping off their friends before arriving at their love interest’s crib.
“the catch up” by Ambré preludes the climax if you catch my drift.
“Can we catch up?
Can we get a room?
Check out in the mornin'
In the mornin'”19
“All Will Be Forgiven” by Thandii is a mesmerizing track that signifies the various characters’ growing admiration for whoever is in their company.
with another appearance by Bathe, “Pieces” would be the serenade that happens as things get hot and heavy. or someone could literally be doing karaoke to the lyric video as it plays on the TV screen.
“And I don’t want nothing and no one but you
So would you come through?”20
“GUY” by Silas Short loops on repeat during the final events of the night—as some lovers arrive at their hookup’s house, others undress and make their way to the bedroom. elsewhere, conversations deepen until morning comes.
“Girl you know I’m not that guy
Tryna keep you wondering why
Why you all alone at night?
Is it why you hit my line?”21
“100 Bux” by Fousheé appears during the recap of the prior night’s events. on screen, you’d see a message thread of each crew texting each other the next morning to debrief before the cycle repeats. they plan to meet at a local diner, with all hangover remedies in full effect.
“The rain is taxing on us
There may be traffic but we'll still be linking up
Did you recover from the party favors?
Did you recover from the party favors?
We'll drink a coffee and we'll be one hundred bucks”22
finally, “Clear (full version)” by BETWEEN FRIENDS is the transition between this playlist and its successor, head over heels. after making plans with their posse, one character eases out of bed and takes one last loving glance at their suitor, who remains peacefully sleeping. the main characters gaze into each other’s eyes as the sun comes up in the background, knowing that this will be a recurring event for many mornings to come.
“Clear, you've been on my mind, all night”23
here’s a teaser of the next playlist, using the intro track: Meiki’s “Raspberry.”
bonus: Flwr Chyld’s film for his most recent album InsydeOut (one of my favorite albums of 2025). the vignettes portrayed in the visualizer are aligned with many suggested plot points we’ve already discussed and those to come. now, i’m tryna decide which songs from the album i’d like to curate into this project!
the party and the after party: the playlist
as you listen to the playlist, i invite you to reflect on some of your favorite party scenes in popular media or reminisce on functions you’ve attended and have fond memories of.
prior sync placements
according to Tunefind, 8 songs on the playlist had existing sync placements in film & television. check out each link to see which shows or movies they appeared in.
lyric timestamp 1:11 (the “Master of None” instrumentation is sampled throughout the song.)
according to Apple Music and Last.fm, this is among my most-streamed songs of all time.