Heave Media

The Walk of Shame Mixtape

Great nights usually make for terrible mornings.

This past weekend reminded me of another summer pastime that creeps up every season. It’s not baseball and it’s not grilling; it’s the walk of shame. As the weather gets nice people tend to drink more and/or have sex more, creating an army of humans stumbling home Sunday morning. They shield their eyes from the sun, usually look a bit lost, and their choices in clothing are either of the night before or missing various elements. Not every walk of shame has to include a sexual adventure. I’m pretty sure the lovely gentlemen who drank a bit too much Jaeger and crashed on my couch this weekend felt the sting of regret and shame as he made his way home the next morning. Sometimes we party a bit too hard, and out of the ashes of our embarrassment comes the “Walk of Shame.”

The Avett Brothers – Shame - This bluegrass inspired tune includes the line “boatloads of shame,” which pretty much sum up how you feel walking home on a Sunday morning wearing one high heel, make-up smeared, hair matted, and the dress you wore last night inside out. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us.

Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down - If one genre of music knows a thing or two about drinking and the hangovers that follow, it would be country music. And Cash was king when it came to tails of the price you pay after an indulgent and outrageous night.

Bessie Smith - Me and My Gin - Gin isn’t my personal pick of poison, but everyone can attest to their favorite libation and the times it has done them wrong. I’ve had friends wake up in backyards, in a stranger’s house, and on rooftops. Sometimes alone, sometimes with people they don’t know. As the modern day poet T-Pain says “blame it on the alcohol,” the main providers of walks of shame all around the world since the dawn of time.

Serge Gainsbourg - Intoxicated Man - If you stumble home to a soundtrack of vintage French pop music, I might actually fall in love with you. This could be the one time you could use a hangover or drunken stupor to pick up the ladies. Take a cue from the Europeans and class up your next shameful walk home.

The Kills - Goodnight Bad Morning - I’m positive that when The Kills decided to write this stripped down garage rock closer for their album, they knew they were writing the anthem to many a Sunday morning. They even simplified it for your drunken self, and made the name obvious. The band is basically handing you a gift. Take it and use it wisely.

Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side - If your night included any of the characters out of this song, you may want to evaluate the speed you’re living your life. Speed freaks, drag queens, and transsexuals might be fun in moderation, but that is one walk of shame you won’t be able to shake for a long time if it includes many of these characters.

Broken Social Scene - Love And Mathematics - I think I’ve made it obvious that Broken Social Scene is good music to set the mood, make love to, after love, and to get your heart broken to. We’ve fully established my usage of this band in my musical memory. So just take my word that this song will help the pounding in your head (or heart) as you ride the train home watching the sunrise.

Wilco - Hate It Here - Wilco is great hangover music because they’ve got that touch of booze riddled country mixed in with a good measure of rock ‘n’ roll. If you’re waking up alone and not walking home Sunday morning, this song could cure your pain. Or it could make you feel like hell. Both are viable and healthy options. 

Posted by Lisa White on Jun 03, 2009 @ 12:00 am