8 Rules for the Perfect Playlist
By: Mystique Myrthil
Playlists consist of categorized songs for specific reasons such as the gym, getting ready for a night out, or heartbreak. However, a playlist is more than just a list of songs we enjoy.
A playlist should have a meaning behind it, or as Rob from Hulu Original High Fidelity would say, “A playlist is a delicate art…you get to say what you want to say without actually saying it.”
Before I watched High Fidelity, I would make playlists quickly without putting much thought into it. I’d then find myself skipping through my list until I found a song I wanted to hear. I should’ve gone to the songs category on Apple Music and pressed shuffle since that is what I was doing anyway.
After binge-watching the series, I learned a playlist could have power and meaning behind it when done right. The protagonist, Rob, takes us through her love life journey while also teaching us the importance of curating a great playlist.
Here are “The Rules” of making a playlist as told by Rob (these are in no particular order, you can follow them how you chose).

THE RULES
- There has to be a theme
- It has to be entertaining
- The message behind it can’t be too obvious
- You can’t double up on songs by the same artist unless that’s your theme
- It will be challenging to make
- The most important track is #1 because it sets the tone for the rest of the playlist
- There needs to be an element of surprise
- The closing song is tough to find because you want to finish on a high note
Hopefully, these rules help you when making your next playlist. High Fidelity is worth the watch not only for the musical help, but it’s also relatable, and the outfits are amazing. Rob’s style is killer and her outfits will make you wish it was summer and want to cop a leather jacket just like hers.
Here is a playlist I made with the songs from the series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
9. It has to tell a story
10. The first song has to be meaningful and give a summary of the entire playlist.