Candlelight for Two

About this mixtape

A date night needs songs that set the mood and then stay out of the way. This tape was made for a romantic evening by candlelight, slow and close and a little flirty, with only loving lyrics, nothing sad about break-ups, and one song per artist. Every lyric is about being in love, not losing it, so nothing breaks the moment.

It opens with Etta James' "At Last", sweeping strings and a voice that sounds like relief, then Ben E. King's "Stand By Me", with that steady bass line, and Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine", slow soul made for dancing close. Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight" is timeless adoration, Nat King Cole's "L-O-V-E" spells it out with a smile, and Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" turns up the heat, gently.

It moves slowly through the decades. Barry White's "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" is deep-voiced and joyful, and Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky" is a tender ballad that promises forever. Then come the smoother sounds for later in the evening: Luther Vandross's "Here and Now", made for slow dancing, Seal's lush "Kiss from a Rose", Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You", all close harmonies, and D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)", slow, intimate and the last word on the night.

The songs run from 1960 to 2000, from sixties soul and standards to nineties R&B, and the tempo stays slow from beginning to end. Start it as dinner is served, keep the volume low enough to talk over, and let it play through as a YouTube playlist. Light a candle, pour two glasses and press play. If the evening turns into a party with friends, make a livelier tape for that.