The Best Songs of the 20th Century

are all on the same album, fight me.

I’ve written about my friends The Magnetic Fields lots of times—for Vogue, for The Paris Review, in earlier newsletters, but in case (for some reason) you haven’t read every single word I’ve written over the last decade, here is a short explanatory note: before I opened Books Are Magic, before I published any books, my very best job was working as a personal assistant to Stephin Merritt, he of the Magnetic Fields. I did lots of things for Stephin—took clothing to the dry-cleaner, bought dog food, etc—but mostly what I did was sit in his living room and drink tea.

Pretty sure this is backstage at BAM?

My husband and I went on tour with the band from 2002-2012, a few weeks here and there whenever they put out a record. Mike did all the hard work and I did all the fun work. One of the perks was getting to watch the show every night, and I loved to watch our friends take off their regular person suits and put on their magic genius suits, which is how I think of everyone who can play music.

Claudia and assorted Japanese monsters.

They are on tour again now, for the 25th anniversary of their album 69 Love Songs, which is the best album ever made by anyone. You can keep your Bob Dylan, your Kind of Blue, your Graceland. (Those are good too. I’m just poking.) It is true though, that 69 Love Songs is my very favorite, and because the band is out performing it in its entirety (over two nights) in lots of cities over the next few months, I thought I’d make a little primer for my top ten songs, just in case you haven’t yet had the pleasure. (Click here to buy tickets.)

Once Paul Rudd came to a show. Hi Paul!

Chicago, 2008?

Okay I can’t really put these songs in order but I’ll try.

10. Busby Berkley Dreams

9. Acoustic Guitar

8. I’m Sorry I Love You

7. When My Boy Walks Down the Street

6. Grand Canyon

5. Papa Was a Rodeo

6. The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side

3. I Don’t Want to Get Over You

2. Long Forgotten Fairytale

   1. I Think I Need a New Heart

When Mike and I got married, we asked Stephin to sing, and he said yes, as long as it’s not “The Book of Love.” That song is good too. So are a dozen more that I could have put on this list. My point is this: they’re all good. They are the smartest, best songs in the world by the smartest, best people. I love my friends.

Here are the songs Stephin sang at our wedding instead. “Walking My Gargoyle” was when my dad and I walked into my parents’ dining room. Stephin was worried that people would think that he was calling me a gargoyle, but I stand by the choice. I’m the gargoyle, and so was my dad. Stephin wrote the song about his beloved Chihuahua, Irving, RIP Irving, RIP my dad, gargoyles and love forever.

Then he sang this. <3