Be prepared for a little bit of rock and a whole lot of cheese. I decided to make a fanmix that is extremely self-indulgent. The 1970s are just about my favorite decade for both music and classic TV, and I decided to gather up a lot of beautiful songs from that decade that I feel can tell a story about Kalin and Radley. I filled in some necessary gaps with more recent songs, but the majority is wonderful 1970s and 1980s goodness. Some songs are a little bit harder to justify as non-romantic songs, such as the title song, but it was so beautiful and the inspiration for this whole mix and wasn’t going to be left behind. Queerplatonic or romantic, whichever way you want to interpret these songs best, it tells a sweet story of finding each other and genuine love that grows between these two.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMqVKPkJHK6LACMkGLme3ZQu7QkSBw03D
Hell’s Coming With Me by Caleb Hyles We open with a song that was introduced to me by Moon. She had found the original by Poor Man’s Poison and thought of Kalin when she heard it. I did too. Then I found this cover and loved it even more. It definitely sounds like it could be describing an AU version of the Crash Town arc, about a vigilante come to rain justice on a corrupt town, and I decided I wanted to open the mix with it. Kalin is driven out of town by the evildoers who run it. He comes back later, stops the public lynching of one of the few nice guys, and causes the death of the one trying to kill him.
You Need a Hero by Pages Kalin meets Radley again. He is a nice guy in this messed-up town and the one whose life Kalin saved. They had been friends as children before Kalin had been kicked out of town. Radley still likes Kalin a lot and wants to make friends with him. He sees Kalin is all alone and thinks that’s a shame.
Mess of Me by Switchfoot Kalin is unmoved by Radley’s overtures of friendship and feels he is unworthy of love because of the horrible mistakes he made in the past. After he had been thrown out before, he had gone to the Satellite, where he had met Yusei and company and all the canon events unfolded up through the Dark Signer arc. He had started to wander as a drifter to atone for the past, also perhaps thinking he might end up dying along the way and pay for his crimes with his blood. For now, though, he'll stay alive to fix what he can.
Yesterday, When I Was Young by Shirley Bassey Kalin sadly reflects on when he was happy and naive.
Long, Long Time by Ron Kalmakoff Radley doesn’t know why Kalin is brushing him off. He’s hurt and feels he will continue to care about Kalin even so.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day This is the clean version, as while I definitely think Kalin would spew F words, I don’t want to hear them. Kalin continues to regret the past and what he feels can never be.
Don’t Want a Heartache by Melissa Manchester Still not knowing what’s up, Radley finally decides he’s had enough and leaves after an angry and hurting argument.
We Are by Ed Sheeran I never thought I’d include one of this guy’s songs, but wow. This is a heartbreaking piece, made even more so by the fact that it was written about a friend who died. Kalin finds Radley dead in the mines and is devastated.
Without You by Melissa Manchester Kalin continues to grief for Radley, realizing how much he has come to love the man who tried so hard to befriend him again.
This One’s For You by Barry Manilow Kalin’s grieving continues.
Can’t Smile Without You by Barry Manilow And continues.
Come In From the Rain by Melissa Manchester Radley is revived and comes back to Kalin, who welcomes him in joyously. I'm torn on placing it here, as it really sounds more like Radley talking to Kalin when he first returns to town. But the song is happy and if I put it in that other spot, it just leads to sorrows. I prefer it being a happy song.
Midnight Blue by Melissa Manchester The friends have a lot to work through, but the future looks bright.
Better Days by Melissa Manchester They’ve come through the long night and still want to be together.
You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone A sweet celebration as they begin to grow closer.
You Needed Me by Anne Murray Kalin speaks of how Radley has helped him find himself again and how Kalin was eventually able to help him too.
Where Do I Begin? By Idina Menzel Kalin continues to celebrate all Radley has brought to him.
You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Shirley Bassey A sweet celebration of their growing bond.
Through the Eyes of Love by Melissa Manchester Kalin and Radley celebrate what they have and how they want it to continue.
Whenever I Call You Friend by Melissa Manchester Their bond is very deep and unbreakable by now and they believe it will go on.
I’ll Stand By You by The Pretenders They are loyal and loving to each other and they vow that will continue.
Love Story by Sincerely Sahar A sweet song of Kalin singing of all Radley has brought to him and how Kalin knows it will continue.
Nothin’ In This World by Idina Menzel Another assurance that they will stay together.
I’ll Never Say Goodbye by Melissa Manchester A deep and unbreakable bond of love that will stand forever.