NPR.org has a very public-radio-like piece on the difficulties of making a good wedding mix. It made us think of our friends who used Jeff Buckley’s “So Real” as their first dance together, which sounds like it might be cool on paper, but in reality was actually pretty awkward (think of those big orchestral crescendos and keening vocals). Give us Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” any day, which is a staple for a reason. Any suggestions on your end?

Photo: Barbour/Getty

Grammys mania offically starts now. The award show doesn’t air til this Sunday, but we’re counting down the days with Grammy coverage all this week. First order of bidness: a mixtape featuring artists nominated in the Big Four categories (that’d be Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist). *Note that the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose Stadium Arcadium was nominated for Album of the Year, is not represented on our mix due to bureaucratic red tape.

Listen to the entire Grammys mixtape

“Be Without You” [Listen]
Mary J. Blige
(Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

“You’re Beautiful” [Listen]
James Blunt
(Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist)

“Not Ready to Make Nice” [Listen]
Dixie Chicks
(Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

“Crazy” [Listen]
Gnarls Barkley
(Record of the Year, Album of the Year)

“Put Your Records On” [Listen]
Corinne Bailey Rae
(Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist)

“Waiting on the World to Change” [Listen]
John Mayer
(Album of the Year)

“Dani California”
Red Hot Chili Peppers
(Album of the Year)

“Sexyback” [Listen]
Justin Timberlake
(Album of the Year)

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” [Listen]
Carrie Underwood
(Song of the Year, Best New Artist)

“Run It” [Listen]
Chris Brown
(Best New Artist)

“Hide and Seek” [Listen]
Imogen Heap
(Best New Artist)

>>Listen to every nominated song, watch every nominated video and browse complete artist pages for every nominated artist, with album reviews, the latest news and more in our complete Guide to the Grammys.