The Playlist: Ocean Vuong’s Writing Soundtrack For On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

The semi-autobiographical On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Dua’s Monthly Read for November by Ocean Vuong – is written as a letter from a son to his illiterate mother and, in turn, uncovers his family history and the story of Vietnam. Writing a poetic tale of race, class and the legacy of colonialism through the eyes of Little Dog, he unveils his family’s past and his present. Here, Vuong shares the music he listened to while writing his lyrical masterpiece, featuring everyone from Frank Ocean to Patsy Cline. Time to press play...

And Am I Born To Die – Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn

Younger – Ruel

Moon River – Frank Ocean

Voy Ho (Maok Pi Naok) – Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea

I Lost A Friend – FINNEAS

Please Notice – Christian Leave

Two Slow Dancers – Mitski

Drive – Britta Phillips

My Life – Iris DeMent

Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

DNA. – Kendrick Lamar

On Your Porch – The Format

Alan (Rework) – Perfume Genius

After Laughter (Comes Tears) – Wendy Rene

Dave’s Song – Whitney

Die Young – Sylvan Esso

Liberated – DeJ Loaf, Leon Bridges

Many Men (Wish Death) – 50 Cent

Leavin’ On Your Mind – Patsy Cline

This Little Light Of Mine – Ralph Stanley

Mystery of Love/Visions of Gideon – Moisés Nieto

Take Me Home, Country Roads – Mountain Man

You’re Not a Man – Thomston

I Shall Be Released – Nina Simone

Lonely as You Are – Charles Bradley

The Place Where Lost Things Go – Jamie Cullum