It's a portentous week for the democratic process. The European Union's elections last weekend significantly shifted their electoral maps, and today's Iranian presidential election is a heated showdown between firebrand conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the reform-minded Mir-Hossein Mousavi. In between those long days of campaigning, these movers and shakers must have found some time to unwind with a little music. Here's our take on what might be queued up in their iPods right now:

The best thing about giving your money away is getting a bit of it back. Some people say that money can't buy happiness, but we respectfully disagree with this opinion; it definitely makes us feel warm, fuzzy and well-fed. If you aren't smiling when you get your tax-refund check in the mail, you might be a robot. In fact, you're most likely incapable of feeling emotion and Blade Runner's Rick Deckard is closing in on your mailbox as you read this. As you patiently wait for that refund check to arrive, whether you're making a wish list of goodies for purchase or plotting diversion tactics to avoid repaying money-lending friends, we're offering up a money-loving playlist:

Jenny Lewis has recently released her Summer tour schedule, and we're amped about it. Many indie-music enthusiasts know her as the charming chanteuse of Rilo Kiley; however, any child of late '80s television knew the face well before the voice. Before jamming, Lewis appeared in Jell-O commercials. Before Rabbit Fur Coat, she pushed Girl Scout cookies in Troop Beverly Hills. And before romancing Jonathan Rice, she was on Fred Savage's radar in the 1989 film, The Wizard. All of this reminiscing got us thinking about some of our favorite actor-musicians, so we've created a playlist with a few faces you've definitely seen before. The list includes Steve Martin, Entourage's Adrian Grenier, Elf's Zooey Deschanel, Juliette Lewis, and even The Notebook's Ryan Gosling, to name a few. Comment below and let us know who you think should be included.

There are many signals that usher in the changing of the seasons (celestial equinoxes, changing sleeve lengths, authoritative groundhogs), but the big tell will always be the absence or presence of outdoor exercisers. Here at Paste, we can tell it's springtime, not from the pollen that covers Atlanta in a frustrating yellow layer, but rather the spandex-clad runners who fill the sidewalks and our side-view mirrors. Atlantan runners, joggers and walkers serve a dual purpose: They remind us that the chill is over and that it's never to late to start that New Year's resolution. Then again, they could just be showing off.

The recent premiere of NBC's new drama Kings (Sundays, 8 p.m. Eastern) has quite a few staffers hot for high drama. Following up on Paste managing editor Nick Marino's latest list, Seven Reasons to Start Watching Kings Immediately, we're providing a royal playlist to complement the modern-day monarchy that we'll undoubtedly grow to love, hate, envy, cheer and most likely, gamble on. Set in a city not unlike the Big Apple, there are enough Pasteful placements of magical realism, blood-kin betrayals and star-crossed romances to make for a very interesting season. If we ruled the world, these are the songs we'd consider for our royal march:

Around the office, we're feeling the SXSW hangover. Our jam-packed week in Austin was nothing short of wonderful, but as sunburns fade and our iTunes continues to process all our new music finds, exhaustion is setting in. Last week, sleep was the major casualty. Morning shows, late-night parties and an overall excitement for the next day left little, if any, time (or more accurately, desire) for sleep. Without further ado, then, here's our Songs About Sleep playlist. Comment below with your favorite sleep-themed tunes.

Dump loads of green dye into your local river, get gussied up in an overwhelming amount of green apparel, drink your weight in Guinness, regret that decision tomorrow morning and pop on this playlist: It's Saint Patrick's Day! Even if you aren't Irish, chances are you know someone who is, and it would be selfish not to celebrate their heritage, so we're here to help. Today is all about Irish beverages (car bombs, Guinness, Jameson), the color green, luckiness, shamrocks, general Irish pride, and of course, music about all of the above. Maybe that's not all today is about, but St. Patrick probably won't mind. Here's a playlist to help you celebrate, closed out with a tribute to some of our favorite bands from Ireland.

In just a few days, Paste will be heading down (more accurately, West) to Austin, Texas, for SXSW. Although we'd like you to believe that we're discovering new artists from all over the world and taking in independent films, we're really just there to party. Actually, we're hosting three parties, each featuring live music from some of the best bands around. And since we're a bunch of party animal(z), you're guaranteed a wonderful time. Check out our full details of our SXSW coverage here.

Here are just a few of the bands playing our ragers at SXSW 2009:

Above: "Funeral for a Soldier" by Scott H. Spitzer for USAF (DOD 030403-F-1166S-001, public domain)

Tuesday was Veteran’s Day. Newly restored aircraft carrier the USS Intrepid—a ship that saw extensive combat in the Pacific during World War II—was rededicated as a museum in New York at Pier 86 on the Hudson River. In America, and in many countries around the world (where the holiday is known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day), people took time to remember those who have served in their nation’s military, especially those who lost their lives.

The holiday is held on Nov. 11, commemorating the treaty that ended WWI, which was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. In honor of Veteran’s Day, I’ve compiled this mix of songs (with my favorite lyrics included) about soldiers and the struggles they face, both during wartime and when they return home.

When listening to a song and I instantly visualize myself at the concert, pushing through to the front of the crowd, beer in one hand, the other arm vigorously pumping in the air, while screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs...this song gets added to my  Fist-Pump Anthem playlist. I like my fist-pumpers southern-fried, heavy on the guitar, and smothered in awesome. Here are some of the best fist-pumpers I’ve heard in 08 ... so far:



Please chime in with your favorite fist-pump anthems, as I’m always looking for another reason to dislocate a shoulder.