Dad's Day MixTape

I came up with this idea because it felt unfair to do a Mother's Day but not one for Father's Day. But as I went through my iTunes library, hunting for songs about dads, I realized, excluding the country variety, (Like a million songs by George Straight,  "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw, etc,), or the Eric Clapton variety ("Tears in Heaven", "My Father's Eyes", etc,) there are not a lot of songs written about dads. However, out of he very limited field, I was able to find a few great ones. Here they are.

1. Hailie's Song- Eminem
I LOVE this song. First of all, he actually SINGS (not bad, by the way), and for once, he dishes the details on his personal life without just screaming bloody murder about his ex-wife or his mother. The way he shows how much he cares about his daughter is really moving. Yes, he couldn't resist to put in one line about how he's "got a wife determined to make my life a living hell", but when has he ever resisted getting a dig in on any member of his family?

2. Father and Son- Cat Stevens
My dad loves this song, but I had never heard of it before I started writing this blog, so I decided to listen to it, and I like it. It's the kind of song they play at the father/son bonding moment at the end of a Hallmark movie or a TV show where the hardened old man finally goes on that fishing trip he always promised and giving him a heart-to-heart chat about the meaning of life, but yet not totally overly sentimental and corny. 

3. Beautiful Boy- John Lennon
This song is worth it just for one of the BEST SONG LINES EVER:"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." John wrote this song after realizing that he ignored Julian his whole childhood and vowing to be better with Sean. While it must have been great for Sean to hear that song now, and to know how much his dad loved him, it must be a stab in the gut for Julian.

4. Father of Mine- Everclear
Like many of Everclear songs, Art Alexakis talks about what a sucky father he had, and how he left him and he ended up living in the projects of Portland, Oregon, which I'm not sure actually exists.This song documents the time-honored tradition lamenting  about your horrible life through song, a practice used by man over the years, including Eminem, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, Trent Reznor,Billy Corgan, and many, many more.

5. Cat's Cradle-Harry Chapin
Well, this one is kind of obvious, but when the state heard I was writing a blog about Dads, they issued me a court-ordered statement saying I had to put this song on the list. I think this is this song is second only to "Tears in Heaven" (literally one of the most depressingly crushing sad songs ever) as the saddest songs of all tine. When he talks about how his boy is just like him, ignoring him all the time, that can make grow men cry in the way only that-and the movie Rudy-can.



This mixtape is dedicated to my dad. Happy Father's Day!
If you feel that I missed any, comment!

Mommy's Day MixTape

In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to make this playlist all about one thing- MOMS! This playlist is an impromptu Mother's Day gift to my mom, since I forgot to get her a gift, (Sorry!) Even though most of these artists have a not exactly complementary views on their own Mommy Dearest, the songs are the best of the best of songs about mothers. Here's to you, Mom!


PLAYLIST

1. Mother- John Lennon (This song used to make me cry every time I listened to it. John screeching at the top of his lungs about how his mother left him in the lurch with his oldoldold Aunt Mimi, who told him, "You know, John, you really can't make any money playing music", always just turns the waterworks on.)

2. Your Mother Should Know- The Beatles (This is the song every teenager can pretty much relate to. Hiding something from your mother that you really want to tell her, but you know that if you tell her, she'll pitch a conniption fit? Yeah, everyone's been there.)

3. Mama Said Knock You Out- LL Cool J (Is it wrong that this song reminds me of my own mom? Ha ha.)

4. Mother- Tori Amos (Of course, like most Tori Amos songs, I can't determine the EXACT meaning, but I do know that it's sad, like all of Tori Amos's other songs, and I know that Tori's probably none to pleased at Mommy.)

5.Superwoman- Alicia Keys (My mom put this on a mix CD we made the summer of 2008 of all our favorite songs of the year, and this was always her sing-along song.. And since it was written by Alicia Keys about her mother, it's a perfect homage. Also, nice Obama reference!)

6. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart- The White Stripes (This song sounds so realistic to me, and it just makes me laugh. I can totally picture a young Jack Gillis, begging Mama White if he can marry her strange, somewhat mute daughter Meg, but her being stubborn, not wanting daughter to marry some weird, pale, Detroit boy who has an obsession with the number three and a remarkable resemblance to her daughter.)

7.Mother's Little Helper- The Rolling Stones (Hopefully, this song doesn't remind TOO many people of their mothers, considering it's a song about a pill-popper who takes "little yellow pills", to get through housework, complaining husbands, and whiny kids. Happy Mother's Day?)

8. I Think I'm A Mother- PJ Harvey (Endlessly creepy, considering the fact she sounds like she's being bound and gagged, but I love its subtle, edgy, almost masculine sound. Always count on our own Polly Jean to be wonderful and weird. P.S.- If you don't know if you're a mother or not, you're probably not cut out for the job.)


Comment if you think I forgot any! Thanks!

The Five Formulas of Break-Up Songs

 Besides ice cream and pictures of Ryan Gosling, there's no better way to get over a break-up than to listen to music. Here are a few of favorite songs that show all the emotions you have after being dumped.

For "I'm So Sad I'm Being Dumped and I Swear I'm Gonna Get Him/Her Back"

1. "Don't Bother Me"- The Beatles

 One of the Fab Four just got dumped (seriously, though, who in their right mind would dump a Beatles? Well, maybe Ringo,) and they don't want to see anyone until she comes back, (which she inevitably will, because, they're THE BEATLES.) I'm guessing Ringo wrote this song, because when ever any of the other Beatles got dumped, they left them for Japanese artists or hippie-chick photographers/heiresses, or the most lusted women in British rock (Pattie Boyd).

For "My Ex Boyfriend/Girlfriend Sucks and I Hope (S)he Gets Hit By A Truck"

2. "You're Time is Gonna Come"- Led Zeppelin

The prototype for the basic "you cheated on me and I hate you" formula ("Before He Cheats", "Bust Your Windows", "Just a Friend", etc.), Robert Plant sings, somewhat surprisingly, that he's been cheated on and she's going to get hers, so he's not going to be sad. I doubt Robert would actually be that upset, considering the fact that, circa 1972, he had been with 25% of the women on earth, a record later broken by Prince.

For "I'm Actually Going to Kill Him/Her- Seriously, The Body's In The Trunk"

3. "Good-Bye Earl"- The Dixie Chicks

This song is literally about a woman (Wanda) and her best friend (Mary Ann) who kills the former's husband (Earl) after he starts to abuse her. The murderesses poison him (with black-eyed peas, no less), stuff him into back of the car, and drown him, and they never get caught. Sweet justice!

For "I Still Love You and I Wish We Didn't Break Up But I Know It's Over"

4. "Divorce Song"- Liz Phair

This song follows Liz and her (soon to be ex)boyfriend who went on a really long, awkward car ride, check into a hotel, she refuses to stay in the same room as him, and he basically tells her she's "not worth talking to", which hurts. This is the most awkward song on the whole Exile in Guyville album, which is saying something, considering there's a song blatantly and bluntly talking about one of Liz's (apparently many) one-night stands ("**** and Run").

For "We've Broken Up But We Can Still Be Good Friends and I Mean That in The Real Way, Not In a 'I Secretly Think You're Scum' Way"

5. "(Good Riddance) Time Of Your Life"- Green Day

Famous for being used for the last episode of Seinfeld, this song also doubles/triples/quadruples as a graduation song/prom song/"elevator music staple", according to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Sadly, Billie Joe Armstrong has the very un-punk (not to mention unfair) distinction of being the only pop-punker to have his music played in as dial-tone music, only cementing their status as punk sell-outs. I don't care. Still think Green Day rules.


Other Break-Up Songs That Don't Fit Into Any of These Categories but I Love Anyway-

1. "Paper Bag"- Fiona Apple

2. "Stutter"- Elastica

3. "Criminal"- Fiona Apple

4. "Don't Need You"- Bikini Kill (Not technically a break-up song, but it sounds like one)

5. "Somebody is Waiting For Me"- Juliana Hatfield

Mixtape of the Month; March 2012

Hi, I am not really sure what form this blog will take, but I thought I would start off with this mix tape I recently put together. As always, I am interested in your feedback and I am also looking for NEW music to listen to. Thanks for listening


MIXTAPE

 Side One

1. Stratford-on-Guy by Liz Phair

2. Waterfalls by TLC

3. Paper Bag by Fiona Apple

4. Smokestack Lightnin’ by Howlin’ Wolf

5. Kool Thing by Sonic Youth

6. So What’cha Want? by the Beastie Boys

7. Precious Things by Tori Amos

8. Choose Drugs by Juliana Hatfield

 Side Two

1. Bhang, Bhang I'm a Burnout by the Dum Dum Girls

2. Thank You by Led Zeppelin

3. Kiss Me on the Bus by the Replacements

4. Dawn Can’t Decide by The Lemonheads

5. Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis

6. Rumour Has It by Adele

7. It’s Oh So Quiet by Bjork

8. Boys on the Radio by Hole