Mixed Tape: Road Trip

Road trips can be fantastically adventurous or fantastically boring. Either way, you don't want to be passing out on the road. Here's a nice little mix to make sure you're wide awake and arrivingly safely. Because, you know, we care.

• Man, this song kicks FUCKING ASS! I once had a friend in college who told me in great detail about his belief that Tom Petty was a genius - and one that the world would probably never come to worship like The Beatles, though they should. You know, I'm the first to admit that I can't rattle off more than a few titles of the man's discography, but Nick was right. This one alone deserves to be bronzed and kept pristine forever.
  
• Come on, everyone knows the chorus:
  "Oh yeah, alright, take it easy baby, make it last all night - she was, an American Girl."

• Just nudging ahead of 'The Obvious Child,' this is a great boppy little song that you can tap the gas pedal along with. I'd really be up for someone to 'splain what the hell a couple of lyrics of mean but it doesn't really matter all that much in the end. (Note: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do a damn good version too.)
  
• "Well I'm on my way, I don't know where I'm goin'
  I'm on my way, takin' my time, but I don't know where Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona Singin' me and Julio down by the schoolyard"

• That's right... The Cure. The beacons of black makeup and enough hairspray to choke a horse. I nearly fell over when I found this cover, but the boys of doom and gloom do it up just fine. From the "Toora-loora-toora-loo-rye-aye," to the harmonized chant - you can almost see them dancing around in overalls in ultimate glee. Almost.
  
• "Come on Eileen oh, I swear (well he means)
  at this moment you mean everything
  With you in that dress, my thoughts (I confess)
  verge on dirty, Ah come on Eileen"

• Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Tell me you don't bounce when you hear this. This song alone will keep you going a few more miles... just watch your speed. As soon as this one kicks in, your foot'll be slammed down on the gas pedal and you're hitting 80 before you even realize it.
  
• "Bright lights the music gets faster
  Look boy, don't check on your watch
  Not another glance
  I'm not leaving now, honey not a chance"

• this song does not exist. No. and that really sucks, because it's such a toe-tappin' tune. If it did exist, then you'd could enjoy the rockin' Ben Wagner. Instead, you just have to pretend there's a great little song here and hum along to yourself.
  
• "Jackie Chan, Jackie Chan, Turn around and face your man, I think it's time we had a plan, Jackie Chan..."

• God help me, but these boys are adorable. I don't care if they're rip-offs. I don't care if they're sell-outs. I don't care if they're sucky musicians. They make me laugh and they make me bop my head. This is a great version, although the one with 'Ice Ice Baby' is a suitable replacement. Anyway... this is a great little slice of a breakup in under 3 minutes for the times when you want to remember HS but not dwell long enough for it to hurt.
  
• "And maybe I'll see you at a movie sneak preview
  you'll show up and walk by on the arm of that guy
  and I'll smile and you'll wave we'll pretend it's okay
  the charade it won't last, when he's gone I won't come back"

• yeah, I'm a victim of marketing... but man, the song is damn catchy. Plus they did this great little video that makes me actually feel like I'm back in the early 80s. Okay, I'm not sure if that's necessarily a good thing - but it's catchy and I always find myself hitting 'repeat.'
  
• "Her boyfriend, he don't know
  Anything about her
  He's too stoned, Nintendo
  I wish that I could make her see
  She's just the flavor of the weak"

• eiddy really digs this song, and until she mentioned it I only knew of Dramarama's 120 vid, "Last Cigarette." But this is a hopping tune and I challenge you to NOT tap or sway or bop along to the beat. And the romance... I mean... just read on...
  
• "I'll give you candy, give you diamonds, give you pills.
  Give you anything you want... hundred dollar bills.
  I'll even let you watch the shows you wanna see
  Just marry me, marry me, marry me..."

• I just love Tugboat. My boyfriend in college used to drag me to their shows where I'd watch him and his best friend drink. They were very lucky that I was totally into their music. They're not in Buffalo anymore (which is cool, cuz neither am I), they're doing the Boston rounds now. I don't get to see them nearly as much, though, so that sucks (cuz they rock). Haven't heard them? Get thee to a record store (or cdnow) and buy their albums now.
  
• "sometimes
  breakdown fadeout wishing my life away
  just about
  
  right now i'd say i'm wishing my life away
  and i'll stop today"

• You know the boys had to make it in here somewhere. I decided to be good and limit myself to just one... for now. This one won out for the simple "punch-punch-punch//bounce-bounce-bounce" choreographed motion. By this point in the CD, you need to get some blood pumping. Sure, you can't move from side to side, but bouncing in place is still fun. BONUS: Other drivers will steer clear of you once they see you doing something akin to an epileptic fit.
  
• "I don't wanna be your fool in this game for two
  So I'm leaving. You. Behind.
  Bye Bye Bye."

• Actually, I like "...One More Time" better, but I liked the fit of these two. Say what you will but Miss Spears has some catchy tunes. Well, of course she should, considering she's got professionals writing them for her - but I don't care. Even if you hate them from the very first note (like I did), they get in your head, attach themselves to your brain and the next thing you know, you're looking for them on the radio stations. And dancing. In the car. Admit it.
  
• "Oops! ...I did it again
  I played with your heart, got lost in the game
  Oh baby, baby
  Oops!...You think I'm in love
  That I'm sent from above
  I'm not that innocent"

• What? You don't know who Shakira is? That is so sad... not only is the gurl just gorgeous (not diggin' the blonde, though), she just rocks. This one I first saw on "MTV S" a while back and I was simply mesmerized at the woman on the screen and the music coming out of it. It's got a great middle-eastern beat and she just shakes her little body to the rhythm. I've acquired a few different mixes of it, but the original is pretty rockin' too.
  
• "ayer conoci un cielo sin sol
  y un hombre sin suelo
  un santo en prision
  y una cancion triste sin dueÐo ...
  y conoci tus ojos negros
  y ahora si que no
  puedo vivir sin ellos yo"
  (I was going to put the English translation, but it didn't sound as cool)

• So this should probably fit in the 80s section, but if I put it here there's a whole theme you see. I like themes. They're kinda like borders. I'm a big fan of borders. ANYWAY... you'll know this song once you hear it. And you'll be happy, dammit. It's the song that Jenny sang on "Kate and Allie" when she joined that band... remember? Man, I loved that show. ANYWAY... it's one of those you don't hear all that often, but you get that goofy grin on your face as soon as you do. Oh yeah.
  
• "How could I have loved someone like the one I see in you
  Yeah, I remember the good times baby now, and the bad times too
  These last few weeks of holding on
  The days are dull, the nights are long
  Guess it's better to say
  Goodbye to you"

• Getting tired? Oh yeah, your eyes will pop wide-fucking-open when this comes on. I have memories of being absolutely exhausted on a dancefloor and looking for a way out when this came on. It's like a straight shot of caffeine and you can't but help scream the chorus along with the fellers.
  
• "But the walls were shaking,
  The earth was quaking,
  My mind was aching,
  And we were making it and you...
  Shook me all night long"

• This is one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONGS. Really. It's angry and furious and powerful and makes my brother drive really fast. I'm waiting for the day when we, two goofy-white kids, get pulled over in his tinted-window Firebird with this bellowing out of the speakers. Want to feel like you're taking on the world with energy to spare? Don't forget this one...
  
• [Amanda: The Royal Crescent Mob does a kick-ass cover of this, too. And it makes me want to hit things. All good.]
  
• "Don't call it a comeback
  I been here for years
  Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear
  Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon
  Listen to the bass go BOOM"

2001-03-19