My father is right. I would do well to stay away from political debates, because I get too emotionally involved and feel personally responsible for addressing every fallacy I know of for a fact. Every year that passes, I understand more and more why he was so adamant about getting me out at all costs...it probably had as much to do with his own peace of mind as it did for mine. Poor guy. What a nightmare it must've been, watching me grow up in that environment, always waiting for the shoe to drop. Heh.
(I have to say, though, nothing can work out my pent up anger and aggression, though, like a decent, or even half decent debate. Redirection is very easy to do when engaged in political debate mode.)
***
So, since personal and social issues have had me pretty much wound up tighter than, err, the tightest spring coil (it's the end of a long day; give me a break on the metaphors), I've been holding on to my train of thoughts as best as I can, to stop from explosively snapping, and so have been running various permutations of different playlists through my head, as a calming measure so to speak. Figured with all the introspective deliberations going on in my head (HAH! As if there has been any other kind, really!), I'd think about what a playlist that's "just me" would look like. Say, for example, if I were standing in a street corner and handing out a mixed CD to endorse me, versus a pamphlet or reading from a canned speech.
So here it is. I figured initially I'd go with 15-18 songs, roughly about what fits on a commercial CD to a homemade one, and see where it takes me. Then I bumped it up to 21 songs, because I've been able to get that many on a CD. Then I figured, well, as long as this is about me, why not go for 36 to match my age? It is a playlist, after all. As I started doing that many, though, it got unwieldy, so it was back to original 15-18.
So I thought the next logical step was to break it up into a few, simple (very few, lest I get carried away, again) themed playlists. I started to get hung up on themes, though, as well (I am the queen of tangential thought, after all), so I decided to get started at least on the simplest and most obvious theme of all: L'amour.
Of course, like any good mix CD/playlist, careful thought was given to the order of songs--never underestimate delivery no matter how interesting the substance.
(I have to say, though, nothing can work out my pent up anger and aggression, though, like a decent, or even half decent debate. Redirection is very easy to do when engaged in political debate mode.)
***
So, since personal and social issues have had me pretty much wound up tighter than, err, the tightest spring coil (it's the end of a long day; give me a break on the metaphors), I've been holding on to my train of thoughts as best as I can, to stop from explosively snapping, and so have been running various permutations of different playlists through my head, as a calming measure so to speak. Figured with all the introspective deliberations going on in my head (HAH! As if there has been any other kind, really!), I'd think about what a playlist that's "just me" would look like. Say, for example, if I were standing in a street corner and handing out a mixed CD to endorse me, versus a pamphlet or reading from a canned speech.
So here it is. I figured initially I'd go with 15-18 songs, roughly about what fits on a commercial CD to a homemade one, and see where it takes me. Then I bumped it up to 21 songs, because I've been able to get that many on a CD. Then I figured, well, as long as this is about me, why not go for 36 to match my age? It is a playlist, after all. As I started doing that many, though, it got unwieldy, so it was back to original 15-18.
So I thought the next logical step was to break it up into a few, simple (very few, lest I get carried away, again) themed playlists. I started to get hung up on themes, though, as well (I am the queen of tangential thought, after all), so I decided to get started at least on the simplest and most obvious theme of all: L'amour.
Of course, like any good mix CD/playlist, careful thought was given to the order of songs--never underestimate delivery no matter how interesting the substance.
Update the final: This is it, this is the list, I am not touching again, or rearranging. Now to see if I can upload everything to imeem sometime this year to make it available there.
1- Nothing Compares 2 U - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
This song (a) immediately draws attention to the fact that I love covers (b)starts off the mix with exactly the right tempo and message (c) is my favorite of all the MFatGG covers--despite them all sounding the same after a while, this still stands out.
2- Funky Ceili - Black 47
You try and stay sad when this plays, I dare you.
3- Hey Julie - Fountains of Wayne
FoW songs lend themselves well to this theme, and this one seemed appropriate as a follow-up to the previous one, especially with the personalization using the name of the object of affection and all.
4- Waltz #2 - Elliott Smith
Yes, it's possibly his best known song, outside of Miss Misery, and potentially predictable, yes? Well, I'm going with a live version, for one thing and for another, his songs can never be predictable.
5- Untouchable Face - Ani DiFranco
Seriously, this is possibly the best breakup song ever.
6- Helena - My Chemical Romance
And people say nothing good ever comes out of New Jersey.
7- Good - Better Than Ezra
I had to debate over this and one from Gin Blossoms, which would have fitted just as well...ultimately went with this one for this lineup.
8- It's Not About Love - Fiona Apple
Watch the video for this. It will give you an even deeper appreciation for the brilliance of the song.
9- Stay - Oingo Boingo
When people start mocking the 80s, just point them over here.
10- Swing of Things - a-ha
1- Nothing Compares 2 U - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
This song (a) immediately draws attention to the fact that I love covers (b)starts off the mix with exactly the right tempo and message (c) is my favorite of all the MFatGG covers--despite them all sounding the same after a while, this still stands out.
2- Funky Ceili - Black 47
You try and stay sad when this plays, I dare you.
3- Hey Julie - Fountains of Wayne
FoW songs lend themselves well to this theme, and this one seemed appropriate as a follow-up to the previous one, especially with the personalization using the name of the object of affection and all.
4- Waltz #2 - Elliott Smith
Yes, it's possibly his best known song, outside of Miss Misery, and potentially predictable, yes? Well, I'm going with a live version, for one thing and for another, his songs can never be predictable.
5- Untouchable Face - Ani DiFranco
Seriously, this is possibly the best breakup song ever.
6- Helena - My Chemical Romance
And people say nothing good ever comes out of New Jersey.
7- Good - Better Than Ezra
I had to debate over this and one from Gin Blossoms, which would have fitted just as well...ultimately went with this one for this lineup.
8- It's Not About Love - Fiona Apple
Watch the video for this. It will give you an even deeper appreciation for the brilliance of the song.
9- Stay - Oingo Boingo
When people start mocking the 80s, just point them over here.
10- Swing of Things - a-ha
Okay, okay, so I cheated and added one more. Consider this the Easter egg. I couldn't very well talk about the 80s and just overlook Morton, could I now?
11- She's Electric - Oasis
I don't care if half the world thinks they're Beatles knockoffs. Nor am I so far gone as to think they are the second coming. Just do as I do and enjoy them for what they are.
12- Dyslexic Heart - Paul Westerberg
Cute. Very cute. For the record, I greatly preferred 'Singles' to 'Reality Bites'.
13- Ruby Soho - Rancid
Brilliant. I think they may have had a hit with this when it first came out, but I'm not sure; I got their CD years ago based on a recommendation from a lovely little independent CD store in West Hartford that unfortunately had to close down after about a year and half.
14 - Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
How do I love this group? Let me count the number of times they appear on any list I make...
15 - Killerqueen - Queen
11- She's Electric - Oasis
I don't care if half the world thinks they're Beatles knockoffs. Nor am I so far gone as to think they are the second coming. Just do as I do and enjoy them for what they are.
12- Dyslexic Heart - Paul Westerberg
Cute. Very cute. For the record, I greatly preferred 'Singles' to 'Reality Bites'.
13- Ruby Soho - Rancid
Brilliant. I think they may have had a hit with this when it first came out, but I'm not sure; I got their CD years ago based on a recommendation from a lovely little independent CD store in West Hartford that unfortunately had to close down after about a year and half.
14 - Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
How do I love this group? Let me count the number of times they appear on any list I make...
15 - Killerqueen - Queen
I have a rule about mixes that I'm trying to extend to playlists: must include one Queen song.
16- Quite Rightly So - Procol Harum
See notes on Basement Treasures
17- Wait Up For Me - Waltons
17- Wait Up For Me - Waltons
I have no idea where to find this song; the only copy I have--or had, since I suspect the kid has tossed it behind the piano and/or entertainment center) was on a huH magazine CD compilation.
18- Just A Moment of Weakness - Bif Naked
18- Just A Moment of Weakness - Bif Naked
You bet I wanted to be Bif Naked in an alternate life.
19- Song For The Dumped - Ben Folds Five
I'm debating whether I mean for this to be the commercial (studio) version or the very excellent, live bootleg version with 'lost verse' that I have, which is different than all the other versions I know of for the song. I guess the former, since tempo wise it fits better.
20- I Will - The Beatles
A great song from an ever greater album.
21- Ugly On The Outside - The Judybats
This is one of my favorite songs to come out of my college years, and I have my friend J. to thank for it. We ended up using so many of the little phrases in the song as shorthand when talking about--what else?--love; for example, [s/he doesn't] even like the way I sing became synonymous with indicating reciprocity by an object of our affection.
Bonus Track (Hidden) I Will Be Hating You For Christmas- Everclear
Taking a song that perfectly ended their own album to end this one just as perfectly.
21- Ugly On The Outside - The Judybats
This is one of my favorite songs to come out of my college years, and I have my friend J. to thank for it. We ended up using so many of the little phrases in the song as shorthand when talking about--what else?--love; for example, [s/he doesn't] even like the way I sing became synonymous with indicating reciprocity by an object of our affection.
Bonus Track (Hidden) I Will Be Hating You For Christmas- Everclear
Taking a song that perfectly ended their own album to end this one just as perfectly.
