CD Mix #10

Alexis asked me a few weeks ago whatever happened to my blog. The answer? Facebook. It is easier to comment a line or two on there than it is to think up a whole blog of something to write.

It seems that the last time I blogged it was to disclose the tracks on CD Mix #9. To continue the tradition, here are the tracks and commentary to CD Mix #10

1. Song with the same title as #20 -- Don’t Ask me why – Annie Lennox
I’ve been wanting to use this song since Heidi started using it as an example for the “question and answer” example. I love this song, and it just so happens that I have another song in my library with the same name!

2. Epic - Song that could be a movie - Harry Worth – Elvis Costello
The last time we did this question on a mix, I limited myself to no Elvis and no Squeeze. I pretty much think that all of their songs could be movies, because they tell stories. With this being the last mix, I decided that I could use my favorite artists without worrying about always using the same artists.

3. Song you would use to tell someone you love them --I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders
Something you promise someone you love – and you mean it.

4. Kick-ass cover song -- Eleanor Rigby – Aretha Franklin
I admit that I bought this one from iTunes just for this mix. I had no idea what song I wanted to use and you’ll see that this isn’t the only cover in my mix. I like how she changed the lyrics to suit her. The song is from Eleanor’s point of view. This Beatle’s song has always been one of my favorites because Eleanor was my mother’s name. She hated this song, pretty much with the same vehemence with which I hate their song “Michelle.”

5. Title track -- Von Hier an Blind – Wir Sind Helden
Awesome song, even if you don’t understand the lyrics. The title means, “from here on blind.” It is a relationship song couched in the metaphor of taking a car trip and getting lost. The first bit goes:
Zwischen zwei Fragen
In der Lücke zwischen zwei Tagen
Blieb
Nichts mehr zu sagen
Kein Leid mehr zu beklagen und ich
Nahm den Wagen
Und ging vor ihm in die Knie
Ich sagte:
Ich weiß nicht weiter
War ich noch nie
War ich noch nie

Between two questions between the span of two days, there was nothing more to say, no more pain left to complain about. And I took the car and before it on my knees I said, “I don’t know how this goes on, I’ve never been, I’ve never been.”

6. Parenthetical title -- I’m Sorry (So is Brenda Lee) – Marshall Crenshaw
This song was included, not only because it kicks ass, but because Marshall belongs in a final mix.

7. Instrumental -- After Midnight – Danny Elfman (Chicago)
Love the soundtrack from this movie. I have lots of instrumentals in the library, but this one was included, I won’t lie, because it is so short.

8. Holiday song -- What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve – Ella Fitzgerald
Beautiful, beautiful song. Love me some Ella.

9. Alliteration --Still too Soon to Know – Elvis Costello
As I said, I wasn’t limiting my artists here. This one alliterates on the S and the T. Do I get bonus points for that?

10. Spell it out --I’m a Woman – Peggy Lee
This is the first song that came to mind last time this question appeared in a mix. I didn’t use it because it seemed too obvious. Does anyone else think of Enjoli when they hear this song?

11. Famous title Also from CD Mix #7 -- Yertle the Turtle – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Another one purchased just for this mix. I’ll bet Dr. Seuss would love this song.

12. Song about food -- Rotten Peaches – Elton John
I have very few songs about food in my library and even fewer with food in the title. It isn’t my favorite EJ song, but I think it fits in well here.

13. Fashion Police -- Lines in the suit – Spoon
Love this band. I suspect I may have used this song, or at least a song from this album before.

14. Spoken word --Comedy is not pretty – Steve Martin
Yeah, I don’t have a lot of spoken word stuff that isn’t comedy.

15. Song with a one-word title --Still – Glenn Tilbrook
This song is my favorite from Glenn’s latest album. It is kind of Squeezy, very poppy and sweet.

16. Human Anatomy 101 --The Eyes of Sara Jane – The Jayhawks
I heard this song on the radio once when I still listened often. It was a rainy day and I was on my way to catch the bus for a little trip to the Tarjay Boutique. When I got home, I got online and ordered the album. It has been a long time since I bought an entire CD because I liked one song.

17. Song about a family member -- Does your mother know – ABBA
Well does she? ABBA is a guilty pleasure.

18. Song by a band or artist you normally can’t stand -- Heart of Stone – Dave Stewart
I don’t hate the Eurythmics but I’ve always been turned off by Dave Stewart. This song was popular – at least in Europe – my first year in Salzburg. I’ve always liked it, but was never moved to listen to the rest of his album, and I don’t even know if he’s published anything since.

19. Amnesty song --Why Does it Always Rain on Me – Travis
I tried to use this on a question about the weather once, but it just didn’t fit. I think I’ve used all the songs that I’ve been dying to share, so here you go.

20. Song with the same title as #1 --Don’t Ask Me Why – Billy Joel
Always a favorite of mine off of Glass Houses, even with the nonsensical lyrics Yesterday you were an only child/Now your ghosts have gone away, oooh/ You can kill them in the classic style/Now you parlez vous francais

CD Mix #9 Tracklisting

At long last, here is my track listing for CD Mix #9

1. Shortest song in your collection—Her Majesty – the Beatles
   
   
2. Color my world—Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow – Frank Zappa
   Come on – you’ve got to love Frank. And he’s right. The yellow snow isn’t good for you.
   
   
3. Good song from a rotten movie—Rush – Tom Sawyer – I love you man
   Crappy movie. But Rush – love them. This song was a contender for #10 for a while. It reminds me of the den we had in my high school. We had a juke box and couches and people smoked up there – ah yes. Those were the days!
   
   
4. Sincerest form of flattery —Wild West – Will Smith.
   This song samples I wish from Stevie wonder. Don’t you just love little Jayden at the beginning?
   
   
5. Song about a character you don’t like—Under my thumb -- Rolling Stones
   Sexist bastard.
   
   
6. Family Act—Crowded House – Lester
   I wasn’t very creative on this one. Crowded House are brothers. So it’s a family act.
   
   
7. Song about sex—Feels like right – Brand New Heavies
   I’m always glad when I can use BNH in a mix. They are just so groovy!
   
   
8. Department of Redundancy Department—Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! – Abba
   Bet you didn’t know I had ABBA in my collection!
   
   
9. Song about the time of day—Monday Morning Rock – Marshall Crenshaw
   It has been suggested to me that I perhaps used this song on an earlier mix. I don’t recall, but come on, Marshall! You’ve got to love him (or I’ll hurt you.)
   
   
10. A song that “takes you back.” — ’65 Love Affair – Paul Davis
    This song reminds me of the summer between Jr. High and High School. I hung out with the twins every day, and we’d sing this song while riding our bikes and playing Connect 4.
    
    
11. Spoken word—Morons – Smothers Brothers
    Thank you, Stenns, for adding this to my collection!
    
    
12. Alternate version—Got the Time – Joe Jackson
    If I haven’t used this song on a previous mix, it has been an alternate. I’ve seen Joe a few times live, but I’ve never heard him do this one. But here’s the proof – he’s sung it in front of somebody at some point.
    
    
13. SAT vocab song—The Logical Song – Supertramp
    Yup. Some big words here. It was hard to find a song to fit this category without using one of the usual suspects. Elvis, Squeeze, Marshall.
    
    
14. Epic—Death after Life -- The Damnwells
    I’ll be the first to admit that this song doesn’t fit the category too well, but I was stuck on this song forever. So I thought I’d stretch the idea a bit and consider the afterlife as fodder for an epic tale.
    
    
15. Nonsense—ABC-DEF --GHI - Big Bird
    Love this song, even today. I was so happy to find it on iTunes. I used to have the record this came on - it was red and was released sometime in the early '70s.
    
    
16. Song about first love—I was made to love her – Stevie Wonder
    Finding a song for this category was tough too. Lots of songs about love, very few (in my library) about first love. I was so glad to find this one that I just added it without worrying if it fit into the mix at all. Turns out, it sort of does.
    
    
17. Kick-ass cover song—It’s My Life – No Doubt
    I am so sick of this damned category! I included it on my mix because 1) I own it, and 2) Bet and Stennie said they hated No Doubt on the Hucklebug a few shows back. Serves you right for this category.
    
    
18. Song you wish you had sung backup on. Death on Two Legs – Queen
    Any song by Queen would have fit here.
    
    
19. Amnesty song—Trust in Me – Etta James
    I’ve been wanting to use this song in a mix for many moons now, but I haven’t found the right category for it.
    
    
20. Greatest song ever written, period. I want you – Elvis Costello
    The music and the lyrics go together better than any other song I could think of. It is the greatest song ever written, and he’s never sung it to me in concert all 47 million times I’ve seen him live.

CD Music Mix

Stennie has put up another round of the great CD Music Mix Challenge. Go read the rules and get in the game. Come on - you know you want to.

CD Music Mix Challenge

Hello, and welcome to my track listing!

What? You may ask? Well, if you aren't in the know, here's the deal. My buddy Stennie posts a Music Mix Challenge from time to time. She asks (in this case, 20) questions, and participants answer them in the form of songs on a CD. This time we had 9 total participants, and I think I've gotten all the CDs. I've only listened to three so far, but so far, so good.

1. Sellout —a song that is used (or has been used) in a TV commercial.
Hello Goodbye - The Beatles – Target is currently using this in their ad. I get it that they’re going for the “good buy” double entendre, but somehow it doesn’t work for me. I do like the song though.

2. A song that’s in a foreign language
Typewriter, Tip, Tip, Tip (From Merchant Ivory's Film "Bombay Talkie") - Asha Bhosle & Kisore Kumar – The first of several songs on this mix from the soundtrack to the Darjeeling Limited. You were expecting a German song here, weren’t you?

3. A song about cheating
As Heaven is Wide – Garbage – She’s been cheated on, and she’s pissed.

4. Song that makes you cry
A Change is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke. Such a beautiful song. The lyrics “It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die/Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky” get me everytime.

5. B-side
Oops. I had the wrong song listed here. Thanks for the heads up Betster! The song is Smile, a Japanese B-side done by Elvis Costello.

6. Kick-ass cover song
Girl, You’ll be a woman soon – Urge Overkill. I don’t remember if anyone has used this on a previous mix, but last time I heard it on the radio, I remembered to use it on the next mix challenge. I just love this version.

7. Earworm —a song that gets stuck in your head.
Don’t You Evah – Spoon. Love this band, love this song.

8. A favorite live track
Charmless Man – Blur. I suspect that I used Blur on my last live track submission. I don’t have a lot of live tracks, so I have to use the Blur album a lot.

9. Title out of nowhere —a song in which the title does not appear in the lyrics at all.
Dirty Harry – Gorillaz. Speaking of Blur…

10. A favorite song you have discovered since our last CD Mix
This Time Tomorrow – The Kinks. Another track from the Darjeeling Limited soundtrack. Wes Anderson has the best soundtracks.

11. Favorite artist duo collaboration
Well Did You Evah – Deborah Harry and Iggy Pop. A friend of mine put this on a mix tape when I was a struggling undergrad. I always thought it was a fun version – “It’s just so.. SWELLIGANT!!”

12. Geographical location song —any song that mentions a geographical place: a country, a city, a street, what-have-you.
Les Champs-Élysées- Joe Dassin. Don’t you love this song? It is so happy! Carefree! The France of textbooks 70's educational film strips. This is the third, and last from the Darjeeling Limited soundtrack in this mix. I remember learning the words to this ditty in high school French class, and somehow convincing myself that it was dirty.

13. Musical question…
What’s The Matter Here – 10,000 Maniacs.

14. And answer!
He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me – Toni Braxton
Not characteristic of my taste in music, to be sure, but the song is so sassy. I couldn’t resist.

15. Four-letter word —a song whose title consists solely of a four-letter word.
Blue – The Jayhawks

16. Seven Deadly Sins—a song about any one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Fiona Apple – Limp. This one is all about rage.

17. A song you wouldn’t play in front of your Mom
Human Nature – Madonna. Ok – I have to confess that I struggled with this one. I’m not the biggest Madonna fan, but I do like this song. Staying true to the question though, I can say in all truthfulness that this song grossed my mother out. She was offended by all things Madonna, and this video, being S&M related, was too much for her. It seriously pissed her off.

18. Song about violence and/or death
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton. This one used to make me cry, so it does double duty!

19. Guilty pleasure song
Shadow Dancing – Andy Gibb. Shameful, right?

20. Amnesty Song - with a twist! A song that fits any two of the categories above. (Mixes #2-5, minus twist)
Lost Cause – Beck. I don’t keep running lists of amnesty songs, but I remember that I wanted to use it for a break-up song once, and it is a sad song – one that just might make me cry.

And that's all! I hope you enjoy the music, all who played.