Day 163 of 365: a year in songs and photos
Song: Brand New, Mix Tape
Not what I had in mind for today, but this is what came out. Overprocessed and not what I set out to do (the color version just wasn't working for me), but at least I felt a little motivated about the project today. So I got that going for me.
I got a twenty-dollar bill that says no one's ever seen you without
makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos,
and the way you always criticize the Smiths... and Morrissey.
And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I really mean I wish that you'd grow up.
This is the first song for your mixtape.
It's short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you
got too cool...
I used to make mix tapes all the time. Now I make mix CDs, and not quite as often, or with the same reason, I made tapes. My tapes were legend. They all had themes, and the music ran the gamut from Barry Manilow to hardcore punk. People I barely knew would call and ask me to make them tapes for their girlfriends or boyfriends. Break up tapes were my favorite; the last one I made was in 1999 for someone who was just unceremoniously dumped by a girl he was quite obsessed with. I think I captured the agony of defeat quite well; I started out with Stabbing Westward's "What Do I Have To Do" and ended the tape with Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy," just because I thought the guy was better off without her. It made him laugh, so at least he got that out of it.
I'm about to get started on my annual "Driving too fast with the windows down and the stereo on" spring mix CD. CDs are nice and all, but I think the art of the mix tape - and it is an art - died a little when cassettes became passe.
Listen to tonight's song here. One of my favorite songs by this band. It captures the essence of emo kid rejection perfectly. I mean that in a good way. I love this band.
rg269tq, florence w. pie, haley.scott21, and Rustboy added this photo to their favorites.
tsallam 62 months ago | reply
I love that you do this. I could use a broken hearts tape right about now. (Seriously : ) But maybe I'll just go find Bobby (on vinyl!) and listen to "Don't Worry, Be Happy." That sounds like excellent therapy. Getting out into what is turning into a beautiful day would be good for me too. Except the breeze is making my eyes itch, and I'm still indoors! But a little sunshine. Yeah.
michele cat 62 months ago | reply
I'd rather make you a "songs to mend a broken heart" tape :)
MOVED TO PIXELENS FOLLOW ME THERE! [deleted] 62 months ago | reply
Heh love that song... nice shot! And I agree with the art of the mix tape passing... not only with the CD, but now with car decks that play MP3s, USB keys or even iPod connectivity...
lasvegashardcore 62 months ago | reply
I once made a mix tape of the most horrible songs in my record collection, for some odd reason I loved that tape.
PJ Taylor Photo 62 months ago | reply
Fantastic shot and story! I used to make mixed tapes with my friend, Maria (Tortilla). We called our mixed tape efforts "productions" and had a company and logo "Siamese Twins Productions" and if I could redraw the logo here I would--two cats back to back with their tail curled up and attached at the tip, forever bonded. Ah, I miss my friend Maria. She lives in Baltimore now and we don't talk anymore, but we should. She was the best and sort of lived in her own world, the original Juno, with plastic food all over her house and a hamburger phone.
Sending a hug out to you, Maria.
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
michele cat 62 months ago | reply
katbaro 62 months ago | reply
I love that shot, its awesome. I found that itunes put me back into making mixed tapes, well CDs. The last one I probably made was for Matt when we started dating.
tsallam - Feel better & remember you can't walk around with an unchipped heart
Margi Lowry 62 months ago | reply
I, too, loved to make mix tapes. I loved the explanation John Cusack gave in _High Fidelity_ about how you have to start off slow and build to a crescendo (or something). Anyway, my specialty is Angry White Girl mix tapes - y'know, Alanis, The Murmurs and Veruca Salt always creep in there. Just for starters. Heh. I have to check out your song, there, but just now my earphones are playing work. BLEH.
auntsmack4u 62 months ago | reply
thanks for taking me down memory lane. . yet again!. . i still have my tapes. you are such a creative force woman!!. love it ( i hope i get a mix from you ...hint.. )xo
Drive⏎ 62 months ago | reply
mix tapes, that jogged my memory. thanks!!
kingdufus 62 months ago | reply
I remember making mix EPs.
geo3pea 62 months ago | reply
wow tapes, seem like antiques now! I remember mix tapes, trying to remember to pause it after the track finished :-)
It's a little too easy now with play lists, just doesn't seem the same.
Excellent shot btw the processing is fine
zenlibra 62 months ago | reply
Great shot! I loved how making a mix-tape was like a performance of sorts, as one song was playing/recording I would be thinking of the next piece…like in High Fidelity. It's not the same with making a playlist and clicking "burn". I need to hear the song as it's recording to lead me to the next one.
michele cat 62 months ago | reply
Thanks for the comments everyone. Glad I could jog some of your memories like that.
MOVED TO PIXELENS FOLLOW ME THERE! [deleted] 62 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called You've been Explwhored by Haeretik, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
danisoul 62 months ago | reply
oh i loved the mix tape. the ultimate mating ritual!
peacefulbean ( goodkarma ) 62 months ago | reply
i've still got a drawer full of all my mix tapes from high school. and they've been inspiring me lately. happy to see there's a lot more mix tape junkies out there. :)
rg269tq 62 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Random & Creative shots, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
SisiMissa 10 months ago | reply
Great!
If you like tapes, please have a look at my work!