At the garage sale I had recently, I put out all our old tapes for free, and was quite surprised when someone took MC Hammer and several other tapes best forgotten about, and never admitted to.
It got me thinking about mix tapes. When I was 13 or 14 we used to make “mix tapes” of our favourite songs for our friends and swap them. The songs were always terribly meaningful. With ipods you can now have 2000 of your favourite songs with you at all times, meaning you don’t need to choose which songs you will listen to for the day. This can be a good thing, but there is something nice (in a retro way) about the idea of having 10 or so songs that represent a time in your life or provide a soundtrack for your life.
So here is my challenge: Pick 10 songs that I would put on a mix tape for a soundtrack of my life (so far). Here is what I finally chose:
- A World Of Our Own – the Seekers. One of my earliest memories is listening to mix tapes of my parents in the car when we drove to Newcastle to visit our grandparents. They were big Seekers fans. I was always a little confused by the words – how do you build a world?
- Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper. In 4th class I saw the movie ‘Girls just want to have fun’ starring a young Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker with some friends at a sleep over. I knew that when I was in High School I wanted to be just like those girls… I was going to have fun too!
- You’re The Voice – John Farnham. I can still remember lying in bed listening to John Farnham live at Expo88. I taped it off the radio and listened to it constantly for the next few years. My poor sister probably hated it because we shared a bedroom. I have introduced Hannah and Meg to John Farnham recently and they like him too!
- Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys. Again this was one off my parents mix tapes. It reminds me of long, hot summers, jumping on the trampoline with the boy who lived next door.
- Every Step You Take – The Police. The first tape I ever bought was The Best of The Police. I got it the same year I got my “Ghetto Blaster’ with 2 tape decks. At last I could make my own mix tapes. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise that the lyrics were about a stalker.
- To Her Door – Paul Kelly. I just always loved this song. I can’t explain why but it reminds me of when I was in university. I used to listen to Paul Kelly when I was writing essays, and studying for exams.
- All I Need Is You – Ella Fitzgerald. Our bridal waltz. Both the Country Boy and I love old Jazz and swing music. The words say it all…. I don’t need anything, all I need is you!
- Beautiful Day – U2. In 2001 we spent 12 months working in England and backpacking Europe. Where ever we went that summer, U2’s Beautiful Day was playing, and it seemed so pertinent. We were young, we were embarking on a once in a lifetime experience, we didn’t want to let it get away. It became a bit of an anthem for our adventures.
- The Special Two – Missy Higgins. I was given Missy Higgins’ album for Christmas just after Hannah was born. In the hormonal fug that followed a traumatic birth and stressful couple of weeks of poor feeding and postpartum infections, I listened to The Special Two and it used to make me cry every time. I wasn’t even listening to the words (which really had nothing to do with my situation). Now I still love listening to Missy Higgins and remembering those special, if stressful, weeks when the Country Boy and Hannah were my ‘special two’. Pathetic, I know!
- Press on Mums – Colin Buchanan. I first heard this song soon after Meg was born. I love that it encourages me to keep on going when times are tough. When the kids are trying my patience, or I have been woken up for the 5th time in the night (which really doesn’t happen that often), I remember the words “when all your earthly energy is gone, look towards your Jesus and press on” and I keep on going. Colin is the one children’s performer I don’t mind listening to!
- Best Day – Taylor Swift. As I have wrote yesterday, this is a current favourite. It reminds me that the time we have with young kids is fleeting. They are growing up so quickly, and I want to do what ever I can to give them a solid, loving family background like Taylor Swift sings about. I want them to have lots of “best days”. All 5 of us love to daggy dance to Taylor Swift.
I am sure you have noticed that there are actually 11 songs in my top 10 mix tape. I couldn’t narrow it down any more. If I was to write this post again in 5 years I feel certain that I would have some different songs, or perhaps I may just have to make it a “double album”.
What songs would be on the mix tape of your life? Feel free to write your own post and tell me, just add a link in the comment section below!
I used to do that Jo. Tape songs off the radio, nearly always missing the start or getting the start or the end with voice overs. Those songs were played over and over again. I'm just experiencing it now with my daughter playing songs over and over again. She only has a little personal DVD player and the only 'song' type DVD she has is Bindi Irwin and the Crocmen! Heaven help me. I think it would take me too long to narrow it down to 10. Music has been such a big part of my life. I might give it a try one day. I love your list and there are some on yours that would make it on mine I think.
Anne xx
Great list Liz! I almost added mmmm bop too. My sister was really into them, and the first time I bought Country Boy home to meet the parents, she was watching them on Hey Hey Its Saturday and screaming at us to shut up. I was surprised CB stayed around after that episode lol
Here's my list. It's not easy to choose just 10!
1. Hanson – Mmm Bop. (shuddup I was 12)First music 'group' that I 'liked' because my sister liked them. I thought the middle one was a girl for ages.
2. No Doubt – Don't speak. My brother had this single, and it started my love of No Doubt, my favourite band of all.
3. Cypress Hill – Insane in the brain. My brother listened to a lot of this style music, it reminds me of playing 'Bards Tale' on the PC, and begun my interest in hip-hop.
4. TLC – No Scrubs. My bestie and I used to listen to TLC all the time, we still get the cd's out when we feel like something old school. I was very sad when Lisa died, they were amazing.
5. House of Pain – Jump Around. This song reminds me of spending time with my first love.
6. 50cent – Tipsy. Reminds me of someone who used to be my best friend, and the years of mischief we got up to.
7. Incubus – Certain shade of green. A bf introduced me to the wonderful world of Incubus. Reminding me of the years I wasted with him.
8. Gwen stefani – What you waiting for. Reminding me of that in between time when I was single and road tripping with some mates.
9. Danzel – Pump it Up. Reminds me of my years in Darwin. The friends I made, and the friend I lost to the war.
10. Barbie – Two voices, one song. Because now my life is centered around my children 🙂
I think I definitely will sometime 🙂
Thanks Kate. Feel free to poach my idea and post your own top 10 songs…
This is such a clever idea for a post and I love your list! Girls Just Wanna Have Fun would be on mine too I think. Now you've got me thinking about what would be in my top ten