Oh, great. It's our two-month anniversary, and I'm broke. I forgot about our one-month, and I have to make it up to her somehow. I have GOT to come up with something really special. What could I do? Hey, where are my CDs? I could put a bunch of romantic songs on a tape and call it the "Greg and Jess Forever Mix." Brilliant!
It could be said that the greatest endowment music fans have been given since the ability to listen is the concept of the mixtape. Thanks to the creation of the audio cassette and the "record" button, millions of people have made soundtracks to their own little world. We can pick out the songs that we like and put them all together in a special theme for any occasion. We can make cover art, and we can make professional liner notes.
Mixtapes can be a gift to friends and family members, something to play at work, a soundtrack for a cross-country roadtrip or even an inadequate but undeniably charming alternative to dinner and a movie. They are indeed the world's most original project.
"I've made one to work out to," graduate student Katie Mullikan said. "So I put hip hop on it. Dance stuff. Keep it upbeat!"
"I'll put them together either when I'm on a trip, or if my favorite band has like six CDs and I want to put my favorite songs together," senior Mike Curts said. "Or if I'm having a party. I think I'm pretty good at putting the newest, popular songs, as well as a lot of the good old school songs people like."
"I'm crappy at making mixtapes," freshman Kristy Anderson said. "The last thing I mixed was Salt 'N' Pepa."
Well, some make mixtapes as easy-going and fun as possible, whereas others treat it as a matter of life or death. To be safe, here are some pieces of advice on making the best mix you possibly can:
FOCUS ON LYRICS: This is especially important for that special someone you're trying to impress, who will undoubtedly be looking for hidden meanings behind the songs you choose. Juvenile's "Back That *** Up" may show off your sense of humor and taste for fine wine, but you might send the wrong message.
DON'T USE ONLY SINGLES: Some would say that the key to a good mixtape is repeatability. Hit singles are usually already worn thin from radio overplay, so avoid too many of these. Stick with the bands you love but bring out some of their more unknown songs, like Norah Jones' "The Nearness of You," or, if you are grasping for familiarity, blow the dust of the singles from older albums, like Outkast's "Rosa Parks."
FOR OUR MONEY, MAKE IT AS ECLECTIC AS POSSIBLE: Making your version of "Tupac's Greatest Hits" is hardly mixing things up. Put the "mix" in "mixtape" and impress your friends. If eclectic to you is the White Stripes or Miles Davis, it's usually a good idea to break out the different stuff. Keep it exciting.
Use eclecticism with caution, however; throwing Marilyn Manson's "mOBSCENE" in a mixtape to a person who owns the entire Jennifer Lopez catalogue might freak someone out, and you may never hear from them again.
LONGER DOES NOT EQUAL BETTER: So your music collection isn't all that great. Eventually, like a lot of overextended mixtape experts, you're going to run out of songs that you really want to put down on tape. Suddenly, you're reaching for your Christina Milan CD. Hold on! There's no need to act drastically! You can easily avoid this by sticking with 74- or 90-minute tapes instead of 100- or 120-minute ones. Filler does not belong on a mixtape that you want people (including yourself) to listen to.
DO NOT ADD YOUR VOICE: You are not D.J. Clue. Keep your voice off of your mixtapes. The best way to ruin a mixtape opportunity is to treat it like your own TRL. Put the tape recorder down and walk away.
THE FIRST SONG COUNTS: Blow them away with the best song on the set first. First impressions are the best, right?
ADD AT LEAST ONE SLOW SONG: You may not like it, but every mixtape needs a slow song, be it for a cool-down on your workout mix or a slow jam to swoon your lady friend. If the mixtape is a gift, the slow songs really say a lot, and they can really change a tape's overall mood. To circumvent sounding too deep, remember this rule: The better you know the person, the more slow songs you can add.
LINER NOTES ARE UNFORTUNATELY A MUST: Be it a brief list of tracks or an anthology-sized explanation of each song's relevance, you have to write something in the sleeve. Besides, you spent all of this time choosing the songs; leaving the package blank would just look lazy.
Finally, CREATE AN INCREDIBLY LAME AND CHEESY TITLE: "Get Buff 2004" or "The I'm Sexy Collection" are just two examples of the awful titles mixtape experts put together. Or those who take their mixes extremely serious: "DJ [put your name here] '04 Mix." ("Music to listen to in my car" was always a favorite of mine.) Be as creative as possible, and no matter what, the more embarrassing the better.
As you can see, it takes an awful lot of work to make a proper mixtape. If a person listens to your tape and can tell what type of person you are, that's all you can hope for. Making that special connection is the best incentive of all.
HAVE TO BE on a mixtape for your significant other
1. Eric Clapton "Wonderful Tonight"
2. The Darkness "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
3. Norah Jones "The Nearness of You"
4. Ben Folds "The Luckiest"
5. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw "It's Your Love"
6. Al Green "Let's Stay Together"
7. Rascal Flatts "I Melt"
8. Maroon 5 "This Love"
9. Frank Sinatra "The Way You Look Tonight"
10. Beyonce "Crazy In Love"
AVOID: Anything from the "Titanic" soundtrack. The ship has sunk... move on.
HAVE TO BE on a mixtape for a long car trip
1. Lynyrd Skynyrd "Freebird"
2. Quad City DJs "Come On, Ride the Train"
3. Vanilla Ice "Ice, Ice Baby"
4. Dr. Dre "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang"
5. Junior Senior "Move Your Feet (Don't Stop the Beat)"
6. Supertramp "Take the Long Way Home"
7. Notorious B.I.G. "Hypnotize"
8. Gary Numan "Cars"
9. Outkast "Rosa Parks"
10. Manfred Mann's Earth Band "Blinded by the Light"
AVOID: Too many slow songs. It's only going to make the trip drag.
HAVE TO BE on a mixtape for the gym
1. Crush "Jellyhead (Motiv8's Pumphouse Remix)"
2. DJ Sammy "Heaven"
3. Michael Jackson "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
4. Kelis "Milkshake"
5. KC and the Sunshine Band "Shake Your Booty (Shake, Shake, Shake)"
6. Usher featuring Lil' Jon and Ludacris "Yeah!"
7. Britney Spears "Toxic"
8. Linkin Park "One Step Closer"
9. Daft Punk "One More Time"
10. The White Stripes "The Hardest Button to Button"
AVOID: Olivia Newton-John's "Physical." No additional comments necessary.
HAVE TO BE on a mixtape if you were in college 10 years ago
1. Paperboy "Ditty"
2. EMF "Unbelievable"
3. Stereo MC's "Connected"
4. The Gin Blossoms "Hey Jealousy"
5. Salt 'N' Pepa with En Vogue "Whatta Man"
6. Tag Team "Whoomp! There It Is!"
7. Spin Doctors "Two Princes"
8. Snow "Informer"
9. Counting Crows "Mr. Jones"
10. Naughty by Nature "Hip Hop Hooray"
AVOID: Tears for Fears. They are so three years ago.
HAVE TO BE on a mixtape that plays at a department store
1. Amy Grant "Baby, Baby"
2. Celine Dion "Because You Loved Me"
3. Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, and Sting "All For One"
4. Christina Aguilera "Beautiful"
5. Sugar Ray "Someday"
6. Aerosmith "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"
7. Bobby Helms "Jingle Bells Rock" [during holiday season]
8. Britney Spears "Baby, One More Time"
9. Filter "Take My Picture"
10. Billy Ray Cyrus "Achy Breaky Heart"
AVOID: Music that most people listen to. Stay within your lame niche.
HAVE TO BE on a mixtape for studying
1. Claude Debussy "La fille aux cheveux delin"
2. Counting Crows "Round Here"
3. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones "Off the Top: Line Dance"
4. Radiohead "Pyramid Song"
5. Giacomo Puccini "Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro"
6. Bob Marley "Exodus"
7. Beth Orton "Daybreaker"
8. Zero 7 "Destiny"
9. Fred Hammond "Give Me a Clean Heart"
10. Thomas Newman "American Beauty: By Any Other Name"
AVOID: Spending more time making the mixtape than actually studying.
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