Mix Tape of the Day: May 8, 2015 - The Best of 1997

1. MMMBop - Hanson (1997) Heck yes, 1997! I remembered it was "cool" to dislike Hanson at the time, but I remembered it was even "cooler" to secretly admit you liked them.

2. Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind (1997) Perfect for your '90s roadtrip!

3. I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly (1996) The '90s were a simpler time.  By which I mean, crazy and absurd.

4. Barbie Girl - Aqua (1997) Life.

5. Say You'll Be There - Spice Girls (1996) I remember having a conversation with a friend about "that other Spice Girls song."  We spent the longest time trying to come up with the song that wasn't "Wannabe" or "Spice Up Your Life."  The mystery has finally been solved.

6. Everyday Is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow (1996) Wow, Sheryl Crow was all over the '90s.  Good for her!

7. Sunny Came Home - Shawn Colvin (1996) Aww, this is a nice sweet song.  I knocked "My Baby Daddy" off the list for this one.

8. Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit - Gina G (1996) Is this song...suitable for all ages?

9. All for You - Sister Hazel (1997) The best Blues Traveler song that isn't a Blues Traveler song.

10. I Like It - The Blackout All-Stars (1994) So, all of Latin music's biggest names at the time got together to record this classic cover and it took nearly 3 years for us to acknowledge it!  It's so great!

11. Naked Eye - Luscious Jackson (1996) Oh man, I nearly overlooked this one!  I had no idea this song was this song.

12. Your Woman - White Town (1997) Same with this one.  1997 music was so good!

13. The Freshmen - The Verve Pipe (1996) Technically, this song was released in 1992 but that was the original acoustic version.  This is the one we know and love.  I miss you, 1997!

Mix Tape of the Day: May 1, 2015 - The Best of 1998

1998 seems to be an odd year for me.  A lot more R&B was present this year than in 1999 and, unfortunately, that is not one of my favorite genres.  I liked a lot of songs in 1997 and 1999 so I assumed 1998 would be just as strong.  Oh well, at least I discovered a few new songs that I enjoyed.

1. One Week - Barenaked Ladies (1998) It's been...

2. Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground (1997) I didn't think I'd include this song at first until I learned that it was the only song on the 1998 chart that sounded like this, so the novelty made me appreciate it more.

3. Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden (1997) To make up for my lack of "I Knew I Loved You" a couple mixes back, here is another Savage Garden love ballad that I like a bit more.

4. I'll Be - Edwin McCain (1997) Keeping with the slow, alt. rock, love song that belongs on teen dramas theme, here is your favorite song from 1998.

5. I Don't Want to Wait - Paula Cole (1996) Speaking of which... This is the song that I most often try to work into conversations unnaturally.

6. The Mummers' Dance - Loreena McKennitt (1997) This is one of my discoveries of the day.  When the chart is filled with R&B, a Celtic new age song like this is a welcome relief.

7. Show Me Love - Robyn (1995) A mid-90s Swedish pop song also helped make this year bearable.

8. Kiss the Rain - Billie Myers (1997) I thought this was an Alanis Morissette song that I had overlooked at first.

9. Together Again - Janet Jackson (1997) Hmm, I should listen to more Janet Jackson, it seems.

10. Crush - Jennifer Paige (1998) I seemed to have gotten stuck in a pattern here...

11. I Do - Lisa Loeb (1997) We're almost there...

12. Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls (1997) Yay! The Latin flair is back!

13. Are You Jimmy Ray? - Jimmy Ray (1998) I'd never heard this song before today, but after hearing the first 5 seconds, I knew it would be my number one song.  It obviously has retro influences, but it sounds so modern, like it could have been on the radio today.  Maybe Jimmy Ray was just ahead of his time...

Mix Tape of the Day: March 8, 2015 - Girl Power!

It's International Women's Day!  Let's celebrate with some of the best songs about female empowerment and independence.

1. Respect - Aretha Franklin (1967) Aretha Franklin took this song from Otis Redding, where the original context was about a man complaining about having no respect from his wife.  By switching the roles, Franklin created an anthem for the entire female population.

2. Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves - Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin (1985) Aretha Franklin's iconic status as a role model made her the perfect collaborator for this song.  Celebrating women's history rocks!

3. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor (1978) Many empowering songs feature the narrator's discovery that they are so much more than their relationships.  :I Will Survive" is the poster child for this subgenre.

4. Survivor - Destiny's Child (2001) Serving as a spiritual successor to "I Will Survive," Destiny's Child takes a more proactive approach, claiming that they can move on quickly and without complaint.  And it doesn't just have to apply to relationships.  Any pitfalls in life can be climbed out of.

5. I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross (1980) Also used as a gay pride anthem, "I'm Coming Out" celebrates the freedom of being true to yourself and escaping oppression.

6. Wannabe - Spice Girls (1996) In a market filled with boy bands, the Spice Girls burst onto the scene, claiming "Girl Power!" as their rallying cry.  While the Spice Girls have since moved on, their catchphrase has remained a part of our cultural lexicon.

7. Bitch - Meredith Brooks (1997) Speaking of repurposing words, Meredith Brooks claimed this derogatory slur towards woman as her own, feeling no shame at all.  She's complicated and has flaws.  We all do.  Accept it.

8. You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore (1963) A powerful song during the second wave feminist movement of the '60s, "You Don't Own Me" takes a stand against all guys who treat their women like property.  And at 17, that's a very bold move on Gore's part.

9. This One's for the Girls - Martina McBride (2003) McBride speaks directly to girls and women everywhere, giving support, letting them know that life can and will get better.  Plus, it's nice to have a song that acknowledges our Spaghetti-O's consumption.

10. Bad Reputation - Joan Jett (1980) A great punk rock song or the greatest punk rock song? No one has to fit into anyone's boxes.

11. Shake It Out - Florence and the Machine (2011) Hey, sometimes, life will get you down.  So when it gets too overwhelming, just shake it out.

12. Skyscraper - Demi Lovato (2011) Raspy-voiced Demi Lovato delivers a powerful performance in this emotionally devastating song.  It really feels like every struggle can be overcome when you listen to this song.

13. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera (2002) Finally, we end with a more direct message to the listener.  While most of the rest of these songs feature empowering statements for the singer that listeners can sing along to and imagine themselves in the role, this is a song specifically about "you."  You are important.  You are worthy.  You are beautiful.