Mix Tape of the Day: May 2, 2015 - Sting and the Police

1. Roxanne - The Police (1978) It's the weekend.  I just wanted to relax and listen to some Police.  I'm fond of many of their tracks, but I'll admit, it took me a while to warm up to their first hit.  But just wait until the mix where I feature the Moulin Rouge! version.  I love that interpretation!

2. So Lonely - The Police (1978) I hadn't heard this one before and it's a shame.  It's a lot of fun!  And those 4 chords appear!

3. Message in a Bottle - The Police (1979) For some reason, I enjoy Police songs sparingly.  I feel like their songs are always playing on the radio which makes me enjoy them less and less.  They're good, but not repeatedly in a short amount of time.  It's like a rich dessert.

4. Walking on the Moon - The Police (1979) This is just your basic reggae-inspired Police song, in case you only have 5 minutes to teach someone about The Police.

5. Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police (1980) First heard this one on Friends when everyone in NYC assumed Joey had VD.  Kind of changes the context a bit.

6. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police (1981) The only non-creepy love song by the Police. Perfect for your rom-com soundtrack!

7. Every Breath You Take - The Police (1983) Everyone's favorite Police song that isn't about what everyone thinks it's about (except, now they do because that's what it's famous for).

8. Synchronicity II - The Police (1983) If it weren't for the next song on this list, I would have past this one by.  But now I understand that Synchronicity is one of those must have albums.

9. Velvet Elvis - "Weird Al" Yankovic (1988) Yeah, you can't escape Weird Al.  He already did "King of Suede" but he wasn't done with the Police just yet.  Here is his ode to kitsch.  For a kid born right this short-lived fad was popular, I had no idea what this song was actually about until I did my research.

10. Fragile - Sting (1987) Sting departed the Police in the '80s to form his own lucrative solo career.  While I feel he didn't have as many classics, there's no denying his talent.

11. Fields of Gold - Sting (1993) Here's that Sting song that you know.

12. Brand New Day - Sting (1999) Since I can't post "Desert Rose" again, "Brand New Day," will have to suffice today.  Hmm, I hope Sting isn't getting too full of himself.

13. King of Pain - Alanis Morissette (1999) I've already featured my favorite Police song on a previous mix, but I had to include it here too.  Fortunately, one of my favorite artists covered it beautifully.

Mix Tape of the Day: January 6, 2015 - Epiphanies and Illness!

Well, it's Epiphany Day, so I sought out songs that featured people coming to great realizations in their life...except a lot of those songs weren't particularly fun (and some I intend on featuring for later mixes).  Also, I was sick today, so I ended up with...whatever this is.  Enjoy!

1. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners (1982) If you understand why this is my first "Epiphanies" song, we should be friends.  Also, you should be able to predict the final song in this mix.

2. Callin' In Sick - "Weird Al" Yankovic (1996) Even though I was actually sick and had to leave work early, this was the first song I thought of.

3. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall (2004) This was originally the only Epiphany song I could think of that I wasn't planning on including on another mix.  It was amusing to learn that the song is about being inspired by some great activist and it wound up being the theme to a movie about fashion models.  C'est la vie!

4. Coconut - Harry Nilsson (1971) I could have used some lime and coconuts to cure my aches and sniffles today...

5. Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips (2002) Colbie Caillat's "Realize" was on this spot for the longest time until I realized there was a better song with "realize" in the title.

6. I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones (1978) Yes, it's about being bored while on tour waiting between shows, but this track can also work for anyone suffering in bed all day as an invalid.

7. Something Changed - Pulp (1995) Someone included this on a list of songs about epiphanies.  I'd attribute it more to "romantic chaos theory," but I like the idea that someone came to a sudden realization about all the little moments that lead to one meeting.  I have been known to partake in that behavior.

8. King of Pain - The Police (1983) Well, my Police mix is going to be short my favorite Police song now.  But as the King of Pain, I'm familiar with suffering for my choices.

9. Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows (2004) I'm glad this song exists now, as it stood in for all of my "love epiphany" songs that I wanted to use later.  And I do enjoy this song, but usually when I'm in a sillier mood.

10. Unwell - Matchbox Twenty (2002) Most songs about being sick are usually referring to mental illness.  So my options were hindered.  But I was feeling unwell, so whatever.

11. We Three Kings - Steve Ouimette (2007) Oh, an actual Epiphany song!  Since my favorite version of "We Three Kings" is being saved for the next Christmas season, I opted for the Internet's favorite version that was composed for Guitar Hero III.

12. Here It Goes Again - OK Go (2005) Haha, someone included this on a list of songs to listen to when you're sick, and I now can't imagine it any other way.  For me, it was always the "going to the gym" song.

13. The A-Team Theme - Mike Post (1983) Unfortunately, the rave remix is unavailable as a downloadable song.  But the original is just as good in it's own right.  The best Epiphany music, in my opinion. Update: Remix was discovered!