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: March 3, 2015 - Girls Day

Today marks the Japanese day Hinamatsuri, in which girls are celebrated with a traditional Doll's Festival.  And so, of course, I rounded up 13 songs that have the word "Girl" or "Girls" in the title.

1. Girl - Beck (2005) Let's be honest, this song is the reason I wanted to have a "Girls Day" mix.  Reminds me of the carefree days of being a teenager.  It was also a very cool person's ringtone for a while and I hope it still is to this day.

2. My Girl - The Temptations (1964) And of course, I had to feature this classic song.  This is one of those songs that just seems like it needs to exist in the world in order for the world to make sense.

3. My Best Friend's Girl - The Cars (1978) After "My Girl," "My Best Friend's Girl" seemed only natural.  I just really like the Cars' sound and this one just sounds the coolest.

4. American Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976) Only Tom Petty could have a song about a girl that's cooler than the Cars'.

5. Just a Girl - No Doubt (1995) Finally, a song about "just a girl."  But with Gwen Stefani at the helm, you can tell she's being a little facetious.

6. Girls - The Beastie Boys (1986) Speaking of ironic portrayals of girls, here's "Girls."

7. California Girls - The Beach Boys (1965) Need a more specific subset of girls to sing about?  Apparently the ones from California are pretty cool.

8. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys (1984) Oh, are you British?  Well then, how about those West End girls?

9. Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper (1983) Well, at any rate, girls just want to have fun.

10. Absolutely (Story of a Girl) - Nine Days (2000) Haha, this song.  Remember this song?  '90s kids, amiright?

11. Crazy for This Girl - Evan and Jaron (2000) Didn't get enough 2000 teen nostalgia?  Never fear.  Dawson's Creek will never truly go away.

12. Get the Girl Back - Hanson (2013) Finally, I was able to include this recent Hanson song that no one talks about on a mix! It's great! Listen to it!

13. Young Girl Talking About Herself - Parry Gripp (2008) While mocking teenagers in the early days of Youtube seems like shooting fish in a barrel, this song is really catchy and I sing it to myself all the time.  That Parry Gripp is a genius.