Mix Tape of the Day: April 24, 2015 - The Best of 1999

We've finally made it to the '90s!  Elementary school classics, here we go!

1. Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin (1999) A lot of the hits on this list I fondly remember as annoying the heck out of everyone in 1999.  But they were all catchy earworms.

2. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...) - Lou Bega (1999) Man, 1999 was a simpler time.

3. I Need to Know - Marc Anthony (1999) I'm sure you're noticing a theme popping up here.

4. Bailamos - Enrique Iglesais (1998) As a little Weird Al wannabe in 1999, I would sing my own parody version of this song called, "A La Mode" about putting ice cream on various foods.  I was so cool.

5. Smooth - Santana ft. Rob Thomas (1999) Of the many Latin hits of this year, this is by far the best.  I can feel myself being transported closer to the equator on a hot, summer night whenever I hear this song.

6. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls (1998) There were three Goo Goo Dolls songs that charted in 1999.  "Slide" and "Black Balloon" are great songs, but "Iris" is the definitive Goo Goo Dolls song for me.

7. Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry (1997) This was one of those songs that just came into being and I felt as if it always existed.  I mean, it really doesn't sound like a pre-90s song, but it also didn't seem like the rest of the sounds of the time.  It's its own thing.

8. Fly Away - Lenny Kravitz (1998) Let's go and see the stars or see the stars or even stars.  Well, it could just be stars.

9. Back at One - Brian McKnight (1999) R&B was also very popular during this year and most of the '90s, but a lot of it blends together for me.  This one broke things down, step-by-step, so it was easier to remember.

10. Last Kiss - Pearl Jam (1999) 1999 was so much fun that even a depressing subject like a fatal car accident can make for an enjoyable tune.  Yes, it's a cover of an existing song, but it's Pearl Jam's now.

11. Steal My Sunshine - Len (1999) Going back to more fun songs, I may be biased, but '90s one-hit-wonders were the best of any decade.

12. She's So High - Tal Bachman (1999) Some songs you just hear once and they stick with you forever.  I didn't hear this song until my senior year of high school, but it came at just the right moment to become a permanent song part of my personal soundtrack.

13. Believe - Cher (1998) A hater would probably look at this list of 1999 songs and think it was one big joke.  But nope, I enjoyed all of these.  Yes, even "Believe."

Mix Tape of the Day: April 17, 2015 - The Best of 2000

This is a first.  All of my favorite songs from 2000 were actually from 1999 or before, technically.  Well, there is one that I could have used, but we're going to listen to that one tomorrow.  For now, it's Y2K all over again.

1. Blue (Da Ba Dee) - Eiffel 65 (1999) I used to think this was deep and/or technically impressive, what with it's jumbled and indecipherable lyrics.  Then, thanks to a recent history lesson, I learned that it was just dumb, poorly translated Europop.  It's still amazing.

2. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay (1998) Speaking of European club tracks, how about this one.  Thanks to my high school techno rave class, I learned about all these great tunes.

3. It Feels So Good - Sonique (1998) Let's keep grooving to this beat.

4. I Try - Macy Gray (1999) This is the song of the year 2000 for me.  Thanks to the constant "Now That's What I Call Music" ads I saw every day after school, I remember seeing the chorus of this song over and over again.

5. The Way You Love Me - Faith Hill (1999) Faith Hill sure loves love.

6. Waiting for Tonight - Jennifer Lopez (1999) Did you know that the actress who played Jack's teacher in Francis Ford Coppola's critically-acclaimed film Jack is the performer behind this song?!

7. All the Small Things - Blink-182 (1999) Where would we be without Enema of the State?  Probably acting our age.

8. Higher - Creed (1999) I lied last week.  Here's more Creed.  Sorry.

9. Back Here - BBMak (1999) I used to think they were saying "Don't turn your back on me, baby," instead of "Until you're back here, baby" until today.

10. Never Let You Go - Third Eye Blind (1999) Why has it taken me so long to feature a Third Eye Blind song?!

11. You Sang to Me - Marc Anthony (1999) I kicked off Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You" for this one.  I hadn't really paid it much attention to it until today, but it's a great love song in a year full of them.

12. Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon (1999) Some songs you just really connect to, you know?

13. Desert Rose - Sting (1999) Maybe it's due to the proximity in which I first heard them, but I always consider this to be a companion piece to Enya's "Only Time."  I love listening to both in the same sitting.  One takes me to a lush, relaxing, wet forest full of life while the other takes me to a dry, mystical, colorful desert filled with emptiness.