Mix Tape of the Day: April 3, 2015 - The Best of 2002

I love the music of 2002.  Maybe because it was the first year that I really started paying attention to the music around me.  Whatever the reason, I found it unbearably hard to make today's mix of 13 songs.  That means, in order to get every song I actually wanted on this list, over the next few days, we'll have some mixes inspired by the songs I left off.

1. Complicated - Avril Lavigne (2002) 2002 was the year we met Avril Lavigne, a common face on my mixes.  It was incredibly hard to choose between this one and "Sk8er Boi," because, while I acknowledge that the latter is sillier, it holds a special place in my heart.  But I ultimately went her first hit, the one that made us all (well, 14-year-old me) fall in love with her.

2. All You Wanted - Michelle Branch (2001) I guess I never realized how important Michelle Branch was to my early teenage years until now.

3. Just Like a Pill - Pink (2001) Although I was more familiar with Pink's "Don't Let Me Get Me," I found myself enjoying this one a bit more.  I think that's because it sounds similar to "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing.

4. Underneath It All - No Doubt ft. Lady Saw (2001) No Doubt was all over the chart this year!  But none of them can beat "Underneath It All."  No Doubt was a pretty good band, it seems.

5. Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow (2002) Summer isn't here yet but that doesn't mean we can't look forward to the essential summer song of 2002.

6. Hot in Herre - Nelly (2002) Haha, I had to include this one.  It's just so wrong and right at the same time.

7. One Last Breath - Creed (2001) ....Here is the only Creed song we'll ever need.

8. Cleanin' Out My Closet - Eminem (2002) In 2002, I would probably say that I wasn't a fan of Eminem.  Yet I was just inexplicably drawn to this song.  It made me a fan.

9. Wherever You Will Go - The Calling (2001) Yeah, 4 chords!  Give us another jam!

10. No Such Thing - John Mayer (2001) Starting high school with a song about running through the halls of your high school was a perfect correlation.

11. Standing Still - Jewel (2001) These next three songs were probably the whole reason I turned out the way I am today.  When you're 14 years old, these pop rock ladies really speak to your sense of hopeless romance.

12. A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton (2002) Thanks to that magnificent piano and string section, this song is elevated to a grand status.  And while White Chicks was a critically-panned film, I once caught a brief scene on television that featured Terry Crews singing along to this song and I knew it was one of the best scenes ever recorded on film in history.

13. A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson (2002) It was all leading up to this moment.  When I started my freshman year of high school, Kelly Clarkson had just become our first American Idol.  And this song spoke to me.  It gave me the impetus to have the best four years of high school possible so that, come senior year, I could experience this very moment.

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.