Mix Tape of the Day: May 21, 2014 - Graduation (Friends Forever)

A lot of people are graduating around this time of year.  It must be a new fad.  Here's all of the songs that will make you look back fondly and cry or look forward to the future and cry.

1. Graduation (Friends Forever) - Vitamin C (1999)

2. Graduation Day - The Four Freshmen (1956)

3. Send Me on My Way - Rusted Root (1992)

4. Seasons of Love - Rent (1996)

5. You Get What You Give - New Radicals (1998)

6. Here's to the Night - Eve 6 (2000)

7. Speeding Cars - Imogen Heap (2005)

8. Change - Taylor Swift (2008)

9. The Climb - Miley Cyrus (2009)

10. Carry On - Fun (2012)

11. Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D - Sir Edward Elgar (1901)

12. Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen) - Baz Luhrmann (1998)

13. Closing Time - Semisonic (1998)

Mix Tape of the Day: April 18, 2015 - Superman's Existential Crisis

There have been many songs about the modern mythological hero Superman.  And many of those songs like to focus on his humanity, that which makes him less than super.  I've always thought this was a cool theme and it was interesting that so many songs share it.  So today, here are some alternate takes on being the Man of Steel.

1. The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts - Sufjan Stevens (2005)

2. Superman - R.E.M. (1986)

3. Holding Out for a Hero - Bonnie Tyler (1984)

4. Superman - Taylor Swift (2010)

5. Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down (2000)

6. Superman - Goldfinger (1997)

7. Superman - Stereophonics (2005)

8. Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five for Fighting (2000)

9. Superman - Lazlo Bane (2000)

10. Waitin' for a Superman - The Flaming Lips (1999)

11. Jimmy Olsen's Blues - Spin Doctors (1991)

12. So Long, Superman - Firewater (1998)

13. Superman's Song - Crash Test Dummies (1991)

Mix Tape of the Day: February 27, 2015 - The Best of 2007

I had a lot of contenders for my 2007 list, but there weren't really many stand out choices for me.  It was strange, but I feel like since I had listened to these songs so many times in 2007 that they all just started fading into the background.  Some of my true favorites have already been featured on other lists, so these all kind of feel like "runners up."  When making the tough choices about losing "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," I decided that if I listened to it on my iPod repeatedly back in 2007, then it must have been worthy of this list.

1. Stronger - Kanye West (2007) This is the song that would eventually inspired Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger." Kanye West took a classic Daft Punk track to create the hook for this song, making it instantly memorable.

2. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani ft. Akon (2006) I'd probably listen to this song everyday throughout my freshman year of college.  Boy, was that a bad decision.  But I must remember what drew me to it in the first place.  It was the line about the refrigerator.

3. Thnks fr th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy (2007) Remember when Fall Out Boy was the cool thing to listen to?  Good times(?).

4. Who Knew - Pink (2006) Apparently Pink disappeared for a bit, then came back with this and "U + UR Hand."  Both are great, but I gave the slight edge to this one.  I tend to like like "hardcore sad" Pink music.

5. Snow (Hey Oh) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers (2006) Oh yeah, I still have to do my Red Hot Chili Peppers mix.  Thanks for reminding me!

6. Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston (2007) I thought this was the stupidest song for the longest time. I felt the "Stand by Me" sample clashed with the lyrics.  He just seemed like an overdramatic moody teenager...I guess my opinion has changed.

7. Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood (2005) Since this song is technically based on speculation (the narrator never specifically witnesses cheating occurring and assumes a lot of the more incriminating moments), I'd like to imagine a scenario in which it's all a big misunderstanding and the guy was innocent the whole time.

8. If Everyone Cared - Nickelback (2005) I'm hoping that by putting this song here at #8, you'll overlook the fact that I included a Nickelback song, especially one as pandering as this one.

9. Teardrops on My Guitar - Taylor Swift (2006) Ah, we finally made it to the beginning of Taylor Swift's career.  Singing about unrequited love and heartache.  That's our Taylor.

10. Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance (2006) Back when lipdubs were all the rage, I really wanted to make one set to this song.  Um, it's probably for the better that I didn't move past the brainstorming stage on that one.

11. Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne (2007) I don't care if she ripped off the song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by the Rubinoos.  It's still fun and great and both songs complement each other well.  Let her have this one.

12. Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (2006) No comment.

13. Apologize - One Republic (2005) I'm cheating here and not using the Timbaland remix that actually charted.  The two songs are virtually identical, but the original is just purer and feels more heartfelt.  And it's my favorite OneRepublic song, so there.

Mix Tape of the Day: February 20, 2015 - The Best of 2008

I'm so 2000 and late in getting to this 2000 and 8 mix.  I had difficulty settling on one of the songs, but I think I've found one that I'm happy with.  Let's live our life and fall in love like it's 2008!

1. Viva la Vida - Coldplay (2008) While not my favorite Coldplay song, it has remained a constant radio favorite.  Maybe it's because it sounds like the Super Mario invincibility theme slowed down.  It'll never die.

2. Live Your Life - T.I. ft. Rihanna (2008) Don't just "viva la vida," live your life.  And do it to the sounds of "Dragostea din tei" because that song is the soul of life itself.

3. Paper Planes - M.I.A. (2007) It seemed like every movie in 2008 featured this song.  I was introduced to it a bit earlier and I found it amusing that a song like this would make it on the charts.  I guess we all like robbing people.

4. Low - Flo Rida ft. T-Pain (2007) STEP UP 2 THE STREETS!!! Nary a party in 2008 could be found without this adorable love song.

5. Don't Stop the Music - Rihanna (2007) Sampling Michael Jackson is always a great move.  Well, not always.  But this time, it was a great move.

6. Shake It - Metro Station (2007) Haha, this is exactly the kind of song I expect from a band called "Metro Station."  And that video really sells it, too.  Ah, generic lyrics about love and shaking.

7. Love Remains the Same - Gavin Rossdale (2008) This was my surprising final choice.  I didn't realize that this was actually a 2008 or one that charted.  It was familiar, yet not immediately memorable.  But after learning that Rossadle was part of Bush, things started clicking in my brain.  And this song is a nice slow jam as for the mix.

8. Love Story - Taylor Swift (2008) Welcome back, Taylor!  Aww, innocent fairy tale love!  How far you've come!

9. Hot n Cold - Katy Perry (2008) I almost thought this song wouldn't make it.  Recent Katy Perry hits just haven't been resonating with me, and it started turning me off to her older hits.  But she's right.  I'm just changing my mind more than a girl changes clothes.

10. 7 Things - Miley Cyrus (2008) Hating things about the person you love?  Well, I understand the concept, but I can't exactly relate.  Whatever, the girls in the video seem to be going through the worst junior high school relationships imaginable, and I can feel their pain.

11. Forever - Chris Brown (2007) Chris Bown released this song before his horrible actions, so I try to enjoy this song with an untainted mind.  Thankfully, that cheesy Youtube wedding video claimed the song as it's own, promoting true love and fun.  Because, I really do enjoy this song on it's own.

12. Womanizer - Britney Spears (2008) I felt like I should retaliate against a Chris Brown song with the two female empowerment songs of 2008.  First up, is Spears's "Womanizer" which was her big comeback after years of absence and bad press.  She really rebounded well.

13. So What - Pink (2008) And then here's Pink's message to the masses: So what?  I think I've unconsciously sung this song to myself every day since I first heard it.