Thursday, May 24, 2007

Mixed CD Etiquette

So few weeks ago I went to dinner with a few friends. I won't name them, but trust me, all three of them are attractive, above reproach and always have my back. Needless to say, I trust these people, with EVERYTHING.

So it was shocking when I went on a rant about how mixed CDs is more a thing you do in high school than when you are...Um, older, they completely disagreed with me. Since then I issued a mixed CD competition to see how thematically people construct a good mixed CD.

In doing this one of the loves of my life, who also happens to be my roommate and I had a discussion on what makes a good mixed CD, how does it say "I like you enough to give you this CD of compiled artists so when we break up you will always have something to remember the reasons why."

So this is a little list of things not to do that we came up with on our way to church (it might have been basketball) one day.

1- Try to avoid the obvious, for instance, stay away from Coldplay, or in Natali's case James Blunt.
2- Finding songs with that special someones name in it is good if you can find good songs. For instance, I have found that the Name Caroline is in a ton of songs by both big name and obscure artists (My favorite being Sweet Caroline). However, the name Aubrey doesn't seem to be popular among song writers.

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond is a great song, however if you are dating a girl named Roseanna, it's probably better that you don't use the song by Toto, because, you know, it's lame.

3- Try to avoid using to obscure of song. I know that we're all proud of knowing artists and groups that perhaps our significant others don't know, but just because I enjoy The Rachel's doesn't mean their music is listenable to other people. Your mixed CD which is supposed to be an expression of intense like at the very least will not an opportunity to show that person that you would rather force yourself to listen to poorly composed contemporary elevator music rather than watch the news.

4- No matter what anyone says, Sexual Healing is not good on a mix. No offense to my man Marvin Gaye, but it's just not ever a good idea.

5- If you want to break up with someone don't make a break up CD, it sends mixed signals.

If anyone needs to add to or make amendments to the list feel free.

43 comments:

Chelsea said...

a number of my mixed cds include these two songs “steal my kisses” by ben harper and “i want you to want me” by (pick the version you like best). i feel like if you are tempted to put these songs on a cd for somebody, maybe you shouldn’t waste your time making that somebody a cd…or pursuing a relationship for that matter

brian said...

my favorite caroline songs are "caroline, no" by the beach boys, those two caroline songs on lou reed's berlin record and "i did acid with caroline" by daniel johnston and jad fair.

i also think you should really push yourself with mix cds. take some serious chances. and make them funny, but not in a nostalgic joke song kind of way.

Chelsea said...

some of my favorite mixed cd moments include

1. the time the guy recorded his voice talking to me over the “leave it to beaver” song and stuck that as one of the middle tracks on my cd

2. the time the guy gave me a cd for my birthday that was over 20 tracks of nothing but random birthday songs. he typed in birthday on itunes and just started downloading the songs that came up. it ranges from sesame street to aliens singing happy birthday. brilliant

natali said...

wait wait wait i dont have anything against james blunt. that is ck. she hates him. and everything he stands for. i love his video where he is just taking off his clothes and folding them. now i am fan for life.

i love mixed cds. put whatever you want on it and i with think its the nicest thing you made one for me.

natali said...

also what if you put all break up songs on your break up cd? is that a mixed signal?

nathaniel said...

my sister and i used to have sort of this running joke to see who could make the best break up mixes. really great, usually pretty bitter stuff. now if only i actually had the guts to have given one of those to someone....

brian said...

i made a break-up tape a few years back. it was after a weird break-up and it was in provo. i think there were two rites of spring songs on there and slint song. actually the entire tape was probably post-rock, but i was 22. anyway, i think it was a success.

nathaniel said...

i hope everyone turns in break up mixes to jefe's summer mix contest. i'll do my part.

Chelsea said...

yes - i do hate james blunt by the way. if you'd like to join the jamems-blunt-isn't-as-great-as-everyone-thinks-he-is club, i'd be happy to initiate you in

natali said...

its not that he is just taking off his clothes in his music video. i mean who doesnt these days. i just like how he folds them.

Chelsea said...

nathaniel - i lived in seattle for 4 whole months and we never even knew each other. that's so sad

(p.s. that is irrelevant to this post but i guess you've figured that out already)

nathaniel said...

what! when was this? how come no one told me!

Chelsea said...

i feel so empty inside. what if we were meant to be and nobody even told us about each other? sigh

september - february to answer your question. turns out the rain depresses me and so i moved back to colorado.

Colleen said...

i think you should always draw on the cd with permanent marker, including hearts and flowers and pictures of stick people saying things.
bread's song "aubrey" is on one of my mix cds.
i like that brian said he made a mix TAPE. mix tapes..that's a whole different world.

El Jefe said...

For Nathanial.

The Summer CD Mix competition is still open. Only Lee, Lisa, Katie have put in entries. Break up themes rule. Everyone is welcome to join in. Natali and Beckster (I called you "Beckster") I expect entries.

CK.

I know Nathanial and as someone who doesn't really like people I have to say he is a king among men, and he makes bank too. Sell your house, pack up your Buick and go back to the Emerald city. Trust me, Nathanial is the guy for you.

Natali- James Blunt, for real?

Brian - I thought my man crush on you would end with star wars, but anyone who puts both rites of spring and slint on a mixed tape of all things is someone worth a second look. Sorry I didn't wave last night, I had to go to Provo.

El Jefe said...

Colls, I think he really did make a mix tape.

nathaniel said...

september to february? you mean basically the worst time of year to be here? stay a summer. you will never leave again.

jefe, thanks for the endorsement. if i am ever on trial i want you to be my first character witness.

becky said...

i can't even explain the greatness of the mix cd's i got last year. they are still practically all i listen to.

becky said...

not to mention the cover art...

natali said...

wait where did lisa and katie and lee submit entries. why is anyone surprised about me and james b? i have never ever claimed to have good taste in music or that i dont fully embrace music made to be consumed. especially by british men.

El Jefe said...

Submissions are made directly to me Natali. We have one more Sunday and a few days afterwards, so get to work on your break up CD. By the way, I haven't recieved Katie's but Lee and Lisa have both made some incredible submissions. Don't be intimidated though.

Chelsea said...

nathaniel my love -

everyone says i should have waited till spring. truth is, colorado has over 300 sunny days a year...how could i even turn that down?

maybe i'll submit a breakup song for me and seattle

natali said...

i am not intimidated dont worry. i have no real interest in music and as such have never really developed a taste for it or the sense to care about others opinions on what i would put on my breakup cd.

now if its a break up cd i would like to request bye bye bye by nsync and i thought you were by boyfriend by the magnetic fields sexyback by justin timberlake and happiness by elliot smith. oh and midnight train to georgia. i try to put that song on every cd i make.

El Jefe said...

Don't reveal your secrets, just create!

natali said...

wait what secrets. what creation. i am so confused.

El Jefe said...

don't reveal your secrets of womanhood...oh and of CD mixes.

natali said...

oh i dont have any secrets as they relate to either of those two things. but i am working on a secret crush...

El Jefe said...

Everybody should have gender specific secrets...Your crush is no secret, I've seen the way you look at baby-prop guy.

Chelsea said...

gender-specific secret #1: girls love when you call their crush "baby prop guy"

El Jefe said...

Oh, don't reveal your secrets...That's gender secret #55 for men.

Chelsea said...

way to hold true to secret #55 by telling us secret #55. i feel like i have boys figured out now

becky said...

nat you're supposed to actually create a mixed cd, not tell us what you'd put on it.

however, nat and i don't have time to make cd mixes before the end of the month. we will be too busy spending money, over eating, and getting skin cancer

natali said...

yeah i am been confused regarding the mixed cd plan for sometime now. i havent burned a cd in five years. and i have those skin cancer plans. what i am trying to say is it will never happen.

nathaniel said...

since evidently i am disqualified because i can't submit my mixed cd in person, i am just going to listen to it while i over eat and spend money and assure you that it would have won. none of that skin cancer stuff though- cuz you know... seattle.

lisa said...

a.) no more hating on seattle (not only my hometown, but also Sir Mix-A-Lot's)

b.)if any of you do turn in a mix cd, don't expect to get any feedback on it from jefe. pretty much you just turn it in, and then it is never spoken of again. it's as if it never happened, kind of. only it did happen, because you spent a while making it, and making a pretty cover for it and everything.

c.)how can i get in on the overeating/overspending/skin cancer?

natali said...

i am glad i dont really know how to burn cds if that is the response i would get from jefe.

lisa come to mesa! i know its short notice but we would love to have you. i might bring a little sun block though...i dont have insurance...

nathaniel said...

hey lisa, start your own blog and defend seattle if you really love it so much.

k8 said...

jefe, i have been driving around with your summer mix contest entry in my car for a week now. Apparently I can't part with it.

Carmen said...

This is the longest freikin comment page ever & I just spent half an hour reading it. Excellent.

lisa said...

nathaniel,
maybe i already have my own blog, and i just don't like for people to read it. ever think of that?

natali,
i have a feeling i'm too late and you guys left for mesa. i hope you realize there is a lot of overspending/overeating/skin-cancering to be done right here in slc, when you get back.

El Jefe said...

Lisa - I will be commenting on all of them on the first of June Lisa! I have to wait til all the submissions are in before I start gushing over how great they are.

Natali - We can all teach you how to do it.

Nathanial - Katie is sending me hers, you can do the same.

Katie - Oh my dear almost high school sweet heart, the anticipation is killing me.

ck - Nathanial, he's the one.

Jerry Bruckheimer - How do you keep getting billions of dollars to produce straight crap? Honestly Pirates 3, W T F dude, that things goes on and on.

Brooke, if you're reading this you need to get your submission in CD form...NOW!

Lee said...

Brian is right, the best Caroline song is "Caroline, No".

I really like making mixes, but the people who receive them are usually disappointed.

Anonymous said...

Great writing! You should definitely follow up on this topic!


moores insurance