Here is a true fact that probably tells you more about me than it should: I have a mix tape in my car. I made it for G when we were first dating, so it is more than 15 years old. I'm not sure whether it stands the test of time vis-รก-vis other famous mix tapes in the course of history, but I think it's pretty epic.It's a random smattering of music that I really loved at the time, and still do, mostly vaguely-to-moderately gushy and romantic, but some not. A couple of show tunes. There are, of course, two songs by the Cure on there, because I was still in my proto-emo phase in 1993-94 (I had not yet fully embraced the awesome power of grunge, except in terms of fashion, because I really could rock some ripped-up jeans and flannel). "Closer to Fine" remains one of those songs that gets more meaningful every year.
The insert was hand-written on white construction paper, and when I open the case I can still vaguely smell the Sunflowers perfume that inspired the matching colored-pencil drawing I made. Subtle, I definitely was not.
Now, I can't play it, because my tape deck has been wrecked by a bad Discman adaptor that I was using with my iPod (don't ask), but I keep it in my car anyway because it reminds me of so much. Probably I should convert that playlist to a CD, but even when I do, I will most likely still hold on to that cassette tape, because even the tape itself holds many memories.
Anyone who has seen "Say Anything" at least 147 times can tell you that all the best moments of your life have a soundtrack. So while I'm getting ready for vacation, one of the things I've been doing is working on a playlist. Probably by the time I get my books together, I will have my songs selected and sequenced. In the meantime, maybe you can make suggestions from this week's trivia: Summertime Songs, all about beach blanket bingos and cruising with the top down and stuff you find at the shore.
Can you answer the following?
- Three songs with "Summer" in the title
- Three songs with "Ocean(s)" or "Sea(s)" in the title
- Three songs that mention bikinis
- Three songs with "Hot" in the title
- Three songs about boats
- Three songs about surfing
- Three songs about cars
- Three songs by people from New Jersey
- Three Beach Boys songs that are NOT about surfing
- Three songs that were summertime hits in the 1980s
I can't even tell you how many mix tapes I have in my car! A gallon-size Ziploc of them. Haven't looked at the questions yet but wanted to share that.
ReplyDeleteLet me be the first to respond. Sorry about not trying the books thing, but unless it deals with autism, it hasn't been in my library for the past 4 years (sad). Music, however, is still doable. And let me tell you, the technicians I worked with this weekend thought this was fun, though they contributed very little.
ReplyDelete1. Summer Nights - from Grease, Summertime - Will Smith, Summer - Sum 41
2. Under The Sea - from Little Mermaid; Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard; The Ocean - Led Zeppelin (2nd hardest question)
3. Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini; Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice; California Girls - Katy Perry
4. Hot Child In the City - Nick Gilder; It's Gettin' Hot in Here - Nellie (not recommended for family listenin' @ the beach); Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly & Family Stone
5. Yellow Submarine - The Beatles (debated if this was a boat... decided yes); The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald; Rock the Boat; The Good Ship Lollipop (bonus answer. Good luck not singing it now.) Most difficult question for me, and what do you know, just thought of another one as I type "Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore". WTH?
6. Catch a Wave; Surfin' USA; Surf City - All Beach Boys (the last with Jan & Dean)
7. Pink Cadillac - many artists; Little Red Corvette - Prince; 409- Beach Boys
8. Runaway - Bon Jovi; Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen; Big Girls Don't Cry - Frankie Valle & Four Seasons
9. Barbara Ann; I Get Around; Good Vibrations
10. It's Magic - The Cars; The Reflex - Duran Duran; Borderline - Madonna (sadly, I remember dancing to those songs at a club that used to be up by Dorney Park). Showing my age!
I have to throw in two of my alltime fave songs that could have summer written all over them: Twistin' By the Pool by Dire Straits and I Wanna Be A Lifeguard by Blotto
Here are my answers:
ReplyDelete1. "Boys of Summer," Don Henley (or The Ataris); "Summer Breeze," Seals & Crofts; "Cruel Summer," Bananarama
2. "Beyond the Sea," Bobby Darin; "Oceans," Pearl Jam; "Under the Sea," from The Little Mermaid
3. "California Girls," The Beach Boys; "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," Brian Hyland; "Rock Lobster," The B-52's
4. "Hot in Herre," Nelly; "Hot for Teacher," Van Halen; "Hot Blooded," Foreigner
5. "Sloop John B," The Beach Boys; "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)," Looking Glass (which is not about boats, but it's what I have written down, so I guess I actually get an answer wrong on my own quiz, doy!); "Southern Cross," CSN&Y
6. "Wipe Out," The Surfaris; "Surfin' Safari," The Beach Boys; "Gremmie Out Of Control," Pearl Jam
7. "I Get Around," The Beach Boys; "Little Red Corvette," Prince (which is not, technically, about a car, but it counts anyway); "Take It Easy," The Eagles
8. "You Give Love A Bad Name," Bon Jovi; "Dancing In The Dark," Bruce Springsteen; "Because The Night," Patti Smith (co-written by ... Bruce Springsteen)
9. "God Only Knows," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Little Saint Nick"
10. "Borderline," Madonna, 1984; "Every Breath You Take," The Police, 1983; "Buffalo Stance," Neneh Cherry, 1988
I only 29/30 on my own quiz, which is EMBARRASSING, because I frequently wander around my office singing "... as the big freighters go, it was bigger than most ..." and yet I still didn't get that question right.
Tina gets 30, she's the winner! If I ever make a mix tape CD for vacation, she'll get a copy!
OK, so I have to say this... the CASSINGLE of Buffalo Stance is in my car and I have been playing it lately. I even sent the YouTube video to Nicholle, as we even had made up a dance for that song. Thanks for the good grade!
ReplyDelete