Mix(tape) It Up! Challenge!

So, it’s that time again! In the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah, Paul and I bring you our second Mix(tape) It Up! Challenge! It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these and they were supposed to be monthly, but we’ll settle for this at the moment. Paul and I slaved over this (she did more), so be excited and get into the holiday spirit! And remember, try not to use the same band/artist more than once, that is looked down upon. Show us your hipster knowledge!

1. A song about a year:

2. A song about academics:

3. A song named after a country:

4. A song about the weather:

5. A song from a movie:

6. A song with an exclamation point in the title (censored titles do not count):

7. A song about bad habits:

8. A song you’re embarassed to own:

9. A song whose title is a question:

10. A song with numbers:

11. An acoustic song you like:

12. A song from a band that has more than 4 words in its name:

13. A song from a musical:

14. And finally, a song for the holidays!

Have fun with this, guys, and have a great holiday season!

As a gift, here is a CD one of my best friends made because of the holiday season! It can be downloaded here!

 

 

 

 

Mixtape Challenge: Paul Edition.

Here it is, my response to our own challenge. Bobcat’s should follow soon.
I’ve provided you all with links to all the songs. These may range from music videos to live shows to Dawson’s Creek fanvids–bear with me. I did the best I could. Besides, who couldn’t use a little more Dawson/Joey in their lives? That’s what I thought.

1. A song with an impressive intro: Special – The Brakes

Okay, so it’s not the most dramatic entrance ever, but, as a whole, I feel like it’s a pretty good kick start to the list. And The Brakes are great.

2. A song with a literary allusion: Lolita – Throw Me the Statue

Bubbly vocals and jangly guitars. Infectiously poppy. This song makes me happy–very much unlike Nabokov’s masterpiece of the same name. But as a side note, if anyone could explain to me what exactly is going on in this video (particularly the end), that would be great. I mean, I get the lecherous old man and all, but somewhere around 2:30 in my mind just explodes.

3. A song released 20+ years ago: Tangled Up In Blue – Bob Dylan

This needs no description. What hipster doesn’t love them some Dylan? Tangled Up In Blue is one of my favorites, and this is by far my favorite version of it. Enjoy it and try to ignore the fact that Dylan must have been running late from his audition for The Dark Knight.

4. A rap song that fits within the realm of hipsterness: Ain’t That Right – G. Love

Flow to G. Love’s flow! A definite feel-good summer track. Not definite rap. Shh.

5. A song by the first band you saw in concert: Half A Heart – Barenaked Ladies

This could have been many songs, but I felt this was the best fit. Plus, I’m a sucker for Ed ballads. You can just smell that self-pity and self-loathing. Oh, ambivalence. Oh, memories. Oh, Barenaked Ladies! (Oh, Ed!) Do you understand my tenderest affections for them now?! They were my first. I will never forget that night. <3

6. A song that mentions or alludes (clearly) to a historical figure: Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother! – Sufjan Stevens

Not one, but two mentions! Anyone who has not been distracted by the lines “Stephen A. Douglas was a great debater, but Abraham Lincoln was the great emancipator!” running rampant through his or her head during an American history exam has not lived. Thanks for the answer to that multiple choice, Sufjan.

7. A song employing a foreign language either in part or whole: Larmes – Pauline Croze

Pauline Croze is, without a doubt, the best use of my eight year French education. That being said, I rarely understand what she’s saying. Although I do know larmes is French for ‘tears.’ I also believe she’s saying “The flow of our tears purifies our souls” at the end there. See AP French? You were not entirely in vain.

8. A song that describes your hometown: Welcome to Suburbia – Jeremy Messersmith

“We’ve got cul-de-sacs and barbecues in suburbia. Welcome to the rest of your life.” Enough said. (Jeremy Messersmith is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter from Minneapolis. He’s got good stuff. Check him out.)

9. A song that mentions fruit: Fruit Tree – Nick Drake

Nick Drake is a musical staple of mine. Excellent lyricist, guitarist and singer. This song is particularly poignant as it muses on fame after death (“Fame is but a fruit tree so very unsound /It can never flourish till its stalk is in the ground”); at 26, and in the midst of his relatively unsuccessful career, Drake overdosed. His genius was only recognized years after his untimely death. This song is both beautiful and eerily prophetic. His catalog is a veritable treasure trove. Go forth and ransack it.

10. The most heart wrenchingly sad song you know: Between the Bars – Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith is yet another tragic story of one gone before his time. Between the Bars is a bittersweet ballad and a whispered pledge to help another fend off their demons. It makes me sad. And Elliott Smith makes me sad. That’s all.

11. A song containing alliteration: Sunday Sun – Beck

One of my favorite songs off of one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite artists. I can’t really go wrong there. I hold the alliteration to be self evident.

12. An unlikely cover: Bitches Ain’t Shit – Ben Folds

WARNING: This is song contains explicit lyrics.. if you couldn’t tell. I never thought someone could make this into a emotive ballad of betrayal and lost love. Well played, Ben Folds. Well played.

13. A song that name drops another artist: Taxi Driver – Gym Class Heroes

Look! More rap. Does this compensate for #4? It should. Plus, it manages to smoothly name drop multiple bands that could wear this button with unironic pride. (For the record, we want this one.)

14. A song by the band you most swoon over: Skin Is, My – Andrew Bird

I’m going to restrain myself. Once you get me going on Andrew Bird, it’s only a matter of time before everything I say starts to sound like high-pitched fangirlish SQUEE’s of delight.

15. A song about endings: The End – The Beatles

A fitting ending. The Beatles. An obvious choice.

So there you have it.

Mix(tape) It Up!

That’s right. Bobcat and I have decided it’s time to mix it up–mixtape it up, that is. Allow me to introduce to you:

Each month, we’ll provide you with a track list. Here’s the catch: Each track must fit under certain guidelines while still preserving the flow of the mixtape–you know, giving it that holistic je ne sais quoi. Also, we discourage artist repetition on a single mixtape unless it is entirely necessary. That may sound like a loosely enforced rule, but know that if we think you’re taking the easy way out, we shall look down upon you. And we all know that it’s no fun to be the target of hipster scorn.

So, as we embark on this monthly musical scavenger hunt of sorts, Bobcat and I hope you will join us and leave your own mixtape track listings in the comments, link us to reply blog, drop us an email with them, etc. Despite the fact that we’re positive we have musical tastes superior to those of the entire rest of humanity, we really do want to know what you guys are listening to (if solely for the purpose of mocking it in the privacy of our own homes). Without further ado, I give you the first Mix(tape) It Up! Challenge:

1. A song with an impressive intro:
2. A song with a literary allusion:
3. A song released 20+ years ago:
4. A rap song that fits within the realm of hipsterness:
5. A song by the first band you saw in concert:
6. A song that mentions or alludes (clearly) to a historical figure:
7. A song employing a foreign language either in part or whole:
8. A song that describes your hometown:
9. A song that mentions fruit:
10. The most heart wrenchingly sad song you know:
11. A song containing alliteration:
12. An unlikely cover:
13. A song that name drops another artist:
14. A song by the band you most swoon over:
15. A song about endings:

Bobcat and I will be posting our own responses in the near future, but we mostly want to hear back from you. So take a stab at it! We challenge you.