Since the fantastic scene in Say Anything where John Cusack explains the important of a mix tape, and the ever important movie, High Fidelity, many a young lad and lass have participated in the fine tradition of mix tape exchange. Now, there are a shawk of blogs out there giving some very excellent tips on mix tape making. (I highly recommend checking out: “wikihow.com/Make-a-Perfect-Mix-Tape-or-CD” or the very funny, if not rather specific “whatwouldjb.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-to-make-mix-tape-for-chuck.html”) but in my and the lovely features editor experiences, there are some songs that are straight up so full of cheese to be even considered. To save you all from the embarrassment that will follow if included, I give to you an early Christmas present (just in case a mix tape is going to be someone else’s Christmas present, cute!)
Top Ten ‘eye roll’ inducing songs put on a mix tape from an ex lover:
- The Police - “Every breathe you take”: Yes, this at first listen sounds like a sweet song. Well, as many people by now know, it is about stalking someone. This is not an impression you will want to leave. Trust me. The P Diddy version also falls under the no go category. Ten fold.
- The Postal Service - “Such Great Heights”: “I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images” Seriously? Yah, its a super cute song and my crush on Ben Gibbard has not wanned over the many years but this is a little to blatant. A good love song should have meaning, but a little subtlety people.
- Aerosmith - “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”: Firstly, contraction’s are not sexy. Secondly- the scene in Armageddon that this song accompanies automatically rules it out. Thirdly – Its in Armageddon. Fourthly – This is the cheez wiz equivalent to cheese. Thats pretty bad.
- Whitney Houston - “I will always love you”: Uh. I think the title speaks for itself.
- John Mayer- “Your Body is a Wonderland”: Ok, a) this is the single sappiest song I have heard since I really liked Disney. b) John Mayer is actually a good songwriter and putting this on a mix tape is straight up lazy. Find a good song of his and impress! c) There is a strong possibility that this song will continue to be played on radio stations light rock radio aka. The River for many a year. Do you really want to be equated to The River?
- Gym Class Hero's cover of Supertramps “Take a look at my Girlfriend”: This is not likely to win you many points. “Take a look at my girlfriend, she’s the only one I got, not much of a girlfriend......” Yah, Supertramp is awesome, however, Gym Class Hero's are not as much. This song does not belong on a mix tape for someone else. Put it in your own itunes playlist.
- Jeff Buckley - “Lover, you should've come over”: Now, I love Jeff Buckley to no ends and the restraining order I had placed before...well... you know...can attest to that. BUT, this song is a cop out. If you didn’t want it end, YOU should have said something, not gotten Jeff to. Put on another song. “Lilac Wine” is amazing and his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is so dreamy anyone would melt listening to it.
- Poison - “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”: Ok, enough. This has to be the most over played 80’s ballad ever written. Everyone knows it, everyone has heard it upteen times at every Karaoke night. You want 80’s rock? Be original. Search something a little more obscure out?
- Pink Floyd - “Wish you were here”: There is nothing wrong with a little Floyd but this and “Money” are so overplayed on every classic rock station that there is a good chance someone has a) dedicated this song to your sweetie already b) has put it on a mix tape (silly silly person) or c) your sweetie has it. In many forms. So once again, I urge you to step out of your box a little and find something a little different.
- Foo Fighters “Everlong”: This is one of Foo Fighter’s biggest hits. Ever. It charted like mad in ‘97 and ‘98 and even has its own wikipedia page. These reasons alone stand to why you should not even bother. Unless you are actually trying to say “Yah, I pretty much just used songs I copied off the radio 10 years ago and I have no original thought or any deep emotional structure.” If you are trying to say that, well. Good Luck.
Moral of the story boys and girls: Be good to you mix tape’s and they will be good back. A little creativity, research, and subtlety is needed and don’t be afraid to go out there.
A good mix tape can be worth its weight in relationship gold (aka. getting laid).
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