What is going on, friends? Welcome to my weekly
mixtape, the show that takes the classic mixtape
approach to building a modern playlist. I'm your
host, Brian Colburn, and I'm back with another
Have It Your Way episode, that being the online
randomizer I've been using to select the topic
for the show. Now, these topics come from you,
the mixtapers, the listeners, the community that
I've been working to build at this show over
the last couple of years, and I appreciate My
Weekly Mixtape. It's free to join. And there's
several tiers available there if you'd like to
support the show a little extra. But with that,
I'm not going to waste another second of time.
And I'm going to click that online randomizer
button so we can find out what this week's topic
is going to be. Interesting. This one comes in
from Brian Rosenberg via email. Brian, thank
you for writing in this topic. Songs you'd give
the person you have a crush on. The roots of
many a mixtape. Wow. I have to give a slow golf
clap on this one. What a topic. This is a Mixtape
101 lesson. Ever since episode one, every time
there's a first -time guest on the show, I have
asked the question, what does the word mixtape
mean to you? And I could tell you at least 75...
to 85 % of those responses involved making a
mixtape for a crush, for somebody they were interested
in and wanted to use music as a way to maybe
open the door to further a discussion that might
lead to a relationship or something more. So,
wow. Okay, before I even get into songs, I think
I need to dive into this topic a little bit more
than usual. Because when you're creating a mixtape,
now this is going back to the 90s for me, but
for the younger people listening, when you're
creating a playlist for somebody you have a crush
on, if you've ever seen the show How I Met Your
Mother, there's a scene where Marshall and Lily
are talking about the fact that if you play a
song for somebody and they like you back, that
song can be seen as sweet and maybe even endearing.
However, if they don't feel that way about you,
it could be seen as creepy and psycho. So there's
a fine line you need to toe when creating these
playlists. Now, here are some of the tips that
I have when creating a mixtape or a playlist
for that crush of yours. First one, if you're
already friends with this person, I think shared
experiences. are a great way to go when it comes
to songs. So if there's a song that you bonded
over with this person, that you realized you're
both a fan of this artist, it kind of takes a
little bit away from the meaning of the song.
The song can probably be about anything because
if you've already had discussions about that
song and how much it means to both of you, there's
already that experience that kind of ties you
two together to the song, regardless of the topic.
Within reason, and I'll get to that in a little
bit. But from a personal perspective, I can actually
use that shared experience from one of my high
school relationships. Because at the time when
I was getting to know somebody that I eventually
dated when I was in high school, there was a
song out by R .E .M. called Man on the Moon.
Now, this is a song about Andy Kaufman. There
is zero romance in this song whatsoever. However,
this was a song that was on the radio every time
we were hanging out. And it became kind of an
inside joke with us because the yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah in the song, it became a way we would respond
to each other when we were saying, hey, do you
want to go to see a movie? Instead of just saying
that sounds like fun, it would be yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah. So that became kind of an inside
joke language between the two of us. So when
I first made a mixtape for this person, I included
the song because of the history and the shared
experience. had nothing to do with Andy Kaufman.
There is no, hey, this is Andy Kaufman. No, none
of that here. But it's a shared experience, which
is kind of genre agnostic because you could be
into punk, you could be into metal, hip hop,
country. It doesn't really matter as long as
there's a connection over a song. Now, with that,
there are some things you might want to consider.
because it might do the opposite of what you're
intending those songs to do, even if there is
a shared experience with them. One example I
can think of is with my wife, because when we
were dating, it was a long distance relationship,
and we would always pass each other mix CDs to
listen to in the car rides on the way back and
forth, depending on which way we were headed
at the time. And for years, I put this one song
by one band, and I'm not going to say who. because
I'm still a fan of this band and still go see
them a lot. However, I included this song on
pretty much every mix CD I made for my wife,
assuming she felt the same. And it wasn't until
years later when that song came on shuffle. And
I said, you remember when I used to put that
on all your mixtapes? And she turned and went,
yeah, never was a fan of that one. And that really
was a moment for me because I. thought for this
entire time that she was into the song because
she never told me not to put it on there. And
yeah, so that's an example of kind of reading
the room. And I obviously missed that one. So
with that, it goes without saying that reading
the room and the person you're giving this mixtape
or playlist to is very important. So I do have
a PSA along those lines. So here are a couple
songs I would say maybe you might want to really
think about. before you go throwing them onto
your playlist or mixtape. Now, your mileage may
vary depending on the person. These songs might
be seen as happy and endearing or whatever, but
I'm just saying kind of a guideline here. Basic
101, The Police, Every Breath You Take, fantastic
song, kind of creepy and stalkery if you really
listen to the lyrics. And if the person doesn't
feel the same way, it becomes, yeah. boys to
men i'll make love to you huge song in the 90s
played at school dances which i thought was odd
even at that point in time and i know people
have used this on mixtapes they gave to a potential
person they were interested in and i always felt
like this was kind of the hail mary song because
if you're just getting to know somebody this
might not be the way to go now along with that
on the rock side of the spectrum, Nine Inch Nails
closer. I mean, if you have a shared experience
listening to that song, maybe that would work.
But if this person doesn't know you're a Nine
Inch Nails fan and you're like, oh, let me introduce
them to Nine Inch Nails music, that or even Hurt,
I'd say avoid those. Maybe go with Head Like
a Hole. If you're trying to expose them to music
that you like, but you don't want to necessarily
Put the wrong message out there. Now, with that,
thinking 90s as well, because this is where my
head is swirling right now, because when I made
mixtapes for my crushes, it was in the 90s. Radioheads
creep. Now, I know there's Radiohead fans out
there that are going, oh, God, here's a guy that
only likes creep. I'm not saying I only like
creep. I like the Benz as well. But creep is
indeed my favorite Radiohead song. I've mentioned
this on the show before. I would be. That guy
at a Radiohead concert that would be waiting
for Creep and everybody else would probably go
to the bathroom during that song, but I'd enjoy
it. I mean, that's just me. The Benz is a great
album, though, aside from Pablo Honey. Anyway,
that song is very self -deprecating and dark.
Self -deprecation in a song when it's done in
like a bowling for soup, real big fish kind of
fun, jovial, maybe humorous. where the lyrics
are self -deprecating, but the song is upbeat.
You might be able to pull that shared experience
there. But a song like Creep, unless the person
you're talking to is a massive Radiohead fan.
Again, I'm thinking Pablo Honey here, early 90s,
and this was a song they always talked about.
Maybe, but you might want to be careful with
that one. And finally, thinking 90s, Adam Sandler's
At a Medium Pace. If you don't know the song,
it's not safe for work. You'll never think about
shampoo the same way. And definitely along the
lines of I'll make love to you just on a completely
different spectrum. Do not send that to a crush.
That's just my PSA. Feel free to do whatever
you want. This is your world. Like Bob Ross said,
this is your world. You're the creator. I mean,
you do you. But those are just some songs I would
suggest maybe not including when creating a songs
for a crush playlist. And now to the flip side
of that, as I'm starting to mull over where I'm
going to go with this, is the vibe you're looking
to achieve. And that all depends. It's a person
by person basis. If the person you're talking
to or are friends with and maybe you're having
some feelings for and they're into metal music,
you might not want to go the poppier side of
the spectrum and vice versa. See, in the 90s,
there was this gray area because for a while.
power ballads were played on top 40 pop radio
they were mainstream even in the early 90s you
think about songs to be with you by mr big even
though that's a quote -unquote campfire song
as billy sheehan told me when he was on the show
you also had songs like i remember you by skid
row heaven by warren pretty much any poison ballad
except for something to believe in because that's
more of a ballad that's not about love in any
way shape or form think every rose has its thorn
here These were the songs that were played on
pop radio. Now, are these good songs to send
to a crush that you're just getting to know?
It all depends. It all depends on where you two
stand. Now, if you're dating the person for six
months to a year and you're making a mixtape
for that person, again, in the 90s, sometimes
you couldn't go wrong with a power ballad. But
they're kind of just the way I talk about every
week on this show. Music is so subjective. There
are no right and wrong answers. Except for maybe
at a medium pace when you're just trying to get
to know somebody. But I'm not even going to say
that's wrong. If the person finds it funny, maybe
that's their sense of humor. Maybe it does work
for you. But just again, your mileage may vary.
Do with that as you will. But when it comes to
power ballads in the 90s, there was that gray
area where they still kind of stayed in light
and in fashion for at least the first few years.
Sucks because I still listen to those songs now
and don't hear any cheese in them. But maybe
that's just me. So I think the final thing I'll
say here is read the room. Read the person you're
talking to. Listen to when they're talking about
music. Because they're going to give you clues
as to what they like. Obviously, if you're a
music nerd like me, you're bringing up music
in conversations. So when they talk about artists,
you can include songs on that playlist where
you're like, well, you know, you're into this
band. I think you'll really dig this band. And
that kind of is a great way to keep the conversation
going, but not necessarily say you have a crush
on them. But this playlist is specifically, thanks
to Brian, songs you would give the person you
have a crush on. So the songs that are coming
into my mind are songs that don't lean too heavy
into the love side of the spectrum, but definitely
drop hints. But before I get into the songs,
if you're listening on Apple Music, Spotify,
YouTube, wherever you're listening. Please leave
a five -star review, thumbs up, leave a comment,
talk about songs you would include for your crush
starter kit. Keep this conversation going outside
of the podcast universe. It helps introduce the
show to other potential listeners out there that
might enjoy the conversations we're having week
in and week out. And finally, if you want to
hear the songs I'm talking about here. Don't
worry, you don't have to go seeking out these
songs one by one. I make this process real simple.
Every single episode of My Weekly Mixtape, you
just head over to the episode page, and there
I've embedded a playlist of all the songs I've
talked about in each particular episode. I'm
doing the same thing here, the ultimate songs
for a crush playlist, and you can find that now
by heading over to myweeklymixtape .com. All
right, so here we go. The musical equivalent.
Of sending somebody 143 on a beeper. Oh, God.
This is going to be really tough. Because you
want to toe the line. You don't want to go too
heavy into the love. But you also want to make
sure you're letting the person know that there's
some feelings there. So you don't wind up in
the friend zone. Okay. I think the first song
I'm going to go with here is what I consider
to be 90s pop rock perfection. And that is the
Cranberries Dreams. This song is upbeat, so it's
not slow and sappy to kick off this crush playlist.
And the lyrics are innocent in a way. I know
I've never felt like this before, but now I'm
feeling it even more because it came from you.
Then I open up and see the person fallen here
is me, a different way to be. Musically, it's
upbeat, it's happy. The lyrics kind of hint that
there's something there, but it's not necessarily
as on the nose as I'm in love with you because
that might be very heavy handed. And just at
the end of the day, the song is fantastic and
it's undeniable. And it's one of those songs
that I knew people that were into hard rock music
that dug the Cranberries vibe. And I knew people
that were into pop and dance and hip hop that
dug the Cranberries vibe. Dolores O 'Rourke's
voice, rest in peace, was angelic. There was
something about her voice. I felt like her and
Sinead O 'Connor had these two voices that as
soon as they came on, you were like, I know exactly
who that is. And it worked so well because it
went from the light, ethereal sound of songs
like Dreams to the heavier side of the band in
Zombie. And this was just a group that. Oh man,
they were so good. Their MTV Unplugged special
is just another listen that if you haven't heard
it, it's officially released widely on streaming
now. A lot of those 90s MTV Unplugged specials
you can now find as full -length albums. Pearl
Jam, obviously Nirvana, Eric Clapton. I did an
entire episode on acoustic songs and acoustic
reimaginings. Early in season two. So I'll put
that up on the episode page towards the bottom.
If you want to check that one out, but the cranberries
are, I feel like a very easy way to launch into
this playlist without going too heavy handed
in either direction. And this is just a beautiful
song that can be taken even from the lines of
a friendship. So if things don't go the way you
want, there are lyrics in this song that at least.
can be seen as something that is also a friendship.
Totally amazing mind, so understanding and so
kind. You're everything to me. That could be
to a friend as well as to a possible crush. So
I feel like this is the perfect place to start
things off. And from here, I think I know where
my vibe is going to be for this playlist. And
please don't throw Mentos at your radio when
I mention this next song, but we're going to
go with the Foo Fighters' Big Me from their self
-titled album. Now, just in case you're listening
and going, what the hell are you talking about,
Brian? The Mentos thing. When the Foo Fighters
broke big, I actually had a chance to see them
at William Patterson University, which was a
small venue in the 90s. The Color and the Shape
had just been released. Rocket from the Crypt
opened. It was an amazing show. And this was
at the point where they were still playing the
song, even though they were getting pelted with
Mentos. Because in the music video, It was a
play on the Mentos commercial where at certain
points, the main character of the commercial
would hold up the Mentos and look at the screen.
Dave Grohl reenacted that only holding up the
futos candy. However, I don't know about you,
but if you've never been hit by a Mentos before,
they are hard and they hurt, especially if somebody
in the audience is whipping them. from a distance
up to the stage. Now, I'm just talking about
an audience member, and this is hitting me in
the back, not in my face like the band had to
deal with. You'll shoot your eye out, kid, is
definitely a play here if you are one of the
Foo Fighters. So I can understand why they peel
back on playing this song, you know, kind of
the same way you'd peel back the Mentos rapper.
Anyway, I'm done. Never mind. But. They still
continue to play it. Not as much. A couple of
times a year, they'll break it out in a show.
And I guess they kind of want to make sure that
people aren't prepared for it with Mentos in
hand. Thankfully, I was able to check that song
off my Foo Fighters bucket list back in 1998
on the Color and the Shape Tour. So I don't have
to worry about it. I'd love to see them do it
again. But beyond the Mentos aspect of it, this
song is just sweet and fun. And once again, it's...
about love, but it's not heavy handed on the
love talk. If you think about the lyrics in this
song, while I talked about it, carried on reasons
only knew, but it's you I fell into. So you're
kind of saying you're falling for this person,
but it's not necessarily I'm in love with you,
which might be too strong for that crush mixtape.
And then musically, it's light, it's airy, and
it kind of fits the vibe coming out of the cranberries.
Now, I don't want to lean too heavy into the
90s here because not everybody listening is only
a 90s person. I'm sure there's going to be some
more 90s that pop up in this mix because that's
just where my mind goes when it comes to this
topic. But I want to bring it into some of the
2000s as well. And this song came out the year
I got married, 2005. And it's one that my wife,
it's one of my wife's favorite artists. And it's
a song that I've heard her play many a times.
And when I hear it, I think of her. But when
you dive into the lyrics of this song, I could
see where this would really work for somebody
you have a crush on because it's a little sweeter
and innocent and could also, again, work on that
friend's level if things aren't necessarily working
out on a romantic level with you and your crush.
And that would be Jack Johnson's Better Together.
I mean, you think about the way the Foo Fighters'
Big Me is kind of light and breezy. I think Jack
Johnson takes that light and breezy almost to
a literal next level. His music is all about
that kind of beachy, chill, mellow vibe. And
it comes out. Obviously, the lyrics in the chorus
are just kind of repeating. It's always better
when we're together. That could be seen as a
love and flirty thing that can also work with
friendships. And all of these moments just might
find their way into my dreams tonight. To me,
that's a nice little lyrical hint. if you want
to call it that, but it's not so on the nose.
And again, the music isn't heavy -handed. I am
not going to be pulling out the 80s power ballads
tonight. Now, if this was the 1990s and you've
already been with somebody for six months or
a year, those 80s power ballads, completely different
story. But this is somebody for your crush, somebody
you're looking to introduce to, and some of those
might be heavy -handed. Jack Johnson. The opposite
of that light and breezy and mellow. And let's
just see where this goes musically and in times
lyrically. So I feel like coming out of Big Me,
this is a nice way to kind of keep it on that
mellow side of things. But as I'm putting this
together, I also am realizing I don't want it
to be just one style or vibe of music because
this is kind of a starter kit that you could
use these songs. In any situation, and I kind
of want to branch out and bring in a couple of
other genres of music here, because I know there's
an eclectic group of listeners out there that
listen to my weekly mixtape each week. And I
want to try to touch on more than just 90s or
mellow for this playlist. And I want to bring
in some more modern stuff as well. And by modern,
maybe, I don't know, the last 15 years. So that
way, at least some of the younger audience can
get involved with this. And I think one of the
best songs. That would be used for a crush. That
isn't too heavy handed. In modern times at least.
Is Bruno Mars Just The Way You Are. Which came
out. I want to say around 2010. It's very complimentative.
I mean the chorus is. When I see your face. There's
not a thing that I would change. Because you're
amazing. Just the way you are. And when you smile.
The whole world stops and stares for a while.
Because girl you're amazing. Just the way you
are. Again, this could be used in a friendship
mode. This doesn't necessarily have to be. I
mean, there's parts of it that lean into it where
her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd
let me. It's very much hinting, but it's putting
this person up on a pedestal. It's somebody that
you're longing for. And I feel like the music,
even though we're branching from pop rock to
rock to acoustic to this R &B, I feel like there's
a vibe. between all of these songs so far that
kind of fit the mold where if you were listening
to this as a mixtape or a playlist, you are getting
a cohesive story either lyrically or through
the music. And I keep going back to read the
room. That's a very important part of this because
if the person you're talking to is not a fan
of Bruno Mars, don't include this song. Use your
own judgment. I'm just trying to come up with
songs that I think would work. For a situation
where you're trying to talk to a crush musically,
but not necessarily wedding bells and marching
down the aisle, this is more, hey, let's grab
a cup of coffee and talk. I kind of have feelings
for you type of songs, which there are some,
but there are not many. I am having a hard time
because a lot of the songs that are running through
my head, I'm going, nope, that's a year down
the road type of song, or nope, that's a song
you play as your first dance at your wedding.
And I'm trying to think of songs that really
fall into this space that's more aligned with
high school, where you're not thinking walking
down the aisle. You're thinking getting to know
somebody, dating. And I'm not going to lie. This
is a tough topic to think about in hindsight,
because here I am, 48, and I'm thinking about
songs I would share with my wife. Well, those
are songs about love, because we've been married
for over 20 years now. So the songs that I would
share with my wife now, way back in the 90s when
I was dating somebody, probably not the same
songs because it's two different phases of life.
So I'm trying to think of songs that would fit
where I was 15, 16, 17 years old versus where
I am now. So that's why it's natural for me to
look back to the 90s as well as for me to continue
stalling like I am right now, because this is
one of the harder topics I've done on this show.
But there have been songs that have come out
in later years where I'm like, wow, that would
have been a great song to use when I was younger.
And another one of those songs is somebody that
I was lucky enough to have as a guest on my weekly
mixtape, that being Uncle Cracker. Now, a lot
of the songs I've talked about, obviously, because
I'm a guy, are coming from a guy's perspective.
But there are certain songs. That can work from
a guy's perspective or a lady's perspective,
depending on the lyrics or the meaning or the
tone of the song, regardless of who's singing
it. And I think Uncle Cracker's smile fits right
into that category. You're better than the best.
I'm lucky just to linger in your light. Cooler
than the flip side of my pillow. I mean, when
you talk about a song that hits the nail on the
head, the first time I heard that line. I said,
how has that never been used in a song before?
Cooler than the flip side of my pillow. That
is something that everybody has done, flipping
that pillow in the middle of the night and getting
that ah moment. Using that in a song like this,
the first time I heard it, I was like, bravo,
man. That is unbelievable. It's such a simple
line, but it's so effective. And this is, again,
one of those songs that doesn't have to mean
falling deep in love. It's just someone who makes
you smile. The chorus alone. You make me smile
like the sun, fall out of bed, sing like a bird,
dizzy in my head, spin like a record, crazy on
a Sunday night. You make me dance like a fool,
forget how to breathe, shine like gold, buzz
like a bee. Just the thought of you can drive
me wild. Oh, you make me smile. Yes, I'm reading
the lyrics here, but that doesn't necessarily
have to be about a loved one. That could be about
just someone you truly care about. Obviously,
the drive me wild part is a hint towards something
more. But I feel like this is the type of song
that you're using for a crush. You're not necessarily
saying I'm madly in love with you, but you're
trying to kind of test the waters. And that is
the perfect chorus for that. And I also have
to give credit where credit's due. I've seen
this used as a first dance in a wedding before.
So the song does have legs beyond the crush phase.
But the fact that the lyrics of this song can
kind of go in so many different directions is
why I think this song became so popular. Because
music is subjective. Lyrics are subjective. What
the artist wrote it for and how a listener interprets
a song could be two completely different things.
And this song resonated with a lot of people
in many different ways. And I will say, back
in season one, when I had Uncle Cracker on, it
was such a fantastic conversation. He has been
doing some amazing things all the way back since
the days when he was spinning for Kid Rock. And
then going on to his solo career, which between
songs like Follow Me and Smile has now evolved,
especially because of his collaborations with
Kenny Chesney into the country world. His last
two albums have been fully ingrained into country
music, and he fits perfectly into that mode.
I mean, the first time I heard Smile, I said,
man, this could be a country hit. And sure enough,
it started making the rounds on country radio
as well as pop radio. And I feel like this is
the song that really kind of, besides the collaborations
with Kenny Chesney, of course, truly solidified
him as somebody that can kind of bridge that
gap between pop music and country music. And
doing the stadium tours with Kenny Chesney over
the last few years has truly grown his country
presence. It was an honor to have him on the
show. And if you haven't heard that episode,
go back to season one and give it a listen. You
can hear some great stories about some of the
songs he's done, working with Dobie Gray on the
cover of Drift Away, one of my favorite songs
of all time. Truly a My Weekly Mixtape highlight,
and I'm very glad I was able to make that happen.
But at this point, that is your first five songs
of this 10 song playlist. So I want to do a quick
recap here. We started off with The Cranberries
Dreams, followed up by Foo Fighters' Big Me,
Jack Johnson's Better Together, Bruno Mars' Just
The Way You Are, and Uncle Cracker's Smile. And
just as a reminder, you can hear all the songs
I've talked about in this mix through the playlist
I embedded on the episode page over at myweeklymixtape
.com. All right. So now that we're going to continue
along for the second half of this songs for a
crush mixtape or playlist, depending on how you're
going to run with it. Now, as I closed up the
first half of this, I talked about how Uncle
Cracker kind of towed the line between pop and
country. I'm going to lean all the way into country
for this next one, because I know I have a lot
of people that listen to country that listen
to this show. And I want to make sure I touch
on some country music as well, because that's
where I got my start. In radio was a country
radio show at Montclair State University. So
moving this forward, I do want to pay it forward
with a song that while I was in college was a
big hit and honestly couldn't be a more on the
nose pick for this type of playlist. And that
is Check Yes or No by one of the legends of country
music, George Strait. The chorus alone speaks
to deciding where things go. In a relationship,
do you love me? Do you want to be my friend?
And if you do, well, then don't be afraid to
take me by the hand if you want to. I think this
is how love goes. Check yes or no. Like the notes
we used to pass back and forth in high school,
which I have to say, the ladies of the 90s, you
had this type of folding structure down to the
point that I am still. 30 years removed in awe
of how you were able to take a sheet of 8x11
paper and fold it into all of these intricate
shapes that once you opened it up, at least for
me, I was never able to get it quite back into
the fold that you were able to do it in. So bravo
on that. But from a song perspective, I don't
think it gets any more on the head than Check
Yes or No. This is a beautifully written song.
It's a great storytelling song, and it truly
explains the line that I'm trying to toe here.
You're trying to use music as a way to get to
know somebody a little better or maybe share
your feelings with them. And this song does just
that in a cute, almost innocent kind of way.
And heck, if they check no, then at least you
have your answer right then and there. You don't
have to worry about anything else. Maybe put
this as the first song. So that way. So that
way you don't have to add any extra songs if
she checks no. Anyway. I'm amusing myself with
that one. Sorry about that. But honestly, Check
Yes or No is one of my favorite George Strait
songs of the 90s. And he has so, so, so many
hits. And while this was just one of the three
songs that was added to the straight out of the
box box set, I feel like it's up there with some
of the best songs he's ever written. So by all
means, this has to make this playlist. And it
gives me an excuse to touch on some country music
coming out of Uncle Cracker's smile to end the
first half of it. But coming out of that, I'm
going to stick with something that is country,
but is also pop, but is also not by the original
artist. Because I've been trying to give some
tips in this on how to impress somebody through
music. And I'm not sure if this impresses somebody
or not. That's the music nerd in me thinking
it might impress somebody. Let's just say you're
interested in someone who's a big Taylor Swift
fan, but you, on the other hand, aren't. That's
okay. You can still include Taylor Swift on your
mixtape or playlist for this person in a way
that speaks in your own musical voice. Now, what
do I mean by that? It's pretty simple. There
are tons of Taylor Swift cover songs out there.
I did a whole episode on different versions of
Taylor Swift's Cruel Summer, if you want to check
that out. But that's not the song I'm going to
go with. I'm going to go with a song that leans
directly into this topic, You Belong With Me,
when she was still doing country as her main
style of music. However, as much as I do like
Taylor's version of that song, if I'm trying
to impress somebody and let them get to know
me musically, With the knowledge that they're
a Taylor Swift fan, I would drop Butch Walker's
rendition of You Belong With Me on this mixtape
for a crush. Why? Because Butch Walker is more
where I align musically. So this tells this person,
every time you've talked about Taylor Swift,
I've heard you. But here's your favorite artist.
Through music that I listen to. Will this make
this other person become a Butch Walker fan?
Who knows? I mean, I think everybody should be
a Butch Walker fan, but that's besides the point.
Will this person be offended at the fact that
their beloved Taylor Swift is being covered in
a slightly different way? You're running a risk.
You're taking chances. So if anything. This person
has to respect the effort you're putting in,
the thought behind the fact that you're taking
an artist that she likes and trying to introduce
music you like through something she's already
familiar with. And I think that's a unique approach
to mixtaping or playlisting. See, in the 80s,
there were a ton of cover songs from the 50s
and 60s that breathed new light into songs. Billy
Idol did Money Money. Kylie Minogue did the locomotion.
Kim Wilde did You Keep Me Hanging On. But there
was a 20 or 30 year age gap between the original
and the cover slash reimagined version by another
artist. However, nowadays, I've seen covers get
produced within weeks of the original becoming
popular. And that's a completely different dynamic
that just didn't happen in music in the 80s and
90s. where a song would become a number one hit,
and then within a couple of weeks, you've got
a punk cover, you've got a rock cover, you've
got a country cover. And I'm not talking about
these AI versions that are out there. I'm talking
about bands that go into the studio and professionally
record a version of a hit song in the same timeframe
that the original came out. Case in point. I
had Jared Reddick for Bowling for Soup on the
show, and he told me the first time he heard
Miley Cyrus' Flowers that he knew that Bowling
for Soup had to cover it. And within a few months,
Bowling for Soup's cover of Miley Cyrus' Flowers
could be found on all the streaming sites. This
is something you were not able to take advantage
of when I was growing up, and I think you should
use to your advantage now if you're trying to
show somebody your musical side of things through
songs that they're already familiar with. Now,
if you haven't heard Butch Walker's cover of
You Belong With Me, you owe it to yourself to
check it out, whether you're a fan of Taylor
Swift's version or not. This is a campfire sing
-along track that he does so well. There's such
an honesty to this cover. You could tell he loves
the original. But he brought something to this
song that gives it a completely different dynamic.
It's gender -flipped. And it works so well. And
there's a bounce to the song that I am going
to use as a way to transition into the next song
that I am going to choose for this Songs for
a Crush playlist. And depending on where you're
from and where you want to position this song,
this could be something that goes all the way
back to the 80s, or you can use it in the 90s,
or you can use it in the 2000s. Because the song
originally came out in the late 80s, but it was
not a hit, at least in the US, until the movie
Benny and June. So I am going with the Proclaimers.
I'm going to be 500 miles. Benny and June made
this song a massive hit in the 90s, even though
the song was several years old already at the
time. However, in the 2000s, the song took on
another life in the TV show How I Met Your Mother.
I'm not going to use the reference because if
you haven't seen the show, it's better to kind
of discover the lore of that song within the
show. But if you're a fan of it, you know exactly
what I'm talking about. So depending on what
decade you're from, there are different instances
you could use the song. If you're going the music
nerd route like me, you can go back to the 1988
version from Sunshine on Leith. If you're in
the 90s, you can use the Benny and June route.
And the 2000s, the How I Met Your Mother route.
A little something for everybody. But coming
out of the bounce that Butch Walker's cover of
You Belong With Me has, I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles
is the perfect follow -up song. Lyrically, it
fits well with the song's sound. When I'm lonely,
well, you know I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be the
man who's lonely without you. And when I'm dreaming,
well, you know I'm gonna dream. I'm gonna dream
about the time when I'm with you. This is another
one of those songs that you could definitely
use in the form of a friendship. Or something
more. So it has that little bit of a play there.
Just in case the person's not as receptive, there
you go. You have your out. Now let's go back
to the 90s. You have a crush on somebody who
is into Johnny Depp and loves Benny and June.
You're not so much a fan of I'm Gonna Be 500
Miles. You can go the punk route, as Down By
Law had a fantastic punk cover that came out
in the 90s. And if you're a punk rock person
and they're maybe getting introduced to it, what
a perfect way to introduce them to a genre of
music that they might not be familiar with. I
was huge into metal and punk in high school.
I also had an affinity for pop and pop rock and
everything else. So just as eclectic as I am
musically now, I was in high school. So I had
no problem listening to the original version
or the cover, maybe much to the chagrin of people
I made mixtapes for. It was all good as far as
I'm concerned. I've covered this song so many
times in concert. It actually pairs up really
nicely with Cheap Chick's Surrender. And if you're
also into punk covers, MXPX does a version that
kind of mashes the two up. Works so well together.
So yeah, for some reason, punk rock and I'm Gonna
Be 500 Miles do go hand in hand on several occasions.
Definitely worth looking that up. Now coming
out of The Proclaimers. I think I'm going to
stay with something that works as both a punk
cover as well as a light and airy power pop song,
because that's what the original is. In the original,
this is the late 90s now. This song, you could
not escape on radio. And as far as I'm concerned,
this song is power pop perfection. It's one of
my favorite power pop songs of all time. My father
was a huge Backman Turner Overdrive fan. I listened
to the two album nonstop growing up. And in the
90s, when Randy Backman's son, Tal Backman, came
out with the song She's So High, it instantly
resonated with me before I even realized that
it was Randy's son. Now, Backman Turner Overdrive
just toured this past year, and Tal is in the
band with them. And they do break the song out
in the set. If you haven't seen it, it's definitely
worth checking out. But She's So High is one
of those songs that puts this person up on a
bit of a pedestal. Now, don't get me wrong. This
is in no way, shape, or form to the level of
Radiohead's Creep, but lyrics like, she's got
the best of everything. What could a guy like
me ever really offer? She's perfect as she can
be. Why should I even bother? Yes, there's a
bit of self -deprecation in the lyrics to this
song, but it's so insanely catchy. You just look
over all of that. And you get sucked into this
melody and these vocals and this power pop perfection.
I know I've used those three words together before,
but that's what this song is. One of the best
power pop songs of the 90s. And here we are well
over 25 years later. And I'm still wondering
how Tal did not have a massive career after this
song because it is so insanely catchy. And I
am not a movie buff by any stretch of the imagination.
I know a lot more of you out there are than I
am. So please correct me. If I'm wrong, but I
feel like she's so high was in pretty much every
single teen and romantic comedy that was released
from like 1999 until I don't know yesterday.
If I'm wrong out there, movie fans, please let
me know. Now, again, if you want to stay away
from the power pop thing and you're a heavier
fan, look up the four year strong cover. You
can get your punk rock version in. and still
get the message across through that cover. Now,
I know a lot of the songs I've talked about tonight
come from a guy's perspective. Some can work
in both directions, like Uncle Cracker's Smile.
But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the recipient
of mixtapes in the 90s. And I wanted to choose
a song to close things out tonight that comes
from the female perspective. And a song that
I had received on a mixtape once that definitely
resonated with me and is a song that I think...
fits this style and this theme really well is
sixpence none the richers kiss me keeping that
light and breezy pop tone it kind of flows with
a lot of the songs we've talked about tonight
it's very flirty the lyrics kiss me beneath the
milky twilight lead me out on the moonlit floor
lift your open hand strike up the band and make
the fireflies dance silver moon sparkling so
kiss me Thank you. Use the song sentiment, but
not necessarily the sound of the original tune.
But with that, we have the second half of this
Songs for a Crush playlist, which kicked off
on the country side of the spectrum with George
Strait's Check Yes or No, followed up by Butch
Walker's cover of Taylor Swift's You Belong With
Me, The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles,
Tal Backman's She's So High, And then wrapping
this crushed mixtape up on a nice bow with Sixpence,
None the Richers, Kiss Me. Just as a reminder,
you can head over to myweeklymixtape .com to
hear all the songs I've discussed in this mix
through the playlist embedded on the episode
page. Now here comes the fun part. Here's where
the conversation continues. I want to know what
songs you think are ideal to send to a crush.
I am not talking about love songs. I am not talking
about songs you send somebody that you are in
a loving, committed relationship with for a long
time. I am talking about those introductory songs,
the songs that flirt a little bit, that kind
of test the waters. Musical icebreakers, if you
will. Is this friendship? Is this something more?
What songs would you add to this playlist? It
could be any decade, any genre. I want to hear
what songs come to your mind. Hit me up, myweeklymixtape
at gmail .com. If you're listening on Spotify,
use that comment feature. You can also reach
out to me on social media at myweeklymixtape.
You can use the contact page over at myweeklymixtape
.com or you can join the conversation with the
fellow mixtapers over at patreon .com forward
slash myweeklymixtape. It's free to join and
there's other tiers if you'd like to support
the show a little bit extra. Also, I want to
hear your topic ideas for future episodes. Just
the way Brian Rosenberg sent in this topic, I
want to know which topics you have in mind. You
can use any of those platforms to reach out and
send me new topic ideas. I will add them to this
randomizer. And every single time I do an episode
of this nature, I will push the button and maybe
your topic will come up. I'll be sure to give
you a shout out like I did for Brian today. Brian,
thank you so much. for sending this one in. This
was a lot of fun to talk about. And I hope I
did this topic justice. I hope this is what you
were looking for. Now, if you are listening on
Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, any of the places,
be sure to leave me a five -star review, a thumbs
up, drop a comment about what you liked about
the episode. Do all the things. Please help me
spread the word about My Weekly Mixtape so that
other music fans can find the show. My name is
Brian Colburn. This has been My Weekly Mixtape.
And until next time, enjoy the tunes.