(So I did these 4 mixes and write ups about 3 or 4 years ago. Just happened upon them again, saw the links were dead so figured I’d re-up them. All the writing is from the original posts ,with a few edits made. I added and removed a few songs cause some of the older song files got corrupted years ago)
Some of you are probably too young to even know this was once a thing, but there was a time when making a mix for a girl was every sucker-for-love types go to move. I’m not talking about putting together a soulless playlist on I-tunes and exporting it into a some girls external hard drive. I’m talking about sitting by a cassette player, dubbing songs from cd’s and tapes onto a cassette or cd. I’m talking about writing down the song titles and artists with your bare hands on that paper fold out that came with the blank cd/cassettes. I’m talking about optional artwork you might add to the cover and maybe even personal notes written to the girl you’re giving the cd/tape to. This took time and thought. You had to literally sit and listen to every song as it recorded and even consider the order of the songs. Often putting songs in a very particular order to somehow purvey a message. It was , in a way, an expression of art and desire , concealed as a casual thing you just did for a buddy. A buddy, I might add, that you wanted to have sex with.
In my mid teens to my mid 20’s, I was shy with girls. Because that was an era when people actually had to talk on the phone and communicate like humans, it wasn’t as easy as it is now. We couldn’t just send a text pic of our cocks and call it a day. We had to actually use words that came out of our mouths. Because that was never entirely in my comfort zone, I always would make girls mixes. If I liked you, I’d make you a mix (unless it was just some girl who had heard another mix I had made for another girl and asked me for one cause she too wanted cool music to listen to).
Making a successful mix for a girl was walking a fine line. You wanted to , first and foremost, give them good music. Music you legitimately enjoy. You also wanted to be subtle. Love songs were a must but making a whole mix of slow jams was kinda presumptuous. You had to spoon feed your intentions. I’d imagine crafting a mix tape that gets across the right emotions without being too overt could be compared to sculpting a bonsai tree. It was about balance. Pretty songs, funny songs, message songs and just songs you liked and wanted to share. It was truly a craft.
When done right, mix tapes would resonate with that girl. To this day, I’d like to think there are girls out there who, when they hear certain songs, they think of my bum ass. That’s the beauty of music really. It sticks around in a persons head and rattles their thoughts. There are still tons of songs I hear all the time that take me to a specific place and time whenever I hear them. A place I would otherwise assume I had long forgotten. With a proper mixtape, it could be like a deep tissue massage for the soul of some girls you once liked. AND , perhaps, they would make out with you because of it.
Another cool thing about making mixes for girls was you could throw on that corny song you secretly like cause, well, there’s a good chance the girl’s music taste would be cornier than yours and like it just as much.
So, I decided to make some mix tapes for girls…Basically, I put together 4 mixes of songs. Each with an angle. Each going for a different vibe. But, fellas, don’t be dissuaded by all this girl talk. These are still, for the most part, awesome songs. Songs that men are allowed to like (well, some of them are straight up embarrassing but that’s the point).
This first one is the more “upbeat” of the mixes. That doesn’t mean it’s for dancing but it has happier moods. This is the mixtape you wanna give a girl that you like, but you’re not crazy serious about. Like, you wanna bone her, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. If nothing else, it’s a good intro mix.
Also, long time readers might be familiar with some of these songs , as I’ve been doing the “song of the day” thing for years now. Sorry about that but that’s how it is. Whatever, stop complaining for once and enjoy it. Free music , dude.
The “What’s up?” mix
http://www83.zippyshare.com/v/G4YaCsCG/file.html
1)I only have love: Syl Johnson
2)Artibella:Ken Boothe
3)Fever:Little Willie John
4)Golden Brown: The Stranglers
5)Love that will not die: Johnny “guitar” Watson
6)You’ve made me so very happy: Lou Rawls
7)Why can’t we live together: Timmy Thomas
8)Left with a broken heart: john Holt
9)Missing: Beck
10)Ruby Lee: Bill Withers
11)Sexy Secrets: The Midnight Show
12)You push, I’ll Go: Baby Dayliner
13)I love you all: Frank
14)Season (waiting on you): Future islands (BBNG Remix)
The “Eclectic” mix
This mix is the one you give a girl when you want her to think you’re interesting. There’s no theme. No genre that dominates. It’s a very random collection of songs that a girl will peep and perhaps think, “hmm…this guy is sorta strange. Perhaps i will investigate further”. It spans different era’s, social scenes, moods and ranges from obscure to a song she might have made out with a guy to in college (That song being, “So Anxious”)
Now, because i’m not really a rock and roll kinda guy, you’ll notice that my mixes tend to be kinda thin in that genre. I realize this is a gaping hole in my mixology. I know, the ladies love rock and roll. But the thing about making mixes for girls is that if you try and pander to the girls too much to the point where it’s not even your taste, you’re kinda playing yourself. Go with what you know. And besides, mixes have never been about omissions. They’re all about selections. And a mix like this shows a subtle versatility that a cool girl will pick up on. Even if she doesn’t like some of the songs you chose, she will , at least, respect where you’re coming from.
Also, bare in mind that I’m not “in the loop” with much super current music. If this mix seems like it could have been made 10 years ago, it totally could have. But, hey, a good song should be timeless. Just cause you’ve moved onto to some new genre like shoe-gaze, electro weep-step doesn’t mean that music made 5 years ago is no longer enjoyable.
http://www3.zippyshare.com/v/nvsHK6V0/file.html
1)Nightcall: Kavinsky
2)Underwear: The magnetic fields
3)A modern promise: Francis and the lights
4)Aht uh mi hed: Shuggie Otis
5)Sheep: Gonjusufi
6)Cry: Godley and cream
7)I never cared for you: Willie Nelson
8)All i need: Air
9)Baby Bitch: Ween
10)A silver Key…: Lilliput
11)Love Dog: Tv on the Radio
12)I was a a landscape in your dream: Of Montreal
13)Dames a dime a dozen: Beat the devil
14)Hands away: Interpol
15)So anxious: Genuine
16)Innocent when you dream: Tom Waits
The “I’m sorry” mix
This mix for girls is for that special occasion when you’ve fucked up. This is that mix you give to the girl to try and express how devastated you are that she is no longer in your life. It’s the “low blow” of mixes cause it’s full of beautiful and sad songs with all sorts of mixed messages. I’m not gonna lie, there is a sociopath element to making a decent mix tape for a girl. Especially when it’s purpose is to win her back after screwing her over. It’s manipulating emotions and trying to hit nerves that may or may not still be active. When you’ve fucked up , there is only so much “I’m sorry” you can say before it becomes a repetitive. That’s when the “I’m sorry” mix comes in handy.
Not only will it express your feelings better than you could ever do (most likely via a text message, you piece of shit) but it’s relentless. Song after song of heartbreak , regret, or even just a straight up pretty song that strikes a chord . It’s a real test to how dead in the water you are in this relationship cause , if she has any feelings for you still, this should bring them out. If not, the light switch in her head has been flicked and it’s time to move on. Perhaps start working on one of those ” Hey, I’m eclectic and interesting” type mixes for whatever future girl you might encounter
All psychology of this mix aside, these are all awesome songs that actually play as well for a rainy day inside or a bad hangover as they do for burying your face in a pillow and weeping all day. That’s what’s so cool about music. It’s so flexible.
So, here’s the “last hope” mix. Use it wisely.
http://www3.zippyshare.com/v/HPMKzYXY/file.html
1)I love you more than you’ll ever know: Donny Hathaway
2)Strong as death (sweet as love): Al Green
3)You are mine: Eddie ray
4)I’ll take care of you: Bobby “Blue” Bland
5)In the rain: The Dramatics
6)Out getting ribs:King Krule
7)With these hands: Les Mccann
8)Free Ride: Nick Drake
9)Just to keep you satisfied: Marvin Gaye
10)Between the bars: Madeleine Peyroux
11)I believe to my soul: Ray Charles
12)Hope there’s someone: Antony and the Johnsons
13)Wayfaring stranger: The Anita Kerr Quartet
14)retrograde:James Blake
”Close it out” mix
This is the final chapter. This is the “close it out” mix. This is you at your most vulnerable. How vulnerable? How bout a fucking James ingram song? yeah…THAT vulnerable. This mix is a blend of well known classics, obscure jewels and just enough corny syrupy shit to top it off perfectly. This is definitely the mix with the most guilty pleasure songs. I mean…it’s hard for me to skip “100 ways” when it comes on my ipod but I’d be embarrassed as fuck if anyone ever actually caught me listening to that song alone.
The one common factor these songs all have is that they play into a mood. Often, with mix tapes, you walk a fine line of romance and sadness. This one has songs like that coming out the ass.
So, enjoy it…and if you’ve used these and haven’t gotten the ass…I really don’t know what to tell you. She’s just not that into you, bro.
http://www3.zippyshare.com/v/rAHWd2cM/file.html
1)Colours: Donovan
2)Possibly Maybe Remix: Bjork
3)On Lovers Lane: The Giraffes
4)On a Clear Day: The Peddlers
5)Fire and Rain: The Isley Brothers
6)How come you don’t call me anymore: Prince
7)That’s you my love: Johnny Cool
8)Morning Sunrise:Weldon Irving
9)A change gonna come: Otis Redding
10)Cruisin’:D’angelo
11)Don’t look down: Thundersticks
12)I love you: Eddie Holman
13)Intimate friends: Eddie Kendricks
14)One hundred ways: James Ingram
