MIXTAPE

I remember the first mix tape I ever received.  It was circa 1988 and I found it shoved inside my school bag. To this day, I still don’t know who put it in there. It was definitely meant for me. How do I know it wasn't accidentally placed in the wrong school bag you ask?  Well you know, one can never be 100% sure about these things, but  the dead giveaway for me was the cardboard insert on the front that had ‘ Mixtape for Bernadette’ scrawled across it in the messiest handwriting I’d ever seen. Chances are he went on to be a doctor.  

But back to this sweet, sweet mix tape that was, from memory, a bonanza of the Top 40 at the time. Including but not limited to:

Simply Irresistible – Robert Palmer

She’s Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze (I shit you not)

Perfect – Fairground Attraction

Get outta My Dreams – Get into My Car – Billy Ocean (WTF? I assume being 12 he couldn't exactly drive yet. Wait was car a metaphor for something else. You'll have to excuse me, I can be slow to catch on.

And to round it out......

You really got me – The Kinks. Which was the reason the first CD I ever purchased on my own coin was ‘The Best of the Kinks’. So ambiguous, perhaps doctor type, thanks. I owe you one.

There were other songs, but I think the theme here was fairly obvious. Whoever made this tape was totally into me. Possibly psychotically so. And even though stalker wasn’t a term back in 1988 I’m pretty sure it could have applied here. And let’s not sugar coat it. I wasn’t exactly 'the Swan' in year 8. No. I was more the lanky white child with an unexpected afro and an over abundance of freckles. Whoever dug me was clearly wearing coke bottles and had low self esteem. Whatever. This did not stop me from listening to that tape OVER and OVER and OVER again. I read into every lyric. For instance check out these lyrics from Patrick Swayze: 

a) She's like the wind through my tree (yeah, huh?)

b) She rides the night next to me (rides the night? The night’s pretty long. Was this a suggestion I was riding, no wait. I was 12)

So ANYWAY

But seriously, how sweet and/or romantic is a dedicated Mix Tape? Something that has been carefully thought about and laboured over with only you in mind. And there is something that makes you love a song more when someone you like is into it. I went through a massive phase of Fleetwood Mac and Creedance Clear Water Revival for this very reason once.

And sure, my mixtape from 1988 had a decidedly uncool array of pop, but someone, somewhere, sat down and wanted me to know they were thinking about me. Through song. Or as @mrgrumpystephen on Twitter so eloquently put it, ‘if the answer to "why" (they’d make someone a mixed tape) isn't "to get into somebody's pants" then they are lying.

And how's this, a friend recently alerted me to this freaking amazing event/night/thingo

Description

On Saturday 7 January, The Northcote Social Club hosts “The Mix CD Social” – an evening of assorted aural delights, in celebration of the humble mix CD. Did you ever make a Mix CD for a secret crush? Or a road trip? Perhaps when YOU were putting together your musical list of your “all time favourite songs” de jour, you were dubbing to tape. Regardless of which format you were on, the making and sharing of ‘mixes’ has no doubt played a key role in your discovery of some totally bangin’ tracks. At “The Mix CD Social”, bring along your own compilation to receive discounted gig entry. At the end of the night, the discs will be swapped in a blind lucky dip… And everyone goes home with a mystery disc of new music! Live entertainment will be supplied by indie-pop dynamo Georgia Fields, Duke Batavia, and The Barebones. Special guest DJs include Dan Kelly, Angie Hart and Sean M Whelan. The soiree kicks off at 8:30pm, and tickets are $15 on the door, or only $12 if you bring a Mix CD to contribute to the lucky dip. Happy burning…!

This had my name written all over it.

I think we’ve lost the art of mixtaping. And no, I don’t mean playlists on your phone/device of  choice. I mean, heart and soul, message through music, put it in a lovesong, burn onto something that said person can take away and listen to privately kinda thing. 


It doesn’t necessarily have to be for a lover. I made one for one of my best friends for her 30^th because she lived far away and I thought this was the best way she could feel my love for her. I’m not ashamed to say it had the one song we both loved the most as kids, one that featured heavily on the original Karate Kid. One we may or may not have had specific dance moves to.

That’s the thing, the song may be complete shit, but if it means something to either you or them, it means enough to go on a mixtape.

So get mixtaping people. Show someone what they mean to you. 


And now, for your aural pleasure, Here is Peter Cetera and the Glory of Love. This one’s for you Bron.   

And check this out