Mix Tape Friday: 52 Girls

I’m in a girlie mood this week. I get much of my creative inspiration from The B-52’s — hairdo and hemlines, catch phrases and cosmic things — so let’s base today’s mix tape on one of my favorite tunes by the B’s: 52 Girls.

Interesting mix of girls today — dynamic and danceable, sad and swooning — even a song about a prime minister. Celebrate the ladies today with pretty pink pop.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions :: Alison

Richard Buckner :: Ariel Ramirez

The Who :: Athena

The Four Tops :: Bernadette

Kiss :: Beth

The Twilight Singers :: Bonnie Brae

Warren Zevon :: Carmelita

Simon & Garfunkel :: Cecilia

Billy Bragg :: Cindy of a Thousand Lives

Big Star :: O, Dana

Beck :: Debra

Robyn Hitchcock feat. Peter Buck + Scott McCaughey :: Elizabeth Jade

Beulah :: Emma Blowgun's Last Stand

Lyle Lovett :: Fiona

John Hiatt :: Georgia Rae

The Brunettes :: Too Big for Bridget

Johnny Thunders :: Gloria

Neil Diamond :: Holly Holy

Ian Hunter :: Irene Wilde

Split Enz :: Iris

Van Halen :: Jamie’s Crying

Jon Astley :: Jane’s Getting Serious

Donovan :: Jennifer Juniper

Belle & Sebastian :: Photo Jenny

Guided by Voices :: The Best of Jill Hives

Clem Snide :: Joan Jett of Arc

Michael Nesmith & The First National Band :: Joanne

Steely Dan :: Josie

John Fred & His Playboy Band :: Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)

The Beatles :: Julia

The Decemberists :: Leslie Anne Levine

Blood, Sweat, & Tears :: Lucretia McEvil

Rod Stewart :: Maggie Mae

The English Beat :: Stand Down Margaret

Lloyd Cole :: Margo’s Waltz

Nick Lowe :: Maureen

The Association :: Along Comes Mary

The Allman Brothers Band :: Melissa

Grant Lee Phillips :: Mona Lisa

Pete Yorn :: For Nancy (Cos’ It Already Is)

Prince :: Darling Nikki

Rickie Lee Jones :: Walk Away Renee

Billy Joel :: Rosalinda’s Eyes

Bruce Springsteen :: Rosalita (Come out Tonight)

Edison Lighthouse :: Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

Cake :: Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town

Death Cab for Cutie :: What Sarah Said

The Ramones :: Sheena Is a Punk Rocker

The Four Seasons :: Sherry

Elton John :: Susie (Dramas)

Camper Van Beethoven :: Tania

The Rolling Stones :: Sweet Virginia

Some of my very favorite songs are on this list. If I’d ever had a daughter, I would have named her after John Lennon’s beautiful and haunting “Julia.” The Four Tops’ tune is another Top 100; I embarrassed myself every damn day this week shouting “Bernadette!” whenever I played it. (Speaking of self-embarrassment, I went way over the top singing Michael Nesmith’s “ah-HA-ah” in “Joanne”; it’s great for those days when you feel a bit cowboy.) And what about that one-two aural punch of “Irene Wilde” and “Iris”! There’s brilliance in alphabetical order, kids.

One of my least favorite songs — Kiss’ “Beth” — is also included here, because … well, because that’s the only song I can find with my name, dammit. Guys always sang that to me in high school and college. Blech. The only person who can get by singing it to me is Sherman Alexie. Well, I’d also giggle if Bruce Campbell or Keith Olbermmmmm serenaded me with it.

Strangely, some of my favorite ones did NOT make the list. I included Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” because it has such great energy — but I prefer “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her.”

R.E.M. doesn’t sing a lot of songs to girls — except “Hey, Hey Nadine,” which I included on a mix tape a month or so ago — but Mr. Buck is representin’ the beloveds with Robyn Hitchcock.

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