Mix Tape Friday: Anything You Can Sing

The adorably studious and flirtiffic Eebie inspired this week’s mix tape. I was mulling over what to feature when he asked if I had 10,000 Maniac’s “Peace Train.” Well, of course I do — and thus Anything You Can Sing, I Can Sing Better was born — the flip side to the recent Rhythmic Hotties mix tape.

We know the originals — but these babes prove that anything you boys can sing, we can sing better. Well, most songs; you can’t best R.E.M.

Björk :: It’s Oh so Quiet

Juliana Hatfield :: Don’t Lie to Me

The Raveonettes :: My Boyfriend’s Back

Liz Phair :: Turning Japanese

Letters to Cleo :: Cruel to Be Kind

The Jody Grind :: Wishin’ and Hopin’

Cyndi Lauper + The Minus 5 :: Midnight Radio

Big Brother & The Holding Company :: Piece of My Heart

No Doubt :: It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Queen Latifah, Shades + Free :: Mr. Big Stuff

The Cardigans :: The Boys Are Back in Town

10,000 Maniacs :: Peace Train

Linda Ronstadt :: Willin’

Sam Phillips :: Gimme Some Truth

Anna Waronker :: You’re so Vain

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts :: Crimson and Clover

Joan Osborne :: Love Is Alive

Aretha Franklin :: Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Angie Stone :: Groove Me

Sinéad O'Connor :: Nothing Compares 2 U

Amy Winehouse :: To Know Him Is to Love Him

Joss Stone :: L-O-V-E

Sarah McLachlan :: Wear Your Love Like Heaven

Ivy :: Let’s Go to Bed

Aimee Mann :: What the World Needs Now

Johnette Napolitano feat. Marc Moreland :: Hurting Each Other

Charlie Hunter Trio feat. Norah Jones :: More Than This

Velvet Belly :: The Man with the Child in His Eyes

Shelby Lynne :: The Look of Love

She & Him :: You Really Got a Hold on Me

Cat Power :: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Hem :: Rainy Night in Georgia

k.d. lang :: After the Gold Rush

Lucinda Williams :: Which Will

Shawn Colvin :: (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night

Indigo Girls :: House at Pooh Corner

The Beautiful South :: Dream a Little Dream

Cry, Cry, Cry :: Fall on Me

Frente! :: Bizarre Love Triangle

Deborah Harry :: My Last Date (With You)

Neko Case :: Soulful Shade of Blue

Patti Smith :: Midnight Rider

Annie Lennox :: Train in Vain

Sheryl Crow, India.Aire, Lisa Lopes + Liz Phair :: Give a Little Bit

I’ll make it easy for you boys with the one-click zip file.

So many great tunes were cut this week. Yes, you should lash me for not including Siouxsie & The Banshees’ “Dear Prudence” or “The Passenger,” or Dido’s “Fire and Rain,” or any of The Pretenders’ brilliant covers. But at least I spared you Mandy Moore’s cover of “Senses Working Overtime” … for now.

Find the Buck :: Yeah, Peter’s there with Cyndi Lauper and The Minus 5 — but he’s also backing another babe on this tape, along with Mike Mills and Bill Berry. Where are my boys?

Be sure to listen to The Jody Grind’s cover of the Dusty Springfield classic. That lovely voice you hear is the amazing (and one-time Atlantan) Kelly Hogan; the song begins and ends with the late poet Deacon Lunchbox.

You should also listen to She & Him. She is Zooey Deschanel. She proved her pipes in Elf, and the debut CD is quite good.

Trivia Question :: I hope Johnette Napolitano's sublime “Hurting Each Other” sends the same shivers down your spine I get every time I listen. Who suggested the name “Concrete Blonde” to her?

Get all girlie on my comment box and let me know which babelicious cover tunes you’re dying to hear.

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Mix Tape Friday: It's My Party!

And I’ll dance if I want to.

Today’s tape is my birthday party mix. My birthday’s Tuesday, but the celebration begins today with forty-nine favorite songs that get me up offa that thang — you should have seen the dance moves up and down my hall this week! — one song for each glorious year of life.

There’s no big party this year; I’m saving the candles and streamers for next year’s milestone birthday. This year’s celebration will be a party of two. Out of town. With candles and champagne. And probably a bauble purchase or seven.

Since I wanted one tape with my favorite dancing tunes, you’ll see some repeats this week. Added bonus: There isn’t much room for debate since these are *my* favorite dancing songs — although I would like to know some of your favorite get-up-offas.

R.E.M. :: Radio Free Europe

The Replacements :: I Will Dare

Beck :: Black Tambourine

Joe Jackson :: I’m the Man

Andrew W.K. :: We Want Fun

Morris Day & The Time :: Jungle Love

Deee-lite :: Groove Is in the Heart

Pavement :: Stereo

Cloud Cult :: Happy Hippo

The B-52’s :: Mesopotamia

Cameo :: Word Up

Elvis Costello :: Tear off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)

The Clash :: Radio Clash

Blur :: Song 2

U2 :: Elevation (Tomb Raider Mix)

Elastica :: Connection

The Roots feat. Cody Chesnutt :: Seed 2.0

The Pretenders :: Middle of the Road

The Beatles :: Revolution

Sonic Youth :: Incinerate

Mike Watt feat. Eddie Vedder :: Against the 70’s

Wilco :: Heavy Metal Drummer

Spoon :: Don’t You Evah

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles :: Going to a Go-Go

Soup Dragons :: Divine Thing

The Pixies :: Here Comes Your Man

Prince :: My Name Is Prince

Sugar :: Your Favorite Thing

The Farm :: Groovy Train

The Pipettes :: Dirty Mind

The Jackson 5 :: ABC

Naked Eyes :: Promises, Promises

XTC :: Life Begins at the Hop

David Bowie :: Fashion

Brothers Johnson :: Get the Funk Out Ma Face

Cypress Hill :: Insane in the Membrane

Pylon :: Feast on My Heart

10,000 Maniacs :: Pit Viper

Super Furry Animals :: (Drawing) Rings Around the World

The Gap Band :: You Dropped a Bomb on Me

The Ramones :: Judy Is a Punk

Tone Loc :: Funky Cold Medina

The Whigs :: Right Hand on My Heart

The Raveonettes :: Attack of the Ghost Riders

Kool & The Gang :: Jungle Boogie

Devo :: Uncontrollable Urge

Curtis Mayfield :: Move on up

The Rolling Stones :: Little T&A

George Clinton :: Last Dance

Don’t miss a dance — download the zip file and get your party shoes on the dance floor with me!

Here’s a party favor for you:

R.E.M. :: Supernatural Superserious

Find the Buck: Peter, of course, starts off the tape with “Radio Free Europe” — but there’s a Buck guitar solo in another song. Which one? The first person who guesses correctly gets to suggest two songs for the (very special) April 4 mix tape.

Favorite Boy has been giving me grief about my “Heavy Metal Drummer” obsession. He doesn’t understand why I love this above all Wilco songs; there are, after all, several better ones in the catalog. I just love the happy feeling, the energy of the song — and the lyrics build great visuals in my fuzzy head. And I dance*dance*dance when I hear it.

“I Will Dare” has been one of my favorite songs since Let It Be was released in 1984. Like “Heavy Metal Drummer,” it has great energy — and I always bust out dancin’ on the first note. I also love the line How smart are you? / How old am I? / Let’s count the rings / Around my eyes. Paul Westerberg writes some frickin’ fantastic lyrics, doesn’t he? (BTW, I’m playing “I Will Dare” and chair-dancin’ my chaired ass off while writing this.)

“Happy Hippo” boasts the most fun use of Neil Young ever on record. Who knew Neil could be a dance track?

My Cool Cred: "Revolution" is my mother's favorite Beatles song. The woman can dance when that record is spinning 'round the turntable.

Dance, children. Dance all damn weekend.

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