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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