Making a Mixtape

Draft 2

I couldn’t think of anything to write today. But, I was listening to a lot of music today, so I thought I’d try to make a mixtape. The theme is inspiration, specifically academic inspiration.

Front Side:
Anthem by Harry Chapin
Anything I’m Not by Lenka
Corner of the Sky from the Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording)
Country Dreams by Harry Chapin
Cover of the Rolling Stone by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
Dammit Janet by the Rocky Horror Cast
Dancing Queen by ABBA
Don’t Stop Believing by Journey

Back Side:
Grey Seal by Elton John
A Hard Day’s Night by the Beatles
Heartbeat (It’s a Love Beat) by the DeFranco Family
How Far I’ll Go from Moana
It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me by Billy Joel
Kelly the Boy from Killane by the High Kings
Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
Long Goodbye by the Nadas
Mo Ghile Mear by Celtic Thunder

Explanation: Like Chapin’s protagonist, who’s “looking for an anthem”, I start by searching for motivation to start a paper. But, within seconds of writing a paper, I realize that it’s hard to be “Anything I’m Not”, and I’m hoinh to procrastinate. I’ll go find my “Corner of the Sky” to hang out at until I have the motivation to work. While in the “Country(,) Dreams” of avoiding responsibility come into my head. But, if I want to make it “On the Cover of the Rolling Stone”, I’ll need to get to work, and “Dammit Janet”¹ I can’t think of anything. I just want to be “Dancing (to) Queen”, not writing this paper. But I know that if I “Don’t stop Believing” and write this paper, I might have time to go out.

I can’t really work “Grey Seal” in here, but it’s a good next song. As I look at the clock, unsure of whether the 6 is an AM or PM, I realize it’s been “A Hard Day’s Night”. And, as the deadline approaches, our heart may start pumping out of control. But, if we remember that “Heartbeat (It’s a Love Beat)” you can tell yourself that it’s not panic, it’s love of the topic.

As the paper continues, I often wonder “How Far I’ll Go” in trying to finish the paper. What’s the tenuous connection I hope the professor won’t latch on to.

Each paper and assignment is still somehow different from the one before. But, as Billy Joel points out, “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me”. Every work is different, but the same in principle.

“Kelly the Boy from Killane” is just a bop.

As I’ve mentioned a lot so far, as a deadline draws near, students often feel nervous, like they’re “Living On A Prayer”. And, as we look at the work we have left in the semester, and the time left to do it, we may have to say a “Long Goodbye” to our friends until the work we all have is resolved.

But, we have hope that we’ll make it through. “Mo Ghile Mear” is a song of hope, so it seems fitting to end the list.

Draft 1

As I’ve mentioned in many other posts, I like music. So, I decided that I would make a mix tape today. Cassette tapes apparently hold 60-90 minutes of music, so that seems like a good length to shoot for. I’ll assume 30 minutes per side, since I’m feeling unambitious.

Next I need a theme. I think today’s theme will be inspiration. It’s the point in the semester where it seems that inspiration is needed.² Of course, inspiration comes in a variety of places. So, I’ll start with “Anthem” by Harry Chapin.³ I’ll follow it with Lenka’s “Anything I’m Not”.^4 5 Next is “Corner of the Sky” from the Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording) ⁶ Following that will be “Country Dreams” by Harry Chapin.^7,8 Next: “Cover of the Rolling Stone” by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.⁹ After this: “Dammit Janet” by the Rocky Horror Cast.¹⁰ Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t throw some ABBA in, so next is Dancing Queen.^11,12 Continuing the theme of powerpop from older generations’ childhoods, “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey.¹³

Backside: “Grey Seal” by Elton John.¹⁴ It was so tempting to put another Harry Chapin song here,¹⁵ but instead, “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles.¹⁶ And: “Heartbeat (It’s a Love Beat)” by the DeFranco Family.¹⁷ Following that, “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.¹⁸ Next: since I realize I’m missing Billy Joel, “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me”.¹⁹ “Kelly The Boy from Killane” as performed by the High Kings follows this.²⁰ Returning to nostalgia I have no right to have, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi.²¹ And, following that, a song by an Iowa group^,footnoteyay! “Long Goodbye” by the Nadas.²² Finishing off the playlist, “Mo Ghile Mear” as performed by Celtic Thunder.²³

Time to give the playlist a²⁴ listen, then revise/add comments. To begin: I started with Harry Chapin’s “Anthem,” because it has a strong driving beat, which helps focus, and it has lyrics that I appreciate. Also, the background instrumentation feels much sparser than most of his songs, which I appreciate.

Anything I’m Not follows, as it too has a strong pulse. Unlike Chapin, Lenka has²⁵ a much more cheerful outlook. The song ends with an idea of escaping, and becoming free, which fits in so well with the next song.

Corner of the Sky is my favorite Pippin song, and one of my favorite musical theatre songs. Like many graduates of my high school, I have fond memories of watching our choir director sing this song at our senior choir concert. The song helps keep me focused when I really need to get work done.²⁶ It speaks about finding where you belong, which the next Chapin song, “Country Dreams” does as well.

Unlike in the Pippin song, Chapin fully accepts that he’s given up on his dreams. But, he’s accepted that, and still keeps on trucking. Especially as deadlines approach, knowing that you’ve got something, even if it’s not what you want, is all you can sometimes ask for.

But, we still dream big, and so to do Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show’s in “Cover of the Rolling Stone”. Of course, once you’re at the top, there’s always something that can go wrong. A car could break down outside of a house, and you might need to go into a creepy house to get your way back to civilization.

Of course, that’s nonsense, but “Dammit Janet” from Rocky Horror Picture Show has the strong beat that we appreciated in the first songs, and speaks of Brad’s²⁷ goal to achieve.

Next, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA starts with the line that students dream of during studies.²⁸ After 20 minutes of concentration, I need something to lighten my spirits.

Of course, the next song, “Don’t Stop Believing” speaks to me every time I know I don’t have enough time to finish an assignment. Somehow, I’ll make it through. And there ends the front side.

In the time it takes me to switch our metaphorical cassette tape over,²⁹ I need a quick and lively introduction. Elton John’s “Grey Seal” gives that to me. Then, since homework is still continuing, “A Hard Day’s Night” goes through my head when I’ve been inside a building working on an assignment, and am not sure which 6 the clock is pointing to.³⁰ And, as the deadline approaches, our heart may start pumping out of control. But, if we remember that “Heartbeat (It’s a Love Beat)” you can tell yourself that it’s not panic, it’s love of the topic.

As the paper continues, I often wonder “How Far I’ll Go” in trying to finish the paper. What’s the tenuous connection I hope the professor won’t latch on to.

Each paper and assignment is still somehow different from the one before. But, as Billy Joel points out, “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me”. Every work is different, but the same in principle.

There’s nothing special about “Kelly the Boy from Killane”, it’s just a motivational song.

As I’ve mentioned a lot so far, as a deadline draws near, students often feel nervous, like they’re “Living On A Prayer”. And, as we look at the work we have left in the semester, and the time left to do it, we may have to say a “Long Goodbye” to our friends until the work we all have is resolved. And, like any good playlist, it ends with hope. Specifically, hope that someone will come set us free. Here, “Mo Ghile Mear” stands in nicely.