Hey Peeps!
With Christmas just a month away, I’ve got to get cracking on my go to gift for my mum and sis.
The Ultimate Mix CD Project
Since 2007 I’ve given them each a Phenomenal Women’s Mix CD, a compilation of all female artists and the songs are usually upbeat and dance-worthy. A few years ago I added in what I call a Cafe’ Mix – mellow music for hanging at home and which allows male and female artists. Since 2012, I’ve enlisted YOUR help with creating those awesome playlists.
I need your brilliant ideas again now!
And to thank you, I’ll pick 2 commenters at random to win copies of the 2 cds!
I’m guessing no one wants my fake NaNo album – created in a black hole of stress rage. I called it Blames it On the Hormones.
No takers? None? Ok.
Then here are some ideas to get you thinking about types of songs to suggest!
*****
For the Phenomenal Women Mix:
My Silver Lining ~ First Aid Kit
This is the song I keep playing on repeat. Lurve!
Hideaway ~ Kiesza
She did this music video in one take. One take!!!
Enough ~ The Mrs
The ladies behind the magic talking mirror. Had to be included!
For the Cafe’ Mix:
Paper Cup ~ The Shoe
Did you know actress Jena Malone has a band? And it’s awesome! This video is flippin’ weird, but I love this song, and every other song on their debut album I’m Okay.
Poison & Wine ~ The Civil Wars
Haunting and beautiful. Hurt and yet thankful. Haven’t we all felt this way at some point?
Stay With Me ~ Bernhoft
A great male addition to my mix. Love the song, and hadn’t heard much buzz about him before, but found this song via my Songza app.
*****
What do you think of these tunes so far?
What other songs should I add? Share your favorites!
Jess Witkins' Happiness Project 
This morning, I’ve been listening to a mellow favorite of mine, so I might as well share that one. “Mull of Kintyre” by Paul McCartney and Wings. I love the bagpipes!
Ooh I used one their tunes on my mix last year! Great suggestion!
Adore that song.
When I saw “Paper Cup,” I thought it was this one. Love this song. Been singing it since I was a little girl. Not sure which mix it would go in, though. Very cool of you to do this for your mom and sister. 🙂
It’s their favorite gift. I like putting it together.
I will check out the other Paper Cup song!
Great picks! Love seeing The Mrs. on your list. 🙂 I’m of course partial to “Brave” by Sara Bareilles. 😉 She has some awesome live versions I particularly love.
Ok don’t get mad, but I actually don’t like that song. It sounds just like Roar by Katy Perry, who I like but she is over played on the radio. But the lyrics from Sara’s song are great! Maaaaaybe you’ll convert me.
I’d never get mad about that! I love Sara’s artistry and agree about the lyrics — and am biased, cuz it’s my show’s theme song. 🙂 #NoConversionRequested
So many songs, so little time…
“Colors” – Be Forest
“Over My Head” – Blind Mr. Jones
“Murderous Joy” – Carter Tanton
“California” – Low
“Oblivion” – M83
“When I’m Small” – Phantogram
“Out of Tune” – Real Estate
“Half Asleep” – School of Seven Bells
“Violets in a Pool” – Tamaryn
I even alphabeticized them for you!
LOL Awesome! And you need to check out Jaybone Bell. He’s a local musician. Just saw him perform and I think you’d like him.
OK, will do. I love discovering new music!
Forgot to add Boy and Bear “Southern Sun” and Courtney Barnett “Anonymous Club” to my list.
You know I love when you do this! Such great musical stuff here. That Poison & Wine song was amazing.
So here are a few of the picks I’ve been listening to this past year:
“Lonely in Your Nightmare” – Mor (interesting Duran Duran cover, which I downloaded for novel-writing inspiration)
“The Heart” – NEEDTOBREATHE
“Tree to Grow” – Lone Bellow
“Stripes” or “Crazy Women” (take your pick) – Brandy Clark
“Falling Like Stars” – Caitlin Nicol-Thomas (love this whole movie soundtrack for The Song)
And in honor of your recent nuptials…”You and Me” – You + Me (video below)
Yay! Can’t wait to listen! I love Needtobreathe. I’ve used a couple of their songs in the past.
Great suggestions, I really like the “Happy” song by Pharrel Williams
Yah you can’t not dance when you hear that one. 🙂
How about the “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” cover by Lorde? Love that version–haunting and powerful. 🙂
Okay, that’s some weird, repetitive extended version, but you get the idea. LOL!
Oooh that is a good one and my sister likes Lorde.
I love “My Silver Lining” – hadn’t heard that until now.
It’s a bit cheesy for the phenomenal women CD, but I’m always ready to dance to “Something New” by Girls Aloud or anything by them really. 🙂
And for the Cafe Mix, I’d listen to “Riptide”, possibly my favourite song of the year.
I am obsessed with First Aid Kit right now! Glad I’ve enlisted another fan.
Thanks for the new tunes to check out!
[…] different videos today, but I think the one that touched me most was shared on Facebook by my pal, Jess Witkins. Watch this and see if the power of this message doesn’t move you the way it did […]
Anais Mitchell – “Young Man in America” (yes, she is named after Anais Nin)
Lisa Hannigan – “Knots” (if nothing else watch the video it’s fun)
Mirah – “Oxen Hope”
Sylvan Esso – “Hey Mami”
And for the Cafe Mix
Robert Plant – “Rainbow”
Anyone named Anais has got to be cool! And I love me some Robert Plant!
First Aid Kit’s “The Lion’s Roar” was the first song I ever learned to play properly! Love them. And her voice in The Civil Wars is always hauntingly beautiful.
I’m so sad The Civil Wars aren’t together anymore. I loved all their music.
Some suggestions:
Feist – The Bad in Each Other
Metric – Gimme Sympathy
Little Dragon – Something off her new album
Wye Oak – The Tower
St. Vincent – Something off of Strange Mercy (I suggest Surgeon)
Awesome! Thanks Anthony! A lot of new names on that list. I’ve only listened to Feist before. Always appreciate learning about new artists!
[…] Thank you all so much for sharing your musical suggestions with me. To see all the recommendations, check out The Ultimate Mix CD Project. […]