mixtape of the people, for the people, by the HBCC

(Emmitt Smith is Handsome. Boobs McGee is Handsome too)

First off, congratulations to Emmit Smith who won last night’s dancing with the stars. Wow! Is this guy handsome or what?! Besides, beating AC Slater at anything is pretty much phenomenal. Sup now, Zach?

Second, parties.

Okay, so we started talking about this earlier this week, but I passed over one of the quint-e-fucking-ssential aspects of a good party: the music. Yeah, I said it, the music. Namely, the mixtape. Because unless you’re going to hire a DJ (lame) you don’t want to be hunched over your Apple iBook all night changing tracks at randome. It’s usually better (in this case) to get an iTunes playlist all lined up before people come over so you can DJ a little and then put it on automatic at other times.

Really though, good music I think can make or break a party. It’s like working in PR: when things are going right, no one says shit. When things are going wrong, everybody’s got something to say and no one’s having a good time.

Now, this will forever be up for debate: what makes a great mix tape? Sure, there are a ton of other factors to consider (genre, years, party theme, etc. etc. etc.) Well, readers, I’m gonna need your help and I’m going to try to be as specific as possible.

I’m going to take on the DJ duties at my 12 year middle school reunion (I know, a little untraditional, but that’s just how we roll at Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington Hills, MI) So, I’m trying to put together the ultimate mix tape that’s just gonna throw everybody straight back to 1994 and earlier, when we used to go lace up our roller skates at Bonaventure skate rink or hit the arcade and watch all the Caldeans go crazy on Mortal Kombat or listening to 96.3FM on the radio.

Late 80’s, early 90’s is what I’m thinking here people. (yes, I ‘graduated’ middle school in ’94) But think about it: what a difficult time period to fit into one mixtape. I mean, shit, in just the first four years of the 90’s alone you’ve got two major genres exploding: gangster rap and grunge. Those two alone put you at opposite ends of the spectrum with regard to audiences. Then throw in the waning hair rock thing, the teen idols (Debbie Gibson, anyone?), the emerging boy bands (when did NKOTB hit it?), the R&B groups (boys to men), and some emo in there somewhere (that has never really been my forte).So, okay, enough rambling. Please help me out here. Below is a list that the HBCC has come up with. Your help is greatly appreciated. Feel free to leave artist and song suggestions in the comments section, because I have the feeling that for the people who frequent the HBCC, this kind of thing is right in their wheelhouse. THANKS! (I’ll post the final playlist in like two weeks time once I’m done compiling and building and sculpting and painting my masterpiece. click on the list to enlarge and then click again to magnify)