in which i reminsice about mixtapes

so, sometimes i get nostalgic for the relationship people used to have with music. now, don't get me wrong - i adore my ipod (they'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hand before i give it up), and the ability to buy one song off of an album and the creation of playlists is brilliance. what i'm talking about the long-lost artifact known as a mixtape. these could represent something simple, like an easily accessible collection of your favorite songs. it could be a love letter, letting someone know your feelings via songs. it could be a gift shared between friends. mixtapes had a lot of meanings, and considering it took hours and hours to make a really kickass mixtape, people bonded with their creations.

a few mixtapes that meant something over the years to me:

*on my sixteenth birthday, my dad made a mixtape of songs all about turning or being sixteen. took the guy such a long time, because he did it all off of vinyl. that tape meant a lot to me because it showed me that my dad put a lot of thought and energy into giving me something. sure, he could've bought me a gift certificate to the record store at the mall (those extinct creatures), but the tape meant a hell of a lot more.

*when the husband and i began dating, he made me a mix cd (the evolution of the mixtape). it was filled with songs that he felt helped shape or represent who he was over the years. that was so illuminating to me - because, yeah. music tells you a lot about a person. every time i hear one of those songs, i instantly think of him. i fell in love with windmills as i fell in love with him.

*the best friend used to make awesome mix cds - even better, she's an artist, so she'd make these fabulous covers for me. some were collages, some paintings - all made the mixes even better. know what i mean? isn't it funny how homemade covers can do that to a mixtape?

*perhaps my favorite mixtape (er, mix cd) i still bust out occasionally was one the best friend and i made together - damn, something like over a decade ago. we called it "for the love of sinbad" and put a host of awesome tunes on it. better yet, we created this amazing cover that had the gilligan's island crew with sinbad's head superimposed over one of the characters. yeah, we had a serious love of all things sinbad. who could resist the big lug? i think what made it so memorable was that we had so much fun making it.

it doesn't seem like too many people spend time making mixtapes anymore. anyone can pull a playlist together in a matter of minutes, not hours. my playlists grow and recede, based on my current fancies. i miss those mixtapes, i miss what it meant to make them and receive them.

tift merritt feels the same way, i think. this song, off of her new album, see you on the moon, waxes poetic about the long lost artform. it's a great song, groovy and yet cool (handclaps!) - kick back and reminisce on times gone by...

you, how did you get so wise?
i take the advice i find in your eyes.
me, i've been waiting outside
most of my life,
oh like a rare b-side.

i'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
analog to show we're lovers,
and here under the jacket folds inside,
i've taped my heart for you to find.

to find the perfect way,
which album to say,
i la-la-love you.
with this plastic cassette,
it's not finished yet,
it's gonna tell you slowly.

i'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
strings and drawings show we're lovers,
when you're driving around in the summertime,
to hear again, just press rewind.

rewind, the world comes to an end,
turns over again,
another 1000 times.
but me, i'll be the same.
no, i never change,
oh, like a rare b-side.

i'll be making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
analog to show we're lovers,
so much rock and roll love in a plastic case,
play it loudly, see my face.
i'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers,
mazzy star, donovan's colors,
just an audio love letter painted blue,
i spent all day making for you

(mp3) mixtape by tift merrit (via the burning ear)

the video: