Songs I'm Embarrassed To Like
mixed by Justin Anderson
PERFECT FOR:
Listening to while I'm alone; Making me uncomfortable if other people are around; Denial.
INTRODUCTION:
First things first: I ain't talking about kitsch value here, dig? These are songs that I genuinely enjoy listening to. Not 'cause they're "so bad they're good" or because they're "hilarious," but because I honestly, truly like them. And I am also honestly, truly embarrassed by this fact. These are songs that I realize I shouldn't like, either because they're by an artist I don't respect, are a part of a genre of music I particularly dislike or are one-hit wonders I just never stopped liking. As much as I do appreciate the appreciation of things for kitsch value, I think we can all agree that it's getting a little tired now. And, I mean, if you think deep down about stuff - such as songs, lets say - that you tell yourself you like for kitsch or camp value, I think there's a damn good chance you'll realise that you actually like them for real, and that the whole kitsch thing is just a distancing mechanism that lets you enjoy something you don't think you should enjoy without sacrificing your all-important hipster street cred. And I guess I should mention here that these are songs that I, Justin Anderson, am embarrassed to like. Maybe you're not embarrassed to like them. Maybe you don't like them at all. I don't care. If you want to make a mix tape of shit you're embarrassed to like, I suggest starting your own goddamn website. What am I, a fucking mind-reader?
TRACK LIST:
DMX - Get At Me Dog
Korn - Got The Life
Jay-Z - Big Pimpin'
Michelle Branch - All You Wanted
Jimmy Ray - Are You Jimmy Ray?
Filter - Take A Picture
Diana Ross - Upside Down
House Of Pain - Shamrocks & Shenanigans
Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack
Men At Work - Down Under
Wyclef Jean - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
A-Ha - Take On Me
Nelly - Ride Wit Me
Nelly - E.I.
Nelly - Hot In Herre
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Okay. So at this point, I'm figuring you've probably lost a significant amount of whatever respect you had for ol' Justin. Am I right? Yeah? Well, fuck you. There's the usual sampling of '80s hits that other people in their mid-20s will probably appreciate, like A-Ha and the Men At Work. And the Nelly? That's why they invented the Internet, Napster, then Audiogalaxy, and then Kazaa. As for the Michelle Branch, yeah, I know, I checked my testicles at the door on the way in, thanks.
LISTENING INSTRUCTIONS:
Hell, I don't know. I guess if I'm around when you listen to it, you could probably make fun of me pretty effectively. Or if I'm not, you could listen to and think about how much of a loser you think I am. Then again, while you're doing that, I'll probably be out partying or scoring with chicks, so that would probably call into question which one of us is the loser: the one partying and scoring with chicks, or the one playing a mix tape to embarrass someone who's not even present? Good question, butternuts. Good fucking question.
