So Today I Made You a Mix Tape...

 (and that song is not on it)

Here it is

But unlike the early days of our courtship, I didn't record it off the Ska Punk Show or burn it from songs downloaded from Napster and Audio Galaxy (we don't have a CD player anyways) And therefore there was nothing for me to decorate and I couldn't include an insert with all the pictures and song lyrics and drawings. So a digital mix tape and this blog are going to have to do.

Music has been such an important part of our relationship (duh) It's what we first found in common- minus ICP, your posters freaked me out! And it's something I can't imagine our lives without. From concerts to dance lessons, vacations and cleaning the house, we always hear songs and they instantly bring us back to a specific time and place.

This is our soundtrack of the last 11 and half years. It was a challenge, because just like a real cassette and CD I had a space limit. Also there are a few that just barely didn't make it, or the stupid service didn't have the song, but we'll go over that later. So here's your insert. As you wish :-*

SIDE A:

So cute and young and not officially a couple. Just best friends playing arcade games at Golfland!

Extraordinary: The Suicide Machines

These guys played a crazy large role in the infant-days of our relationship, but this one always makes me think of us. Days of bowling, miniature golf, movies, arcades, goofing off, stealing your shoes to wear on local access television...

 "Although I never thought about it I must really like teasing you
And if you're wondering why I look at you the way that I do because...

  That day will be etched in my mind as the day that I made you mine
That day will live in my head as the biggest mistake of my life
Only kidding cause...
There's an extraordinary thing about you
That I can't put my finger on or figure out, it's funny"

**What should be here is "Weekends" by Punchline but the stupid Mixtaping did not have it**

  "If seeing is believing, than I'm sorry this won't work
ICQ and AOL, but it will still be hard at first
No more calling you real early just to hear your voice
Believe me that I love you, but I have no other choice
...
And then the last kiss goodbye you smile and wipe your tears away
(I'll always love you) 

I know this will be hard but we'll be fine
Call me at nine"

This one still makes me cry every time I hear it. I know, what doesn't? I remember thinking how hard that first year and a half was. The distance was awful. God bless AIM. I remember loving the sound of that door opening, or free nights and weekends kicking in at 9:00. 

so many goodbyes in this airport

 Living In Your Letters: Dashboard Confessional

This one was a gimme, especially since they didn't have "Weekends." (We were so emotional and full of angst in those days!) Pretty sure this one also made it onto one of the early mix CDs I made you. 

"Phone calls from further away, and messages on my machine
But I don't ever tell you this distance seems terrible
There is no need to test my heart, with useless space
These roads go on forever

There will always be a place, for you... in my heart"

Our days spent together weren't many, but we made them count.

Thanx for Stayin: Reggie and the Full Effect

This one is special for two reasons... One: you stole this CD (and Less Than Jake) for nearly a year. Two: We got to play it at our wedding. I've always loved this one.

"I won't give up on you
You know that's what I'm sayin'
Tell me you know it's true
Thank you for always stayin'
Please say you're here
not far but near
When I'm away
Be back one day"

 Everyone was impressed by our style both on and off the dance floor :P 

And to our parents: we still don't regret the Chuck Taylors 

Zoot Suit Riot: Cherry Poppin' Daddies

Leander High School Prom... **sigh** (I won't tell you where it took place, but there were two trees involved) So exciting, I even went all "Pretty In Pink" and tore apart and remade my dress! But like a typical Texas prom, they only played country and hip hop, until we requested something we could dance to. We had no idea what we were doing (now that we know how to sort of dance) But that DJ was excited to put on some swing songs for us and we tore up the dance floor. 

Pulse!!

Let's Go (instrumental): Buddy Klein 

How many nights did we spend playing this game? Capture the flag, tag, designing ridiculous cars... So many fond memories of late nights and shoving all my wins in your face! 

My camera, you with a guitar <3
I Won't Spend Another Night Alone: The Ataris

Of course The Ataris had to be on here, it was just a matter of which one, but I've always thought of this as our unofficial song. 

"If I had one wish this is what it would be...
I'd ask you to spend all your time here with me,
And we'd be together forever 

We'd buy a small house in south central L.A.
Raise lots of kids then we'd both join a gang
Just as long as we're together
The things you make me wanna do
I'd rob a kwik-e-mart for you
I'd go to the pound and let all the cats go free
Just as long as you'd be with me
I won't spend another night alone."

 Cute Without the 'E' (cut from the team): Taking Back Sunday

There were a lot of songs that could have gone in this spot. It stands for every song we sing at the top of our lungs in the car (that's a lot) But really, this is the Pièce de résistance. We have the parts down, and the screams... yeah, this was the winner for sure. Runner-ups were, Reel Big Fish's "New York, New York" (we rock those harmonies) and Something Corporate's "Konstantine" (pretty sure you married me for my amazing dashboard piano solos) 

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea: Neutral Milk Hotel

This. This reminds me of college and long drives at night, home from school or work or to my parents or star gazing. Just this. <3

"What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me"

Say Yes: Elliott Smith

Elliott's music is probably the only thing you love slightly more than me. In all seriousness, I love your quiet passion and intense love for his music. Very few people ever connect to anything that deeply and I regret so much you never got to see him live. So many nights listening to his records, always reminds me of cooler days at school... So I don't embarrass you any further, I'll just leave by saying that's why I fell in love with you- your ability to love and connect so personally. 

 SIDE B:

I've got big, big plans...

 Bedroom Talk: The Starting Line

After we got engaged I sang this song all the time. Probably not the most appropriate, but it will forever remind me of that time in our lives. A recent visit to myspace showed it was my last profile song. (I haven't been active in a long time apparently who has?) 

 
with these things there's no telling, we'll just have to wait and see...

First Day of My Life: Bright Eyes 

And here we are finally. The big day. I don't think there's ever been a time in my life that has moved so fast and so slow at the same time. This song was so special for so long, and then I had to walk down the aisle to it. I'm for sure a crybaby now. 

"Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don't know where I am
I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go" 

So smooth Mr. Hampton

More: Nat King Cole

Our first dance. All the hours spent at the studio learning to foxtrot (we nailed that grapevine) So many fun and special moments leading up to the biggest one. I'll never forget prepped and ready in front of everyone at the wedding, waiting for the song to start, and then they needed your password for iTunes. Classic. I know Bobby Darin's version is the one we first heard and fell in love with, but since he's next and this is the version we danced to, I thought it was the best version. 

"Longer than always is a long, long time
But far beyond forever, you'll be mine
I know I never lived before
And my heart is very sure
No one else could love you more.
More than the greatest love the world has known
This is the love that I give to you alone
More than the simple words I try to say
I only live to love you more each day."

 

 They All Laughed: Bobby Darin

So they didn't have the Charlie Biddle Trio from "The Whole Nine Yards" on this website, so Bobby will have to do (Dick Van Dyke's version was a close second) 

In the early days we hit a lot of opposition to us a couple. Everyone from family, friends, and total strangers telling us it wouldn't work. Granted we were in high school in an age without facetime and skype and our cell phones didn't send pictures. But we knew if we wanted it to work, it would. We played this at the wedding, our secret little "told-you-so"

"They laughed at me wanting you
Said it would be, "Hello, Goodbye."
And oh, you came through
Now they're eating humble pie
They all said we'd never get together
Darling, let's take a bow
For ho, ho, ho!
Who's got the last laugh?
Hee, hee, hee!
Let's at the past laugh
Ha, ha, ha!
Who's got the last laugh now?" 

 

That's Wesley busting a move. Are you an mc chris type; a hip hop lovin' half pint?

**here should be White Kids Love Hip Hop" by mc chris but again, no dice** 

we also love mc chris, so much!

for those reading this that are not Wesley: Yup we did a choreographed dance to this at our wedding, (before the YouTube age.) I don't know if a video even exists of this... But those that were there will admit it was unexpected and pretty fantastic. There was also a choreographed dance to "So Long Farewell" from Sound of Music, keep in mind all of this was unplanned. We were just learning a hip hop dance for dance lessons :P 

**Side note: We got married on mc chris' birthday**

 

Surfer Moon: The Beach Boys

I could have put so many Beach Boys songs on here! Listening to this (and Surfer Girl which was exactly two seconds too long) on vinyl while dancing in the kitchen of our first place together. <3

 

 If You're Wondering If I Want You To (I want you to): Weezer

Destroying this on Rockband in the most brilliant way possible with our friends. Dance Parties and kick ass harmonies. Good times and tons of nostlgia (this song brings that out in everyone right??) That's really it.

 one year ago exactly at the happiest place on Earth

 Up with End Credits: Mark Northam

**This isn't the right version, but the right version is almost eight minutes long, and you have to stop listening at 1:30 anyways because that's when the music gets sad. Here's the right version, but stop listening at 1:30, don't say I didn't warn you...**

One of the memories I'll hold onto my entire life is dancing on the streets of Disneyland in front of the castle to the "Up" theme. It was like that magical world was built just for us. I can't put into words how special that moment was, and it's one I won't (couldn't if I tried) elaborate on because it's belongs to us.

Love Like the Movies: The Avett Brothers

Being in love isn't always a piece of cake, (notice how I didn't say married?? Love hurts sometimes, but it's so worth it) I seriously wouldn't want this and us any other way, cause real life really is more than 2 hours long.  

"Well you can freeze frame any moment from a movie
Or run the whole damn thing backwards from reel to reel
But I don't see one single solitary light technician
Or one single camera in this moonlit field
I don't want to be in love like the movies
Cause in the movies they're not in love at all
With a twinkle in their eyes
They're just saying their lines
So we can't be in love like the movies." 

Ho Hey: the Lumineers

Yes, yes this is played all the time on the radio, but it hits close to home right now when things are up in the air. Our house doesn't feel quite like home yet and there are stresses we never thought we needed to worry about.

Also I think of singing SO LOUD with approximately one million other people at ACL last year :)

"So show me family
All the blood that I would bleed

I don't know where I belong
I don't know where I went wrong
But I can write a song
I belong with you, you belong with me 

You're my sweetheart"

feeling real feelings

Storybook Love: Mark Knopfler

Yes, it made the mix!! First movie we watched as a couple, and one I couldn't watch without crying after you went back home to Texas. The character's name was even Westley, cut me some slack! (Runner up to this song was "Danke Schoen" by Wayne Newton)

For those of you reading this who don't know, "The Princess Bride" is one of our favorite movies and books of all time. We even said "As you wish" instead of "I do." But the movie has one of the WORST soundtracks ever. We've heard this song so many times and it's the best worst love song of all time... With the terrible synthesizer throughout the film and the this guy's amazing vocals, you have my favorite love song ever. (And one worthy of closing out this mix.) The perfect amount of cheese, nostalgia and sappiness all rolled up in 4 minutes and 24 seconds.

"My love is like a storybook story

But it's as real as the feelings I feel" 

does songwriting get any better than that?

As you wish.