This week’s theme for Twisted Mixtape is “guilty pleasures.”
1. “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees
By the time I reached high school, I had firmly placed myself on the rock side of the rock vs. disco schism that divided us all. I had a secret disco past, though. Although I can’t dance, my one disco claim to fame was somehow earning second place at a Sunday night juice party when the local disco allowed its mirrored ball to flash on kids from junior high. A dorky boy and I, a dorky girl, went through the choreographed routine we had learned at our disco lessons. Now, when I hear this song all these years later, I know how cheesy it is, but I still smile widely at how much I love it. I’m staying alive. Just don’t tell the Class of ’83.
2. “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass
I actually don’t feel guilty about this one. I love it, but my husband always groans when it comes on. Could it actually be a bad song, and I don’t know it? I don’t think so, but my husband and I are usually quite in synch. The man does like “Black Coffee in Bed,” though, so we can’t give him too much credence.
3. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
I love to hate Phil Collins. I just can’t stand him, and there were those years when he was even infecting my beloved Eric Clapton. But yeah, yeah, yeah, this is an okay song.
4. “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
I initially rejected this song when my kids played it for me by calling it “noisy.” Yes, I am oftentimes musically stuck in the 1970s. A few weeks later, I played it for my kids, saying I liked it, without remembering that I had called it noisy. Yes, they are still teasing me about that one.
5. “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent
The man’s a gun nut, but I’ve always liked this song. Do you feel conflicted when you like an artist whose character you dislike? I’m a big Woody Allen fan, so this conflict rears its head pretty frequently in my universe.
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Check out some more guilty pleasures at Twisted Mixtape.
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