10-TRACK MIND: The lyrics don't make sense but the emotions do

Fashion Cents columnist Grace Ortelre put her iPod on shuffle. This is where it led her ...

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10-TRACK MIND: The lyrics don’t make sense but the emotions do

POSTED: Thursday, August 4, 2011, 10:00 AM

My secret collection of '90s music has surfaced

Fashion Cents columnist Grace Ortelre put her iPod on shuffle. This is where it led her ...

1. "Save Tonight" — Eagle-Eye Cherry
I can tell this is going to be an embarrassing endeavor — already my secret collection of '90s music has surfaced. This song reminds me of past summer flings that have come to an abrupt end just around this time of year. I can relate to that feeling of the one last night together, delaying misery over a bottle of wine before daylight comes. The singer was named Eagle-Eye because the first time he looked at his father he did so with only one eye open.

2. "Who Are You Now" — Lupe Fiasco ft. B.O.B.
Lupe didn’t get the best feedback on his recent album Lasers, and I’ve heard people argue this song should have gone on the album with others like “The Show Goes On.” I appreciate the song’s attempt to address issues of women being shaped by the media, but it’s just not my favorite.

3. "John" — Lil’ Wayne ft. Rick Ross
I’ve been borderline obsessed with Lil’ Wayne since maybe 2006 — to the point that a friend and I made plans to start a non-profit benefiting the Holly Grove projects in New Orleans, where Weezy was born and raised, in the hope that we could somehow use that to meet him (and, of course, to help people and all). Now, if you turn on the radio, Lil’ Wayne will be featured in three out of five songs. But you won’t hear much of his newer rock-inspired tracks like "Prom Queen," which helps us understand why rappers should never try to sing. “John” at least shows he might still be trying. Weezy, if you’re reading this, please release a new mixtape! And call me ...

4. "Northeast" — Matt & Kim
Matt, on vocals and keyboard, and Kim, on drums, comprise both an awesome couple and punk duo. This particular song invokes nostalgia somewhere between images of a snowy Boston campus and a grimy New York City alley. It also stirs up a sense of loneliness combined with a connection to everything in the world. Typical of Matt & Kim songs, the lyrics don’t make sense but the emotions do.

5. "Heroin" — Kenn Kweder
I think anyone who’s graduated Penn in the past 30 years knows who Kweder is. Any Tuesday night, you’re sure to find Kweder at Smokey Joe’s performing a mixture of folk and rock to a fawning crowd of students. When this song comes on, we go crazy. I can proudly say I’ve danced onstage with and am Facebook friends with the man himself. Although I have no personal experience with the substance for which the song is titled, unrequited love sucks. And the song is fun to jump up and down to.

6. "Discovery" — I Want You Back
This song is an electronica cover of the classic Jackson 5 song. It takes the same lyrics and basic melody and brings them into the 21st century. Can’t go wrong there.

7. "Good Luck" — Basement Jaxx ft. Lisa Kekaula
Unfortunately, Basement Jaxx is most known for the '90s song “Where’s Your Head At,” which many now find annoying when it comes on between innings at baseball games. However, the “house music” duo has released some other addictive songs, including one of my favorites, “Raindrops.” This song, released in 2004, reached 12 on the UK Singles Chart, although it doesn’t ring a bell for most in the US.

8. "The Reeling (Groove Police Remix)" — Passion Pitt
The original version of this song is from one of my favorite albums, Manners. The electro-pop group used the elementary school chorus from Public School 22 in Staten Island, N.Y., for the background vocals in this song and for two others on the album. A better remix, used in an episode of the British series Skins, exists, but this one’s great when you want to get your dance on.

9. "Wrong Way" — Sublime
The lyrics of this song, as many of Sublime’s songs, are not appropriate for children. It’s about Annie, a 12-year-old prostitute. Sublime was part of the third wave ska movement in the '90s, and this song was released after the death of lead singer Bradley Nowell by heroin overdose. It has a catchy beat and a sweet trombone solo.

10. "Debra" — Beck
After helping out with makeup for my high school’s production of Alice in Wonderland, the cast and crew assembled in the parking lot for a tradition. The lead male got on top of a car and performed a strip tease while this song — which is both hilarious, as the singer describes his hots for a girl named Jenny and her sister Debra, and oddly seductive (is that a saxophone in the background?) — blasted from a boombox. After perusing the internet for a long time I found it and downloaded it, surprised it’s from the same group that did one of my favorite alternative rock, blues-inspired songs “Scarecrow.”

Wanna submit a 10-TRACK MIND of your own? Just put your iPod on shuffle, write about the first 10 songs and email it to josh.middleton@citypaper.net. No cheating!

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