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Q: If you were to burn the perfect mix CD for a girl, what songs would you put on it? In other words; what are the 15 greatest punk rock love songs and why? A: Alright dude,
You have got to play this smart. You have got to play this cool. Cool like a cucumber. Cool like Jamie Fox. Cool like Jamie Farr. (You kids probably don't know who Jamie Farr is)
Anyways, I speak from personal experience, be SURE to give this girl a mix tape of *love* songs only if you know exactly what she wants. If she hasn't even indicated that she wants a mixtape, maybe don't even do it at all. I know John Cusack thinks mixtapes show how "deep down, emotional, and clever" you are, but he lied. For the most part, when you give a girl a mixtape, she will just think you are a tool bag or a creeper or like waaaaay to attached like that episode of "Freaks and Geeks" where Nick sings Styx to Lindsay. If she has indicated that she wants a mixtape, but not a LOVE mixtape, no love songs. I know you are 17 and you really want to let this girl know that she is your one, your only, your everything, but DON'T do it holmes! She's just looking to have some good times and is not looking for like a really serious, French drama-style statement. Keep it light, breezy, rockin and funny. Ixnay on the love songs-ay. Just do an awesome, straight up, not-love mixtape- kickin tunes, baby! Also, most of the girls that I have went out with would think that a love mixtape would be really, really cheesy. (They'd really want a good tunes mix tape, and a few even wanted like crust punk/anarcho mixtape and stuff, which was cool) Not all girls are like that, though.
IF AND ONLY IF, you are really sure that she wants a LOVE SONG mixtape from you, go with the classics, keep it varied, and keep it light as possible:
1."Do You Wanna Dance"- The Ramones - a cover, but a great and fun way to start a mixtape. Also, it shows you are not too too serious. It also has a killer opening. Also, this makes it a concept album because it begins with the starts of a relationship. Man! I am clever!
2."Dancin with Myself"- Generation X- Man, this song is the jam. Y'all might be too punx for this, but Gen X actually has some pretty heavy cred and this is just a clock rock and roller in every sense of the word.
3."I Wanna be Your Dog"- The Stooges- A little edgy, but kind of funny, but it also shows that you actually want to bang , which a lot of dudes forget to include when expressing their love to chicks.
4."Let's Hang On (To What We Got)"- Frankie Valli and the four seasons- I know that Frankie Valli isn't really punk, but this song is recorded in sort of a punk fashion, rocks, and is a good change of tempo from the other jams. Plus, this will ease off of "I wanna be your dog".
5."I Want Candy"- Bow wow wow- Did you know that Bow wow wow is actually a punk band with connections to Adam and the Ants AND the Sex Pistols? Look it up.
6."Hope"- Descendents- This song is a little bit of a downer if you really read the lyrics, but the Descendents rocks and you don't want to be too sappy. Plus if you are making mixtapes, I can tell you ain't "the bad boy" so you gotta just put all your cards on the table. (And I feel you, bro. I'm not a bad boy either. We have got to stick to our strengths, yo.)
7."Bring it on Home"- Joan Jett- Joan Jett covers this classic Sam Cooke song and she makes it awesome and punk, but still soulful.
8."Love Song"- The Damned- this is not sappy and is a striaght up rocker. It keeps with the theme but prevents "love overkill." Also, I think I just made an awesome 80's hair band.
9.Something by Masked Intruder- all these songs are the same, but people seem to like them
10."When I Come Around"- Green Day- I don't even know if this is a love song or not, but the riff is pretty good and it has the cadence of a love song, I think.
11."Let's Make This Precious"- Dexy's midnight runners- Did you know that dExys actually has some pretty punk rock cred, too? Look it up. This is a real pull me close kind of song.
12."A pair of brown eyes"- The Pogues- what a jam. Kind of slow like the last, but the next song really emphasizes these two songs meanings.
13."1-2 I've got a crush on you"- The Clash- maybe a little too sappy, but you can take the risk, because this song is so good and it kicks it up after the last two.
14."Don't push" -Sublime- People always hate on Sublime, but they are wrong. This song has a bit of a love aspect to it, but has really clever lyrics and also has a party aspect. Plus, I find, that 99% of people that aren't trying to out-punx one another, actually really like Sublime. I do.
15."Only Anarchists are Pretyy"- World/Inferno Friendship Society- Really, maybe the best punk love song there is.
16."Punk rock girl"- The Dead Milkmen- This is THE classic punk love jam. Not too serious, funny, but kind of serious. A+
Have fun mackin, my home-dawg, but as always, play this smart, see?
-John G
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