Athena was complaining that she was getting bored with the music CDs I had made her earlier, and started hinting that she might want to start listening to those terrifying Kidz BOP CDs if I didn’t do something about it. Thus, the Athena Mix ’06, filled with a combination of music which, hopefully, will turn her from the terror of the sing-along empire of crap that the Kidz BOP CDs represent. Here’s what’s on the CD:
1. “Three Small Words,” from the Josie & The Pussycats soundtrack — Yes, I know what you’re going to say. But, you know what? The songs for this movie were written by the guy from Fountains of Wayne and sung by the chick from Letters to Cleo, and they don’t suck. This song is happy and peppy and that’s fine.
2. “Starlight” by Muse — from the band’s brand-spankin’ new CD Black Holes and Revelations. The entire CD is what you would expect from a band that’s been fed nothing but Queen and space opera SF, and this song in particular is like Queen’s “39” pumped full of Red Bull and ecstasy. Irresistable.
3. “Vacation” by the Go Gos — Because if you’re going to go 80s girl band, why not go Go Gos?
4. “The Rock Show” by Blink-182 — a mildly inappropriate choice, because the band lays a big fat profanity right in the middle of the song, but Athena already likes Blink-182, and she knows that if she uses profanity, there’s going to be trouble here in River City. There have been a couple other songs she likes that have bad words in them, and she’s not taken to singing them with the profanity in them, so she’s got a track record of being trustworthy about these things, and that’s nice.
5. “Dreaming” by Blondie — For my money, the best Blondie song.
6. “Love Cats” by the Cure — Whimsical and slinky fun, and probably a better match for Athena’s personality at the moment than other Cure songs. We’ll introduce her to Disintegration gradually.
7. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson — Yeah, Kelly Clarkson. Go on, make something of it.
8. “This is Holloween” from the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack — because how is she going to become a goth if you don’t start her off early? This is actually one of her favorite songs.
9. “Celebrity Skin” by Hole — Back when Courtney Love wasn’t completely and entirely insane. Great noise.
10. “Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)” by Depeche Mode — A lot noiser and more aggressive than the original, and rather a bit better for it.
11. “I Love You Always Forever” by Donna Lewis — Nice pretty song. I rather inexplicably have a soft spot for it. Really can’t explain it. Afraid to try. Suspect that on that path lies madness.
12. “Polly Wolly Doodle” by Dan Zanes — Hey! A song from an actual children’s album! Because, you know. Why not.
13. “Run Baby Run” by Garbage — Athena’s been a fan of Garbage for a while now, and I can’t say I disapprove.
14. “Song 2” by Blur — When Athena was 18 months old or so, she used to stomp around the house screaming “Whoo-hoo!” whenever this song came on. Time for a reunion between the two.
15. “Everyday” by Erasure — a cover of the Buddy Holly song. She’ll like it better this way.
16. “Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)” by Icicle Works — Catchy minor 80s hit. Athena’s interested in drumming, and this has thumpety thumpety thump drums all through it.
17. “She Bop” by Cyndi Lauper — Yes, I know what it’s about. However, Athena doesn’t.
18. “Jump Jive an Wail” by Brian Setzer Orchestra — Gets you hoppin’ and boppin’, which is what your basic seven-year-old needs.
19. “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers — So she knows early what depressed boys pining sounds like.
20. “Re: Your Brains” by Jonathan Coulton — Because there are frankly too few songs about zombies and corporate speak; also, she get a kick out of singing the chorus, which goes “All we want to do is eat your brains!” How can you not like that?
That’s what I’m feeding my kid musically.
