One Was Magenta
In 2001, I made a mix CD for my friend and colleague Nikki. I called it "One Was Magenta" after a line in the Cibo Matto song, "Know Your Chicken" which I included because her family raises backyard chickens.
Unluckily, and for some crap reason, Apple Music ate up the companion playlist I created to mirror the mix CD. One day the songs just weren't there, and only the shell of a once glorious playlist remained.
Luckily, I'd made a companion webpage for that mix CD and playlist with the songs in order, each with lyrics, each with a "why you should listen" piece, and each with a photo or video for the song.
Unluckily, my domain name expired and I had no cause to really renew it...until I realized Apple Music ate up the companion playlist I created.
Luckily, the web page was preserved in my pretty much defunct Weebly account, which I just logged in to. So I can at least rebuild the playlist in Apple Music. (Well, most of it. Some songs aren't on Apple Music because obscurity.)
Anyway, THIS list comprises the albums from whence most of THAT list's songs came all proving once again: I know my chicken; you got to know your chicken.
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Betty Davis- "They Say I'm Different"
One of the funkiest funk icons ever. She was married to Miles Davis, and I'm convinced she opened the doors for people like Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, etc. Raunchy, funky, provocative, and completely original she had lyrics like, "I used to beat him with a turquoise chain," and "Don't you call her no tramp." Definitely worth a listen if you like your funk down and dirty.
I opened up this compilation with her because I see myself as being a bit different too, especially when it comes to working in the professional state employment realm. I like it when people look at me and say, "You're different than a typical state employee." That's probably one of the best compliments I could get. I strive to be okay with being different. I strive to be okay with being strange. I strive to be okay with being myself.
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Ani DiFranco- "Which Side Are You On?"
The first of a few more overtly socio-political songs on this compilation, this song became kind of a theme song for me during the last presidential administration. For me, it all boils down to the question, "Which side are you on?" And it's as simple as that. One side wants to make voting harder. One does not. One side makes a lot of money from the gun lobby. One does not. One side is endorsed by the KKK.
I love the incessant guitar line. I also thought maybe your daughter would like the marching band feel.
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Cibo Matto- "Know Your Chicken"
Well, I mean, you DO have chickens, so...
This band is called Cibo Matto which is Italian for food madness. On their first album, every song was about food (literally and metaphorically). Two Japanese women rapping about food over beats? Sign me up! The name of this mix comes from this song - one was magenta, the other was a-blue!
I got to see them live and got Miho's autograph.
This song is rated PG-13.
Hi. I’m Matthew.
Yep. I sure am.
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I love listening to music.
Well, good music. And by “good” I mean “stuff that I’ve always listened to because most of what’s coming out today is stupid crap”.
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I love sharing music.
Making a good mixtape for someone is fun to me. Well, I guess they’re called “playlists” now. A bit easier to deal with than pausing recording on the cassette deck and trying to guess if that one last song will fit on the first side and you think it will so you resume recording but it doesn’t fit and you have to rewind and record silence over what you just recorded.
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I love singing music.
As a teen I sang in our chamber ensemble and did stage musicals. As an adult I’ve done a few more community theater musicals, and sang in my local gay men’s chorus for a few years. These days my singing is limited to the car.
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I love music that makes you feel something.
From scared to loved to amazed to awestruck to angry. If it’s elevator music, I’ll pass on it thank you very much (unless your name is Wilson Phillips and you’re singing “Hold On” in which case I’ll join you and sing the harmony parts loudly so people know I’m singing the harmony parts and not the melody parts).
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I’m a bit of a music snob.
I’m OK with that.
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