Monthly Mixtape (Fireworks and Lemonade)

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually only listen to Mariah Carey and Wilson Phillips.

Monthly Mixtape (7.1.15) "Fireworks and Lemonade" / Bev Cooks

I listen to Debbie Gibson, too.

Woo hooooo! I’ve been so freaking jazzed (see what I did there?) to start this new series. Because, before I was Will and Nat’s prop, before Bev Cooks was even a sparkle in my armpit, before marriage, before any of this, it was music. It was all music. You might even say Bev Rocks? You know what, let’s definitely not say that. Anyway, from tot-time, music was my everything. My whole identity. Do you mind if I break out in song real quick? Yes? Wait, you do mind or you don’t mind? I get confused.

It all started for me as a child, when I was petrified of singing in the children’s choir at church. Got over that in a nano, played clarinet in the junior high band, followed by regular choir and show choir in high school. Made All-State three years in a row, beeeez. Not to brag or anything.

Theeeen I went onto sing ALTO (no longer a soprano waaaaaah) in the elite Schola Cantorum at the University of Arkansas. All the while making a few extra college bucks performing folksy gigs with various sets of girlfriend musicians, strumming my acoustic guitar and honing my Jewel craft for every starry-eyed coffee shop boy in town.

Theeeeennnn I got all indie-rock. Parting from my Lilith Fair roots (mostly), I started listening to bands like Modest Mouse and Built to Spill and Ted Leo and The Dismemberment Plan. I bought an electric guitar. Bleached my hair. Joined a band with dudes. Bought a bass guitar. Dyed my hair black. Joined another band with dudes. Bought a different bass guitar. Bleached my hair again. Joined a band with my boyfriend/now husband. May I sing now? No? Okay.

So, this series. At the start of each month I’m going to make you a playlist. Music that I’m currently obsessed with, used to be obsessed with, will always be obsessed with. (And I swear I won’t talk this much before every mix.) I’ve been an avid mixtape maker since the mid ’90s, so I love the idea of dragging over another passion of mine into this space. John Cusack approves this message.

I’m calling this first mix, The “Fireworks and Lemonade” Mix. It’s basically my FAVORITE SONGS EVAR. A greatest hits, if you will. Along with a zillion more, which we’ll get to. Play it on the road to your holiday destination, play it while you get the house ready for your guests this weekend, play it during your Fourth of July cookout. Just play it! It’s some dang good summer jams, yo.

Sorry I said jams.

But not yo.

And now, for the music…

If you don’t want to listen in this browser, you can always click the link rawt thar for later!

The “Fireworks and Lemonade” Mix

(And since I’m technically challenged in a massive way, please let me know if there’s anything wonky about the playlist. It’s a Spotify mix, so you’ll have to have a <free!> account if you click the link.)

I hope you enjoyyyyy!

May I sing now? Still no? Okay.

 

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28 Responses to Monthly Mixtape (Fireworks and Lemonade)

  1. Leslie July 1, 2015 at 8:40 am #
    Love that you are doing this! You have some great choices in there and some new-to-me songs that I am so excited about checking out! I shall now swiffer the house to this glorious playlist!
  2. Ally July 1, 2015 at 8:54 am #
    I am SO EXCITED that you are doing this!! I used to work with Aaron's mom, and came to some of your concerts! I've kept up with you and the babies and everything through your posts and Deborah and this just MAKES MY DAY!! Thank you for doing this!
  3. Lisa July 1, 2015 at 10:12 am #
    When I first started dating my husband he used to make me mix tapes. And back then they were a labor of love since you had to sit there and put the record on and press play and record at the same time. It could be painful. Doesn't it make it seem less special if all you have to do is click to add to a list these days? Oh kids these days don't know the pain that we did! Anyway, I'm always up for more music. Thanks!
  4. jessica July 1, 2015 at 10:32 am #
    Love this. I have super similar past with music, though I was never brave enough to play my guitar in public, I went more of the "local band manager who has no idea what she's doing but makes a kick ass poster" route. The guitar makes a good party trick though, extra points if everyone's buzzed. So excited for these! #indiemusic4lyfe
  5. Lindsay July 1, 2015 at 10:40 am #
    This is awesome! I've read in past posts that you are a big music person and have always debated commenting and asking for music suggestions in one of your posts. You've read my mind. Looking forward to this every month. Thank you!
  6. Brian @ A Thought For Food July 1, 2015 at 10:46 am #
    I love love love this. I sang in number of high school groups, but haven't done anything since. I loved hearing about your history with music... sounds like we have very similar tastes. I immediately went for Elliot Smith, because, really, you can't go wrong with any of his songs. Just bookmarked a song on Pandora - Winds of Change by Fitz and the Tantrums. Digging the sound.
  7. Marcia July 1, 2015 at 10:51 am #
    Eeeeek. My heart skipped a beat. Mixtapes take me waaaay back and now i'm feeling all kinds of nostalgic -- I'm missing my old Ford mustang convertible something fierce now because hello, mixtape. Semi related: I have zero idea what spotify is despite several attempts by husband to demystify it because I'm 32 going on 85. But(!) I signed up and am happily listening as I type. So lets just hope I didn't just sign up to be a mail order bride of joined a cult. Or something equally ridiculous that my brain will inevitably dream up. Its a gift. Muchas gracias for the mixtapes (fist bump)
  8. Hailey Andresen July 1, 2015 at 12:02 pm #
    Love this idea! So excited to listen.
  9. jess @ nineteenspices.com July 1, 2015 at 12:18 pm #
    this playlist = totally what i needed to get my mind right for the holiday weekend. well done, lady.
  10. Jessica July 1, 2015 at 2:49 pm #
    Can I just be like you when I grow up? Or now? When do I become an adult again? Anyway, back to the main message here, which is I LOVE YOUR TASTE IN MUSIC!
  11. Margaret July 1, 2015 at 4:12 pm #
    Hi there! Love your blog and so naturally I love the playlist you created. I'd like to listen to the playlist from Spotify on my phone... I think you need to make the playlist public so it can be searched for on its own and/or found under your profile.
    • Bev Weidner July 1, 2015 at 4:21 pm #
      Fabulous idea! I just made it public, so you should be good to go!
  12. Kimberlee July 1, 2015 at 8:54 pm #
    I'm really looking forward to this new feature! I'm always looking for new to me music. I'll be listening tomorrow when I take my 3 week old on a walk thru the neighborhood. :)
  13. Marcia July 2, 2015 at 8:35 am #
    Humor and food and babies AND MUSIC!?! I didn't think I could love your blog any more and then you do this. Bev Rocks indeed!
  14. Heather July 2, 2015 at 7:30 pm #
    I must be depressingly mainstream because I don't know any of the artists on your playlist, except Fleetwood Mac. Here's to trying new things. Clink!
  15. Div Kamath July 6, 2015 at 1:40 pm #
    I loved the playlist. I will be listening to it on loop for a long time. Could you make this weekly? One month is a really long time to wait for new songs :D
    • Bev Weidner July 7, 2015 at 6:33 am #
      I'm so glad you liked it! And I know. I'm already working on next month's. :)
  16. Natalie July 6, 2015 at 10:00 pm #
    Mmmmm we're music soulmates. Fantastic! :)
  17. Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) July 8, 2015 at 10:01 am #
    That fleetwood mac song is one of my all-time faves!!!
  18. Lindsey July 10, 2015 at 11:13 am #
    I've been listening to this mix nonstop - can't wait for the next one!!!
    • Bev Weidner July 12, 2015 at 12:16 pm #
      You made my day, thank you!! (I'm already obsessed with next month's.)
  19. Dee @ The Kitchen Snob October 4, 2015 at 11:57 am #
    It took me this long to finally remember to go back and listen (usually I'm at work when I see these) and it's awesome! Great idea. I also hadn't tried Spotify before. My favs of this list were Sick Talk and Be-In. Hope you keep doing these! Now on to the next one...

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Tuesday Things. | How Sweet It Is - July 7, 2015 […] I finally joined the spotify bandwagon (yes, I know, I am late on everything cool) thanks to Bev, who is uploading her monthly music mixes. I listened to it all weekend AND it didn’t even […]
  2. Monthly Mixtape (Birthday Candles and Rosé) - Bev Cooks - August 13, 2015 […] (here’s last month’s mix!) […]
  3. Monthly Mixtape (Crunchy Bangs and Flannel) - Bev Cooks - September 1, 2015 […] The “Fireworks and Lemonade” Mix […]
  4. Monthly Mixtape: Trick-or-Treat, Smell-My-Feet - Bev Cooks - October 1, 2015 […] the “Fireworks and Lemonade” mix […]
  5. Monthly Mixtape: Parachute Pants and Saxophone Solos - Bev Cooks - March 1, 2016 […] The “Fireworks and Lemonade” Mix […]
  6. Monthly Mixtape: Clunk Music Changed My Entire Life and I'm Serious | Bev Cooks - July 2, 2019 […] Four! The very first mixtape! Holy cow. […]

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