My Grown-Up Mixtape – Memories, Motivation and a Bit of Cultural Magic

Who hasn’t found an old mixtape cassette marked up or a scribbled on CD and felt those heartstrings tug? Bringing you back to the days of Bath and Body Works, twerking maybe a little at the teen dance club (I *may* have worked at one for a bit…), or the soundtrack to the concerts and road trips of your youth. “Kids these days” will never understand the effort we had to make to put together a playlist, mixtape or in my case, a complete song for a dance team performance – dicing and splicing and recording on top of recordings.

When I was really young, I had to wait for my favorite song to be on the radio, with a blank cassette ready to go to record, calling into the DJ to request it to play in hopes we wouldn’t have to wait too long.

Or once online music came about (because I’m in that weird mid-Millenial generation split), I had to take hours to put together the perfect mix for a good friend’s breakup, a big group study session or a new romance to say all the things a teenager can’t (or shouldn’t?) say out loud. This is simply what we did. Blame the Rom-Coms or just acknowledge that music can speak for us when we simply can’t; whatever the case may be, it’s nuts to think how many hours of my life I’ve spent looking through lists of songs picking just the right ones. Now, as I hear those songs, memories and happy thoughts make them truly special.

If you’re looking to freshen up your playlist with a sweet little mix that may speak to you as a mom, a partner, and a little dance freak from way back when, here’s my most recent compilation of songs – feel free to steal, borrow or just make your own, as the research proves it: happiness and music go hand in hand.

The Sweet Stuff

Elvis – “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You”

• This was the song I walked down the aisle to and will always be a #1. Now my two-and-a-half-year-old twins sing it with me when we lie down for bed, so the memories are sweeter as they hold their hand in front of them as we say “take my hand.” 

Justin Timberlake – “The Hard Stuff”

• Go ahead and download this one. It’s good stuff: “Just know my fire for you will always burn, and please forgive the things in this life that I have to learn.”

Justin Timberlake – “Young Man”

• OMG get the tissues, especially my boy mamas. I seriously get a knot in my throat when I hear this song. 

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Growing Up (Sloane’s Song)” feat. Ed Sheeran

• Tissues for this one, too. A man giving props to his mama will get me every time.

Blake Shelton – “God Gave Me You”

• Tipping my hat to my husband, this song reminds me how hard marriage can be, and it’s our partnership that makes my downs become ups.

James Arthur – “Say You Won’t Let Go”

• Does this guy know me? Literally, the first part of this song describes my first date with my husband.

Macklemore & Kesha – “Good Ole Days”

• Looking back and looking ahead, this is a feel-good song for real. Had I made a mixtape for my husband when we first got together, this would have been on it. Three kids later, well, let’s just say things have changed.

Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”

• In my proposal, my husband (who is from Turkey) on stage said, “I want to make the babies with her.” This song talks about carrying more than just secrets, but to carry love and children, too – and always takes me back to that moment when I said yes!

Dave Matthews Band – “Come Tomorrow”

• Whether you’re a diehard Dave fan as I am or not, give this song a try as it seriously moves me. It’s a nod to the changes needed to prevent gun violence, and it’s powerful. If you like it, I recommend the entire Come Tomorrow album as it’s very different than his old music.

David Gray – “Lately”

• When I’m in a mood, this song is on repeat. 

Tarkan – “Isim Olmaz”

• So my husband is from Turkey, and Tarkan is the biggest music star there is. I can’t say I know what every word in this song means, but it’s beautiful to listen to, and at the end of the day, he’s devoting himself and his love to whomever he is singing this to. 

Carrie Underwood – “Mama’s Song”

• Tearjerker for sure, but a good reminder that marriage is about choosing someone that makes your other half your better half. The relationship I’m in, despite its ups and downs, is the best, and this song just gives me the feels.

Dan + Shay – “Speechless”

• I don’t think I need to explain this one other than my husband better still think about me this way…

What We Jam To

Panic! At the Disco – “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” & “High Hopes”

• These two songs make me want to fist pump, even when I’m in the school pick-up line with ketchup-stained clothes, messy bun, and forgot to send in the paper for school – you know the drill. Here were are mamas, making it work every day.

Guster – “Happier”

• This is one of those bands I’ve followed since high school. They have bongos, so of course they are cool. This song is all about moving on, moving up, and getting where you need to be. Letting go of friendships that don’t serve you, and doing and being you. 

J Balvin & Willy William – “Mi Gente”

• This is one where I can easily embarrass my kids as I can’t not move. But we love having our family dance parties to this one and luckily, even if they are saying something bad, my kids don’t know!

J Lo – “Ain’t Your Mama”

• My kids find this hilarious. They argue that I am their mama through the whole thing. But this is a shout out to the ladies, and the video is pretty fierce, too. 

Color Me Badd – “All 4 Love”

• Who doesn’t love this song? Seriously. Pretty sure this has been on several mixtapes and CDs over my lifetime.

OMI – “Cheerleader”

• My kids also LOVE this song to pieces. My 2-year-old twins squeal when it comes on, and they wiggle and dance and put their arms up. Super cute and fun!

Tu Amor Me Hacer Bien – “Marc Anthony”

• Being that I met my husband salsa dancing, and danced through my pregnancies, my kids seem to really dig Latin music, too. Thank goodness! 

Beyonce – “Ego”

• My girl anthem. I act like I own the place when this song comes on. Mic drop.

Maybe you’ve found a new one, or maybe this will just prompt you to take a moment to make your own playlist that suits you. Music is so important in our house – and if you’ve found yourself caught up in the day-to-day, take a moment to reset, refresh and rewind back to the songs that make you smile!