Bradford Pearson

1st Mix

So when I was home for Easter a few weeks ago, I stumbled across a mix entitled "1st Mix," which I made somewhere between fifth and seventh grades.

Its date: indeterminate. Its music: embarrassing. Its impact: indelible. Let's explore.

“One Sweet Day” Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
1996 grade: B+ (I think I thought girls would find me “sensitive”)
2009 grade: C-

The only thing that redeems this song is Boyz II Men. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. I think they were the closest thing I had to idols in elementary school. My brother D had the “II” album, and we would listen to it non-stop, singing as low as we possibly could.

This song spent an unbelievable, record-setting 16 consecutive weeks (Four months!) at the top of the Billboard 100 chart. The song that formerly held the record? “I’ll Make Love To You” by Boyz II Men. They were pretty awesome.

“Gantsa’s Paradise” Coolio featuring LV
1996 grade: A
2009 grade: A (I listened to this song very recently, sitting at my desk at work)

For those grammar buffs out there, yes, that is the exact spelling of the song name on this tape.

And what else can be said that Coolio didn’t already say on the track?

I'm an educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye.
I'm a locked out gangsta, set tripping banger
And my homies are down so don't arouse my anger.
Fool

Yep, that pretty much describes Mrs. Mayen’s sixth grade class.

“One of Use” Joan Osborne
1996 grade: A-
2009 grade: B

Again, my elementary grammar/spelling woes come back to bite me in the ass, as the name of the song is “One of Us.”

My lasting memory of this song? Driving to Georgia with my family (from New York) and recreating the entire song, supplanting the word “God” with my brother’s name (Drew) in the line “What if God (Drew) was one of us?” I’m not sure what this says about my brother’s godlike qualities.

I also remember Joan Osbourn being considerably sexier than her voice lets on. But then again I was in sixth grade, so “sexiness” was still a sort of ambiguous term, usually reserved describing whichever girl “became a woman” over the summer.

“Kiss From A Rose” Seal
1996 grade: A+
2009 grade: F

One of the first albums I ever bought with my own money was the Batman Forever soundtrack, complete with this track. This is what 24 year-old Brad would say to 11 year-old Brad upon purchase:

“Why the hell are you wasting your time with this lame Seal track? Look what this album has to offer! Massive Attack! Nick Cave! The Flaming Lips! Jesus, man in four years you’ll love Method Man; why waste time now?”

11 year-old Brad’s response:

“But he’s getting a kiss...from a rose.”

“Waterfalls” TLC
1996 grade: B
2009 grade: D+

I don’t really think I grasped the gravity of this song in fifth grade; the reality of AIDS still escapes me I suppose. POGs seemed to be more important. Rightfully, in hindsight, since this song sucks.

“Ironic” Alanis Morissette
1996 grade: B+
2009 grade: C

You know what’s ironic? When I recorded this song I somehow only got the first line (“An old man, turned 98”) and the last chorus.

Not irony? Well neither is this song, and it screwed up the best song on this whole mix…

“Wonderwall” Oasis
1996 grade: A-
2009 grade: A+

One of the few songs on this mix I have grown to like even more than when I originally added it to this tape.

Sure Liam and Noel Gallagher were douchebags, pure and simple. But they also created at least two pretty timeless albums.

(Today’s best music, 92.7, 96.9 WRRV…)
I obviously forgot I was recording this song, and let it run over a bit. I do have to say, though, WRRV was hands-down better than any radio station in Washington, D.C., and I didn’t realize how spoiled I was until I moved here. Awful, awful radio here.

“Lump” Presidents of the United States of America
1996 grade: B+
2009 grade: B-

I had no idea what this song meant in 1996, and I have no idea what it means now. Nothing witty to say here, other than the fact that this band prompted many kids at Haviland Middle School to write “POT U.S.A.” on their Trapper Keepers.

“Peaches” Presidents of the United States of America
1996 grade: B
2009 grade: B

I did not enjoy peaches as a child. I believe this song helped overcome that phobia. I am forever in debt to POT U.S.A. (ha!) for that.

“Misery” Soul Asylum
1996 grade: A-
2009 grade: B+

One of the first CDs I ever owned was Soul Asylum’s “Let Your Dim Light Shine.”

Within a week of bringing it home, my parents confiscated it and proceeded to read through the lyrics, presumably in search of sex, drugs and rock and roll. I remember they found something about Siamese twins, I believe. I was allowed to keep the CD.

“Mission: Impossible” Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen
1996 grade: A
2009 grade: C
At this point in the mix, more hints are beginning to emerge regarding the date this tape was made. Before this song starts, some (totally lame) DJ from K104 says:

“Oh man what a huge movie in 1996, Mission:Impossible. Here at number 76, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, with the movie’s theme song on the K104 Top 100 Countdown.”

Sooo, it must be Dec. 31, 1996, the climax to a year littered with poor deodorant choices, not making the middle school soccer team, and pretending I knew what Korn was so I could write it on my notebook.

Oh and this song is really quite bad.

“Closer to Free” BoDeans
1996 grade: B+
2009 grade: a surprising B-
I thought I would hate this song much more than I actually do, but it has a pretty decent hook.

And I know this song was on the radio, but I think it was also the theme song from “Party of Five.” Does that ring any bells?

Tomorrow we’ll look at Side B, or as I like to put it, “seventh grade.” It seems like ska and the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack may play a large role in the remainder of this mix.