DJ Ponyboy’s Guilty Pleasures Theme Mix Tape: Side A can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day and welcome! I’m DJ Ponyboy. Thank you for joining me to celebrate my birthday month with Side A of DJ Ponyboy’s Guilty Pleasures Theme Mix Tape, right here on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I define a guilty pleasure as something you enjoy, but feel shame about enjoying. Well, the best way to combat shame is to bring the “shameful” things into the light. In this two-sided mix tape, I will share with you twenty songs I enjoy but feel shame for enjoying.
For each song, I will examine the reason(s) for shame (why I’m ashamed to admit I like it) and the reason(s) for fame (why I like it anyway).
Our first two songs share one common shame factor: silliness.
Kicking us off, it’s The Chemical Brothers with 2007’s “The Salmon Dance” here on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
“The Salmon Dance” by The Chemical Brothers. Though some might find it repetitive, and it is a rather silly song, I find fame through embracing the silliness. What is so wrong with silly? It’s a fun song with some excellent jokes and fun word play!
Speaking of silly, dancy songs, how about a tune that was in 2000 voted the fourth most annoying song of all time? Other reasons for shame are its goofy orchestration and silly lyrics; it feels like a children’s song!
Without further ado, here is Saragossa Band with “Agadou”!
Saragossa Band with a 1986 recording of a 1981 cover of a song originally recorded in 1970 by Michel Delancray and Mya Symille.
I find fame through embracing the silliness. You can even amp it up with dance moves! Did I mention the song has dance moves?
Push the pineapple and grind coffee – what fun! Check out the YouTube video (link on the blog) to learn the moves yourself!
Growing up I was shamed by my parents for liking country. They saw it as ignorant, backward music made by uneducated people.
Despite this, I have grown to love country the very most of all the genres I enjoy so much. Musically, it is a primary building block of nearly every other genre of music; culturally, it is a very part of the fabric of our country’s history; and best of all, it is chock-full of some of the very best musical stories.
I especially enjoy classic country music from the 1950’s through the 80’s. Here is Porter Wagoner from 1965 telling us a story about the “Green, Green Grass of Home”.
If you haven’t heard the song before, make sure to listen for the twist!
Porter Wagoner on KMTJ-DB, Denver, Colorado.
I claim fame by embracing my love of country. This well-written and -produced tune uniquely tells a story with a surprise ending.
One of the stories told in country music is that of the murder ballad, defined as a ballad (or narrative song) where the subject matter describes the events of a murder.
Look out for a future mix tape exploring the misogyny built into some of my favourite examples.
Our next tune (a 1998 cover of a traditional murder ballad from the 1800’s) has reasons for shame beyond its country pedigree and shocking morals – this cover is schlocky and watered-down, over-instrumentated with a choir and tambourines! It sounds like a freaking worship service. Ugh.
Here is James Last with “Banks of the Ohio”.
I don’t care that it’s country, schlocky, or watered-down; it’s still a fun song with a solid story, and there is something soothing about the large group vibe that makes it enjoyable to sing along with.
Thank you again for being here to celebrate my birthday month with me! Use code PONYMONTH (all caps) the entire month of July to celebrate with 20% off any products in the Mix Tape Journey store.
Speaking of schlock, what could be more shameful than the “lounge singer” genre? Melodramatic, over-the-top, with sequins and glitter! #Cringe
In addition, while the music and melody of this next song are fire, the lyrics give gross possessive vibes.
Here is Tom Jones with “I (Who Have Nothing)” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
Tom Jones with his 1970 cover of a 1963 “cover”/adaptation of a 1961 Italian song, “Uno dei Tanti” originally recorded by Joe Sentieri.
Reading the lyrics of the original Italian song simultaneously damns and redeems the track. While the Italian lyrics are beautiful and redeem the song, the fact that “songwriters” took the melody and one single line from the translation of the original and wrote entirely new (worse) lyrics kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Luckily, the butchered English version led me to the original Italian version, which has since become a favourite of mine.
I have included that track along with many others related to this week’s mix tape in a bonus playlist available with other exclusive content for as little as $17 per month through our Patreon tiers of Beat Backer and above. Follow the link at the bottom of any page on our website to review the available rewards.
Continuing the “melodramatic lounge singer singing questionable lyrics” vibes, here is Joe Dolan with 1970’s “You’re Such a Good Looking Woman”.
I find fame by leaning into the over-the-top nature of the music. Who doesn’t love a spectacle?! Additionally, while I’m not a skilled dancer, I bet this song would be a lot of fun to dance to.
People talk a lot of shit about trumpets. People complain they are loud, brash, brassy, and “obnoxious”. And when they are used to cover a schlocky Dutch tune about the death of a sad clown … woof.
Here is Gebrouders Brouwer with 1971’s “De Clown” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
That song was a 1971 cover of a 1971 Dutch song by Ben Cramer, which you can find included on the bonus playlists accessible through our Patreon tiers of Beat Backer and above.
Listen to these (translated) lyrics of the chorus: “The memory remains about the clown with his smile. He gave everything until the last day. No one knew the pain of his silent sorrow because in the end there was no one he left.”
I claim fame because (well-played) trumpets are awesome! Gebrouders Brouwer are amazing representatives for the instrument. Additionally, the tune is a swirling, whirling waltz that would be so fun to dance to!
Our next song has plenty of reason for shame, evoking an old, outdated musical style, with a saccharine delivery epitomized by tracks like Patti Page’s 1952 recording of “The Doggie in the Window”.
Here is Eileen Barton with 1950’s “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake”.
Holy moly. The Midwest-nice passive-aggression is strong with this one! So petty! The saccharine feel is over-the-top on purpose, dripping snark with every line! What’s not to love?
Why does it seem that people feel a need to shame other people for acting silly or “childish” after a certain age? Not cool!
Silliness is an important part of human connection! Our last two tracks on this side share the shame of being silly.
In addition, our next tune could also be considered nonsensical and annoying. Hmmm.
Here is Middle of the Road with their 1971 cover of “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” on KMTJ-DB – Denver, Colorado.
You cannot deny that song is catchy and fun to sing (if you allow yourself). 😊
Thank you for joining me to celebrate my birthday with Side A of DJ Ponyboy’s Guilty Pleasures Theme Mix Tape.
Make sure to check out the products in the Mix Tape Journey store and use code PONYMONTH (all caps) for 20% off your entire order this whole month.
Filled with double entendre’s to cap off Side A, here is the silly (and vulgar) 2024 track “One Eyed Willy” by Shotgun Willy.
I claim fame because silly is fun, vulgarity doesn’t hurt anyone, and it’s a catchy tune. Sing along to “don’t make it rain, we make it pour” and try to not smile. 😊 I dare you!
Thank you for joining me. Make sure to come back next week for this month’s special birthday Connections Mix Tape, and the week after for the exciting Side B of this fun mix tape.
Until then, I’m DJ Ponyboy on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado, reminding you to stay gold.