Oh wow, it’s 2007. We are another year closer to flying cars, time travel and the inevitable demise of humanity via tyrannical robots. This can only mean one thing: it’s time to make New Year’s resolutions! If you haven’t already made and/or broken a resolution this year, we at Spin It have decided to give a little musical advice. The following songs have been hand-picked for their inspirational messages. These tracks will act as sonic inspiration to get what you want this year … unless you resolved to not listen to music.
Brian:
1. “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior
In the words of the late/great actor Danny Kaye in his holiday classic White Christmas, “the best things happen while you’re dancing.” In 2007, d-d-d-don’t stop the beat because who knows what will happen? You could lose weight, meet the love of your life or win a new bicycle. Anything can happen when the music’s right and you’re dancing all night.
2. “I Don’t Love Anyone” by Belle and Sebastian
No matter how many times Ashlee Simpson spells it or how many times Hugh Grant movies reinforce its power, love will still just be a heart-wrenching, painful thing. Stuart Murdoc has got the right idea here – sing it proud. Prediction: angst will be hot in ’07.
3. “Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine” by Modest Mouse Resolution: Brush after every meal, floss before bed.
4. “Wait” by the Ying Yang Twins
Taoism, the philosophical/religious school of thought which birthed the concept of the ying and the yang, states that there is no such thing as good or bad. The ying yang symbolizes this; it shows that the universe is run by two equal and opposite forces that cooperate to achieve
a balance in the world.
This means that the Ying Yang Twins are not bad or evil for making horrible music; they are just a force necessary to keep the universe calm and balanced. If the Ying Yang Twins hadn’t released this single a couple years ago, maybe The Arcade Fire wouldn’t have made their masterpiece album. This song stresses the resolution to be tolerant … and possibly to use the chorus as a pickup line.
Carlye:
1. “I Didn’t Steal Your Boyfriend” by Ashlee Simpson
I’ve always wanted to steal someone’s boyfriend and I’m hoping this will be the year in which I finally succeed. Yeah, yeah, it’s a mean thing to do, it’s not very sisterly, I’d have bad karma, blah, blah, blah, whatever – it’s so worth it. It would boost my confidence, win me a well-earned prize of
a man and help me to form a really obnoxious “I’m hot, see?” ego without needing a weekly trip to a tanning bed. (I’m a sad, pale, “indoor kid” type of girl. Sunshine isn’t really my thing.) This could be my chance to break out onto the dating scene and strip someone of their most prized possession. So, here’s to you, hot and studly men of 2007! Start watchin’ your backs, ladies …
2. “Drive My Car” by The Beatles
I don’t know how to drive on the highway. I’m not quite sure how it happened, but somewhere between my Driver’s Ed teacher fearing for her life as my passenger and not obtaining my license until senior year of high school, I never experienced life on the open road. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to drive back and forth from Champaign and (hopefully) live to tell about it. So, if you see a grey Nissan Altima with a Phish sticker in the rear window, feel free to wave hello or change lanes. If anyone knows how bad of a driver I am, it’s me.
3. “I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow
Sweets have never been a temptation for me, but since winter break began, I’ve been tossing an endless stream of Werther’s Original butterscotch candies down my throat. (I just discovered the creamy caramel-filled hard candies. Wow.) There’s a layer of empty wrappers covering the bottom of my purse, and I’m starting to develop a sweet-tooth addiction. I made and ate a gingerbread house yesterday. I need to stop this Christmastime, candy cane-induced sugar coma. I do not want candy!
4. “Who Needs Sleep” by Barenaked Ladies
Me. I do. I could really use a good ol’ college 2 a.m.-until-noon deep slumber. I’ve forced myself to obey and believe that “naps are a sign of weakness,” and my perpetually half-shut eyes and iced coffee dependency are surely to blame for this idiotic mantra. Five hours a night just isn’t cutting it, so I hope this year brings lots of lazy mornings, afternoons and evenings of lying in bed and watching Arrested Development DVDs.
