Normally, these are either songs that recieved a lot of airplay in our household, or sometimes are even songs with a certain amount of biographical significance. As well, each year end mix will usually be coupled with a few phrases denoting the coming and goings of each member of my family.
Besides, nothing really captures a moment in time like remember when your kids are doing a sing-a-long with John Prine in the car:
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny.
She looks down her nose at money.
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny.
She's my baby I'm her honey.
I'm never gonna let her go..."
Anyway, I've done one of these "year end" music mixes every year for the past 5 years (basically since the kids were born), so here is this year's setlist. Apologies for the Hilary Duff...
MEAN TO ME (LIVE) + CROWDED HOUSE*
JOHN SAW THAT NUMBER + NEKO CASE
SEE YOU ON THE MOON! + GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS*
STAND UP (FOR IT) + DAVE MATTHEWS BAND*
ISLAND IN THE SUN + WEEZER
THE BLUE SUN (COTTAGE CREEK VERSION) + THINK ABOUT LIFE
UPSIDE DOWN + JACK JOHNSON*
WORLD WIDE SUICIDE + PEARL JAM*
SAFE AND SOUND + HAWKSLEY WORKMAN*
THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE + PAUL MCCARTNEY
SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW + KEANE
WHEN THE NIGHT FEELS MY SONG + BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH
I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK + DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
BANDSTAND IN THE SKY + PETE YORN
SUDDENLY I SEE (SINGLE VERSION) + KT TUNSTALL
INDIANA + OSCAR PETERSON & COUNT BASIE
COME CLEAN + HILARY DUFF*
HERE IT GOES AGAIN + OK GO*
BORN YESTERDAY + MIKE SCHMID
IN SPITE OF OURSELVES + JOHN PRINE*
(*KID PICK)
* In which Kate is great, loses weight, and changes the bathroom she hates.
* In which Dave has an especially busy year - having carpooled with some pretty
noteworthy folks, and appearing in a book with a unicorn on the front cover.
* In which Hannah (now 5 and growing so fast!) learns to read and begins Kindergarten.
* In which Ben (now 3) will do a crazy dance for you if you play track 18.