Mixtape Challenge – Animals

So this months mixtape challenge theme is ‘Animals’ which is fairly broad to say the least. The obvious idea was to go for a list of songs that are awesome with animals in the title. But there was still so much more that could be done… As @gemstgem points out this list could take you down any path:

So your mix can be:

• Songs about animals or with the names of animals in them
• Songs by bands with animals in their name
• Songs related to animals
• A list of songs about one particular animal
• Or go conceptual and come up with your own (animal-related) version…

After reeling off a few songs with animals in the title, I decided to try and stick to a theme. Then it dawned on me… What links the number 12 (songs) and animals? Why the Chinese Zodiac of course! So, with that as a theme, so follows my choices – there were a few variations on this theme owing to ‘problems with English translation‘ and being unable to find a suitable song but here goes.

Mogwai – Glasgow Mega-Snake

As a starting point, I decided to use the current year that we are in according to the Chinese calendar which if my reliable sources (Google) are correct, is the snake. So what better way to start than with this three and a half minute slice of post-rock brutality?

The Osmonds – Crazy Horses

The first song that came to my mind was that Leftfield song with the horses in the Guinness advert. Then I remembered it was called Phat Planet so nothing to do with horses, really. Then I thought of Wild Horses by Rolling Stones but decided it was too mellow for a track two so decided to go for The Osmonds… This may be the only time in history someone has ever decided to choose The Osmonds over the Stones because the latter is too mellow. And possibly the only time The Osmonds have followed Mogwai on a list…

Kate Bush – Dream of Sheep

So this is the first time I’ve used an artistic license to drift outside the actual animal… It should be ‘Goat’ according to the Chinese Zodiac but couldn’t think of any songs regarding goats. Given, however, that 羊 can mean Ram, Goat, or Sheep (obviously), I’ve gone for Sheep. This song, from Kate Bush’s wonderful Hounds of Love (Hounds! brilliant) album cools things down after the mad opening of Mogwai and The Osmonds (?!)

Pixies – Monkey Gone to Heaven

What a song! Monkey Wrench was the other option but I may have used Foo Fighters later on, you’ll have to wait and see. I like this song here as it kind of brings the listener back into things gently after the dreamlike warbling of Kate Bush as opposed to Dave Grohl screaming down your ears, as excellent as that usually is.

Outkast – The Rooster

Another time the Rolling Stones miss the cut with Little Red Rooster losing out. Mansized Rooster by Supergrass also missed out and so Big Boi adds a bit of class to proceedings with this funky little number. Altogether now! “throw your neck out, throw your back out”

The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog

Been Training Dogs by Reading boys The Cooper Temple Clause just missed out to this. If someone asked me what ‘scuzz’ was like I would probably say this song. It’s about five notes max (riff excluded). For those of you who read my last blog, I’m a huge fan of using music in movies at the right point and this song is used to great effect when the Permian Panthers launch their comeback vs Dallas Carter in Friday Night Lights. I won’t ruin the ending for you.

Sparklehorse – Pig

This song was going on regardless of what theme I chose. The opening 16 seconds are so misleading as they are fairly gentle but then it kicks in and Mark Linkous (RIP) shouts away about various things including having an intimate relationship with a car… Anyway, this song is great and goes well next to The Stooges if I do say so myself.

White Stripes – I Think I Smell a Rat

Resisted the urge to pick The Walkmen here and instead went for the brother/sister/lover? combo of The White Stripes. It’s not as good, but still pretty decent…

Foo Fighters – For all the Cows

Ah ha, here’s the Foo Fighters… And it’s more artistic freedom as ‘Ox’ was pretty difficult to find a song for. Ox/Cow – same thing right? This is a classic quiet/loud/quiet/loud song from the Foos’ debut album. I remember seeing some festival highlights one year with this song and the mosh pit was awesome.

Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

I actually wanted to put Urusei Yatsura – Hello Tiger in here as it’s a bloody brilliant indie guitar pop song. Hear for yourself:

But thought I’d put Eye of the Tiger on instead so there could actually be a full Spotify playlist after missing off two last time. Not really much else to say about this song other than I actually prefer ‘Gonna Fly Now’ from the Rocky movies. And Hearts on Fire… But they’re not about animals.

Unkle ft Thom Yorke – Rabbit in your Headlights

This song came out a couple of years before Kid A by Radiohead but if you were to place it on that album (or even OK Computer at a push) it wouldn’t feel out of place. It sees Thom Yorke in a surprisingly chipper mood. No, I’m kidding. It’s pretty depressing… Still a top song though. The video for this song was great as well, well worth checking out. As great as this song is, it only JUST beat this number to the list

rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit………

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Dragon Queen

Dragon is really, really difficult. I wanted to end on a relatively high note like all good mixtapes or something like that but the first song that sprang to mind was by lostprophets. Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja is still a belter of a tune and whilst innocent until proven guilty and all that, I don’t really want to associate Ian Watkins with this (and thereby actually associating him with this). The other option was Puff the Magic Dragon which would have served a purpose I guess. Instead I chose Yeah Yeah Yeahs to bring the house down with Dragon Queen from It’s Blitz! Not their best song by any means but it’s a dragon so DONE.