A couple of weeks ago, Jake and I went to a Classic FM Pops concert with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. (Some of you may have seen my Facebook post about Josh Turner.) Needless to say, it was a lot of fun. Among other selections, the concert featured a medley of Chicago songs. When I was in pep band in college, we played 25 to 6 or 4 and/or Make Me Smile at nearly every game. There aren’t a lot of things I miss about college, but going to basketball games and playing in the pep band was so much fun. After the concert, all I wanted to do was listen to my old pep band mix.
I realize the past six sentences have made me sound pretty nerdy and a little old. For the record, I did finish undergrad 11 years ago, but Chicago wasn’t exactly a new band back then either. Additionally, it’s not a secret that many of my interests aren’t exactly “cool” (I also took Latin in college) or that my musical tastes are extremely varied. I love Chicago just as much as Miles Davis or Mozart and don’t ever apologize for it.
Back in the day, I made a lot of music mixes. It makes me a little sad that I don’t anymore. But in college, I created mixes all the time. So naturally, I have a pep band mix. And I still have it, along with a ton of other old mixes in a lovely black Case Logic CD holder (again, dating myself, I know). It’s been years since I last listened to the mix. I had to get it out again after the concert and have been listening to it in the car the past couple of weeks.
Over a decade after making the original mix, I’m finally sharing a digital version online. Way overdue now that it’s 2017, right?
I have to mention that I always include the Save Ferris cover of Come on Eileen. I don’t love the original version (I know, I know). The Save Ferris cover has a lot more energy, and it’s got an amazing brass arrangement, which actually sounds a lot more like a pep band arrangement.
It’s retro. It’s fun. It’s high energy. It features a lot of brass. I’ve always loved listening to it while driving, but it’s perfect for cleaning, working out, or any other time you want something with a lot of energy (and that may or may not be perfect to sing along to, preferably loudly).
Do you have a favorite music mix?
Share your playlist links in the comments!
Looks like an awesome playlist to me! And I agree that it’s great for singing along with (and dancing! It isn’t possible to listen to The Time Warp without dancing at least a little). Lately we’ve been listening to a lot of 60s music. The Zombies, The Kinks, and The Beach Boys all had their turn last Friday night when we drove to the other side of the island.
I remember feeling a little shocked when I realized it had been 10 years since high school, but next year will be 10 since college for me!
This is such an awesome playlist. So many of those songs take me back to my youth!
I love this idea! I was in pep band in college, too. So many fun memories!
I was totally in marching band in high school (and would have tried out for marching band in college, but MSU didn’t have any woodwinds in theirs 🙁 ). We used to play Carry on My Wayward Son, Smoke on the Water was another one I remember well.