Takin' A Vanity Spin

A term I coined--adapted from"vanity Google"-- for listening to your own mix over and over (I prefer it to Narcissus Mix). But there's some definite self love involved in my attachment to my latest mix, the appreciation mix I made for Bill. In particular, I really love the Strokes song at Track #2. I love it when pop tunes use a "destroying burden" or "structural ambiguity." My favorite example of this was Track #1 on my "Black Postcards" mix from early 2005 (gotta post that one, but it's 14 songs). The track is by Luna and the lyric is "If I had to do it all again / I wouldn't / Throw it all away." So, what are we saying? Are those two independent thoughts? (e.g. "not do it" and "throw it all away") Or, is "throwing it all away" the thing you wouldn't do if you to do it all again? For me, that was the perfect Zen mediation on the whole 2004 StateRep race (and particularly relevant as regards Marti's on-again/off-again Supreme Court bid).

So here are the lyrics to "Barely Legal." I'm about to vanity spin this one more time before I transition to the draft "Stockholm playlist" that's been bubbling up. Before I leave for Sweden, I want to post a mix of Stockholm bands. Right now, the list is pretty cool--The Hives, The Caesers, Shout Out Louds, Melody Club, Wired for Mono [fantastic name!!!], and a few others.

Barely Legal
the Strokes (from The Modern Age EP)

I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Aw mama runnin' out of luck
And like my sister don't give a fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life it don't make sense
Your strange manners, I love you so
Why wont you wear your new trenchcoat?

I shoulda worked much harder
I shoulda just not bothered
I never show up on weekdays
That's somethin' that you learned yesterday
Drive you to work, youll be on time
Your little problems, theyre not yours theyre mine
Come on listen to what I say
Ive got some secrets that'll make you stay
I just want to turn you down
I just want to turn you around
You ain't never had nothin I wanted but
I want it all, I just cant figure out
Nothin'

And all together it went well
We made pretend we were best friends
Then she said oh you're a freak
They ordered me to make mistakes
Together again, like the beginnin'
It all works somehow in the end
The things we did the things you hide
But for the record its between you and I

I didn't take no shortcuts I spent the money that I saved up
Aw mama runnin' out of luck
Yeah like my sister dont give a fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life it just dont make any sense
Your strange manners I love 'em so
Why won't you wear your new trenchcoat?

I just want to misbehave
I just want to be your slave
You ain't never had nothin' I wanted but
I want' it all, I just cant figure out
Nothin'

And all together it went well
We made pretend we were best friends
Then she said oh I can wait
They ordered me to make mistakes
Together again, like the beginnin
It all works somehow in the end
The things we did the things you hide
Not for the record--just between you and I