Playlist - Millennial (Night)

I'm always gauging the music my passengers prefer to listen to while in my car. Truthfully speaking, being the narcissistic musicophile that I am I would prefer everyone just shut up and listen to whatever I'm playing. However in the real world, people have opinions and options and believe you me on more than one occasion I have seen people exercise both has they indiscreetly slide their ear buds on to drown out whatever hog wash I happen to be playing at the time.

Over time, I think I have a firmer grasp on what the are kids listening to. I'm constantly fighting to not become the curmudgeon that hates modern music and waxes nostalgic about the "music of my day." What I can tell you is that today's music, as all music through the test of time... some of it's good, some of it's bad.

This mix I play when I picking up people from Hollywood, West Hollywood, Culver City and Santa Monica on Friday and Saturday nights. It's a heavily pop and dance influenced mix that at first glance is CLEARLY made by someone a couple of steps behind in pop culture but there are a few modern songs on there for the (inebriated) passengers to put their earbuds down and tell me to crank up the music, which always makes me smile.

A brief rundown:

Cheap Thrills by Sia featuring Sean Paul

Confession: I like authentic reggae music as much as I like authentic Mexican food... I don't. The more Americanized it is, the more palatable is for me. This is the ultimate Taco Bell Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch. And it's absolutely delicious! 

BURNITUP! and Rock With U by Janet Jackson

I have lovingly made fun of Janet over the years but it is because she actually has made some phenomenal music, these two songs included. (Now if only she could sing...) 

WTF (Where They From) by Missy Elliot

Supposedly this is a dig at Miley Cyrus sticking out her tongue but I have no idea what this song is about. Nevermind, I'm too busy dancing.

Right Road by Nelly Furtado

Confession: I have a thing for strippers. When I first heard this all I could imagine was some thick, wide and meaty stripper slowly gyrating. Prince Fielder... would you mind starring in this video?

Love. Money. Party. by Miley Cyrus

Miley is definitely a guilty pleasure for many but I actually like the street cred of this song. Nikki Minaj would probably smack the taste out of my mouth for saying this but I can totally hear her doing this song. And if she did, it probably would have charted.

Hung Up and Get Together by Madonna

Because the kids need to know. None of this would exist without Madonna. Listen to these to songs. Realize she was 47 and doing repetitive deep knee bends while performing them in sold out tours across the globe. Then bow down. The kids need to know. 

Swish Swish, Chained To The Rhythm and Bon Appetit by Katy Perry 

I made this mix back when she performed "Swish Swish" on Saturday Night Live so at the time my passengers would go crazy over the song. The bloom has since come off the rose but it's still a good song. And Chained To The Rhythm... Taco Bell Chalupa Supreme.

Stay by Zedd featuring Alessia Cara

Every time I pump gas... this fucking song is played on the video screen above the pump advertising Mountain Dew. I don't know if I like it or not, I just always have this crazy thirst for Mountain Dew and I can't get this fucking song out of my head. 

Focus by Ariana Grande

How can you NOT love Ariana Grande. She's just so adorable! I'm very protective of my Ariana, I feel like a big brother. Every time she tries to be sexy I just smile and go, "Awww... look at my little Ariana!" I smile all through this song. 

Green Light, Suga Mama, Countdown and Love on Top by Beyonce

Let the record show, I am NOT part of the "BeyHive" but with all these songs on the playlist I think it's safe to say that I like her. She's made some good stuff. There is something very "Madonna" esque about her that I appreciate. I can't wait to see what she does when she hits 47. 

Rock it (To The Moon) by RuPaul

As much as RuPaul and her brand have seeped into the zeitgeist of American sensibilities, I'm still not convinced it's cool to pump a RuPaul song out of your speakers at top volume... unless it's West Hollywood, and you have a gaggle of queens filled with Red Bull and Vodka not satisfied that the bars close at 2:00 a.m. This is one of the most FUN dance songs I have heard in a really long time, it's actually convincing me to take my fat ass back to the gym. 

Not Tonight (Remix) by Lil Kim, Angie Martinez, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Da Brat and Missy Elliot

Again, the kids need to know. Before Lil Kim turned herself into an Albino Matryoshka doll... she was the Queen B and she ruled over EVERYTHING. Come Back to the Five and Dime, Kimberly Jones, Kimberly Jones.