The Makeout Mixtape
The Makeout Mixtape: Join us today for a continuation of our discussion about the most beloved ancient relic that ultimately belonged to just one generation (hint: it was us): and that is the mixtape, a DIY medium exchanged between friends and lovers that was, on its surface, a way to share music but was actually a thinly veiled communication device intended to express our feelings to another person.
There is one very particular kind of mixtape that we couldn’t fit into last week’s discussion – and to shortchange it would’ve been to erase an entire generation’s yearning for something very specific…
Today we are talking about the Make Out Mixtape.
Because of the age we were when we were making mixtapes – whether you were in middle school, high school, or college – a lot of our mixtapes were intended to woo. Or inspire special feelings that encouraged us to get closer to another person. Possibly with our bodies. Because we were in the midst of our sexual awakening.
Even if you never got any action in high school, these tapes were aspirational. Maybe they were helping you fantasize about the things you would like to do if you were ever given the chance. Or maybe your tape was just step one in helping someone think about you in that way.
Today's episode will take you behind the curtain of both Carolyn's and Kristin's adolescent makeout sessions and the soundtracks that accompanied them. Get ready for the swoonworthy sounds of makeout masters like DeBarge, Phil Collins, Chicago, Anita Baker, Lionel Richie, and Feivel the mouse (not even kidding). Time travel with us and let's see if we can get that estrogen flowing again!