Another year, another batch of SoulMixes. This year I thought I'd spice it up a bit and try to give each mix a theme. The first mix is a shortened version of a mix I made a while back called Ode to Notes. It's a mix tape that goes through what reality tv editors and story producers feel like when they have to get notes on their episode from EP's and network execs. Here's the breakdown.

"Road to Nowhere" by Talking Heads: First off, I have to say that this mix is based on those bad situations when you're dealing with an exec producer or someone at the network who doesn't know what they are doing. More often than not, notes help make the show better. Unfortunately, there are the cases when the execs are just out of it and their notes are random, if not completely silly. Some execs feel like they need to give notes for the sake of giving notes and end up offering changes that don't make the show better, just a little different. Because of this, heading into some notes meetings can feel like you're on a road to nowhere and in the end you end up repeating, "It's all right" to yourself.

"We Can Work It Out" by Paul McCartney: While most people would publically say that this is the song that best describes their attitude when awaiting notes or sitting down in the meeting, the truth is that in the back of their head, the song that they are hearing is "Better Way" by Ben Harper.

"Authority Song" by John Mellencamp: One of the many mantras I've picked up while working in reality television is "It's their show". You can give every logical reason behind one of your decisions but if the execs don't like it, you aren't going to win the argument. On the extended mix, this point was also represented by "I Fought The Law" by The Clash.

"The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore" by James Morrison: While most reality shows aren't all that elaborate, they are a bit like a house of cards. If you change one thing, many times it affects five other things. If you cut out a couple shots, the editor then has to change the music underneath it so it fits or has to find somewhere else to extend so the show fills the running time. The joke about editors is: How many editors does it take to change a lightbulb? One, but if you change the lightbulb, you have to change EVERYTHING.  

"Rape Me" by Nirvana: I think this is self-explanatory.

"Get Me Outta Here" by Jet: Usually the thought going through everyone's mind at the end of a meeting.

"Everything is Average Nowadays" by Kaiser Chiefs: Heading back to their office or edit bay, many story producers and editors bemoan their clever tricks and interesting subplots that were excised and whine that the show is now just another reality show. People often start wondering why they are still stuck in reality and why they aren't doing something else with their lives. This feeling quickly passes because they realize that making reality TV is better than getting a real job and, to be honest, the show that they originally handed in wasn't Shakespeare. People often say that their shows "could have been something" but that something would just have been another reality show.

"The Slow Descent into Alcoholism" by The New Pornographers: If watching reality TV cast members doesn't kill your brain cells, there's nothing like some booze to finish the job. This songs also somewhat fitting because I'm sure some people would argue that, in a way, reality TV is the new pornography. I haven't seen gay porn but I can't imagine that it's much different than "Bromance". On the extended mix, the drinking continues with "Alcohol" by Barenaked Ladies and "Polar Opposites" by Modest Mouse.

"Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd: People in reality TV have an amazing ability to exhibit passionate apathy. They will hem and haw about having to make changes, some people get visibly upset, others change their facebook status, but they usually defuse themselves by saying "Whatever. I don't care. It's not a big deal." They then make the requested changes and go back to IMing their friends or trying to make fantasy football trades.

"No Need to Argue" by The Cranberries: Everything is calm. It's over and done. You've learned from your mistakes and promise not to get worked up about notes. But you will. As you head to the next notes meeting you'll be humming "Road to Nowhere" and expecting the worst.