Let's dance!

30 years ago, it was impossible to imagine I'd ever be 50, but here we are. Today, I've been part of this absurdity called life for exactly half a century. When you're young, you think you'll be young forever. I like to think that I am still young in many ways, but then my body decides to remind me that I'm actually an old git and to sit back down with a nice cup of tea. 50 is only a great age if you're a fine cognac or a bottle of Scotch...

I don't have much in the way of plans. I hate parties (something that 30 years ago I never thought I'd write) so it'll be a strictly family affair with good food and good music. Speaking of which...

This is the third attempt at writing something to mark this occasion. The second attempt was the definitive one before I changed my mind. It featured a song for each decade of my life so far, mainly centred around the letter L, which as you know is the Roman numeral for 50. I've decided to replace it with this one today, but I've divided that other planned post into six daily ones that will appear here throughout the week.

So today, despite my aversion to parties, I'm giving you a party mix which will be played this evening during a family dinner. It's very different to what you may expect from me as it's rather electronic-based, but I like to think I can still spring the odd surprise even at this ripe old age. I initially aimed to make it 50 minutes long, but I quickly realised that wasn't nearly enough time to include everything I wanted. So it's 20 songs over 70+ minutes. Please don't expect a professional-sounding DJ-type job, I'm not nearly skilled enough for that. Some of it is quite rough, in fact, but it does the job.

If you fancy having a birthday dance with us, please feel free. I'll probably be sitting on the sofa tapping my feet with a warm blanket over my lap whilst trying to remember the days when I could dance like Bez for hours on end without having to worry about feeling stiff as a board the day after! And the day after that...

Anyway, enjoy. Dance if you want to. And stay tuned for daily posts all this week...

50... and counting
compiled by TheRobster

Donna Summer - I Feel Love
Django Django - Glowing In The Dark
Björk - Big Time Sensuality [Fluke minimix]
Primal Scream - Don't Fight It, Feel It [Graham Massey mix] (segment)
New Order - Paradise [Robert Racic remix]
Arcade Fire - Sprawl II [Thunderlust remix]
Public Service Broadcasting - Theme From PSB [D/R/U/G/S remix]
Gulp - Morning Velvet Sky [Richard Morris remix]
M.I.A. - XXXO
Saint Etienne - Tonight
James - Wherever It Takes Us
Madonna - Sky Fits Heaven
Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
Utah Saints - New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84
Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence [reinterpreted by Mike Shinoda]
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
Stone Roses - Begging You [radio edit]
Yeasayer - Ecstatic Baby
David Bowie - Dead Man Walking [edit]
Hafdis Huld - Fucked Up Mind

Grab it here