To kick off our presentation of your mixtapes we're going with Nick Emlen's mix "Linguistic Appropriation: The Language of Another."

Despite sharing a conspicuous word with Eric Steuer's example, this mix knocked our socks off. Nick picked songs in which the speaker wrestles with a foreign language in one way or another, often to humorous effect.

The theme is original, and Nick's digging would make DJ Shadow proud.

Here are some excerpts from his letter:

"...the first four...are all country songs about white men who have fallen in love with Mexican women in spite of, or because of, the language barrier between them. There are a shocking number of country songs on the subject."

"Also, some of these songs were recorded before the age of political correctness, and I think it's interesting to hear earnest examples of what we would now consider unashamed racism."

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Linguistic Appropriation: The Language of Another

by Nick Emlen

I Don't Know What She Said - Blaine Larsen
Don't Speak In English - Carrie Rodriguez
I Can't Speak No English - Little Charlie And The Nightcats
Language Of Love - Aaron Watson
Danke Shoen - Wayne Newton
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Fred Astaire
Love Me In Your Language - Kudu
Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds
Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby And The Andrews Sisters
The Lake Song (Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg) - Ethel Merman
Michelle - The Beatles
Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
Lady Marmalade - LaBelle
Negro Amor - Gal Costa
The Ketchup Song - Las Ketchup
The Auctioneer - Leroy Van Dyke
Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney
Ahab The Arab - Ray Stevens
Que Sera, Sera - Doris Day
Si Tu Dois Partir - Fairport Convention
He Taught Me To Yodel - Joanna Allen
Ling Ching Chong - Joe Bataan