Monday Mixtape: Dan Allegretto

Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Deerhunter, David Guetta, Electrelane, and more

Monday Mixtape is another path towards music discovery, featuring people whose taste I admire answering a series of questions and prompts with songs (which might change from time to time).

Dan Allegretto is one of the funniest people I have ever known. I’ve cry-laughed at things passed onto me second-hand that he has said; that is how powerful his humor is. One of my greatest goals (besides learning to play guitar and sing and subsequently becoming a middle aged Banger Sister style rocker chick) is to one day be in a group chat with him.

Dan is a podcaster (you must tune in to #Dial Dan if you love both the quotidian and also pissing your pants laughing), an accomplished home cook, a pioneer of colonizing Beacon, NY, and a general bon vivant (I know this is the second time I’ve used this term, I just happen to know a lot of gorgeous little bon vivants because I am #blessed).

He’s brilliant and amazing and I’m thrilled to have had him make a Monday Mixtape for us.

Dan Allegretto
Virgo Sun/Virgo Rising/Libra Moon
Just moved to Beacon, NY after 15 years in Brooklyn. If any Yasi heads live around here, please reach out. I don't have a whole lot going on these days...

How do you find/discover music?

Listening to new music scares me and makes me feel like shit inside, quite frankly. What if it’s bad and I waste three minutes of my precious life? What if it makes me feel OLD? Well, usually it does both! But I’ve found some bands new and old I like from your Instagram stories.

What was the first song you put on when you woke up this morning?

Lately I only listen to podcasts in my car or just the regular degular ass FM radio. I have a Spotify playlist called spaghetti dinner for one I’ve been adding to for over a decade that has every single one of my favorite songs. It’s 55.5 hours long and basically made to put on shuffle at a party. The English language doesn’t yet have the verbiage to describe how much of a crowd pleaser this little collection is. I’ll pick a recent addition and listen to that one song over and over again for about a month until I tire. (ed note: this playlist BANGS also important to note that within like the first 30 min you will hear a song by Farrah Abraham).

What song have you listened to more than once this past week?

David Guetta ft. Rihanna “Who’s That Chick?” Someone on Twitter claimed this was RuPaul’s favorite song of the 2000’s. They were prolly lying but honestly, it’s perfect.

What is a recent song you think everyone should know about?

I’m trying so hard to think of a recent song. Like, any recent song. One that no one has heard of yet? My god…

A song off your work-out playlist:

I’m fat and completely out of control. Next question, please!

What song can you do at karaoke without looking at the tv screens?

I haven’t been able to do karaoke since I did “Pretty When You Cry” off Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence in 2014. The manager of the gay bar Metropolitan whisked me off stage midway through. My ex-best friend has a video of this and still to this day I’m afraid of its release.

Song you associate with being 13 years old:

“Survivor” by Destiny’s Child, “Ms. Jackson” by OutKast, “Lady Marmalade” by P!nk, Mya, Christina Aguilera, and Lil Kim… the list truly goes on. I’m looking at the Wiki for Top 100 songs from 2001 and it’s so lit. Sucks 9/11 killed the vibe…

What song makes you feel less alone?

Anything by Bradford Cox. He really gets it. (ed note: amen brother)

What song do you listen to when you want a lobotomy?

When Addison Rae’s album came out I went full Lobotomista for a couple weeks. But I’m back working with a full deck now and don’t want to return to that state for a while...

What song do you use to indulge your wallowing?

Anything by Bradford Cox. He really gets it.

What song do you use to renew your spirit?

Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together (Mimi’s Late Night Valentine’s Mix [Extended])” It’s almost eight minutes long and she goes completely ballistic; scatting, harmonizing, going on “runs.” I have no idea if these musical terms actually apply but I’m begging you to listen. It came out during Covid lockdown and I would lay on my floor and weep at its profound beauty and Mariah’s divine talent. From strange and sublime songwriting to other worldly vocalizing, everything she does is on full display here. I’m so grateful to be alive at the same time as her.

What is your favorite cover song?

“Jealous Guy” by The Weeknd is incredibly underrated. He was catching a bunch of shit when The Idol came out because everyone said he’s a bad actor. I did a rewatch a few weeks ago and the haters could not be more wrong- he’s fantastic. Also, a musical genius. “I’m On Fire” by Electrelane is a close runner-up.

What song would you like to hear just before you die?

I already know I’m going to Heaven and God will let me listen to whatever I want once I get there, but the Les Baxter version of “Clair De Lune” would be such a freaky deaky way to enter the pearly gates.

All the songs on Dan’s Monday Mixtape (I took some liberties) are HERE