The Kathy Mastermix

When we were taping last night’s episode of Kathy, I spoke on Kathy’s panel about how when I interviewed Miley Cyrus for Teen Vogue back in 2009, to break the ice with the actress formerly known as Hannah Montana, I brought her a bunch of mix CDs.

I recently bumped into Miley at an Oscar party and she told me she still keeps them in her car. Who knows if she was telling the truth? This is, after all, a 19-year-old woman who shows up at an award show basically pants-less in a white Jean Paul Gaultier jacket. Adding fuel to the fire, she apparently got her on-again, off-again, who-knows-if-it’s-on-again boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth, a cake in the shape of a giant unmentionable part of a black man’s anatomy for his birthday.

The point is -- and I don’t mean to toot my own horn here -- three years later, Miley was still talking about my taste in music.

Each week before we tape Kathy, we play “load-in” music to get the audience and Kathy hyped up for the show. The job of putting together that mix usually falls to Kathy’s assistant, Tiffany. Tiffany has been doing Kathy’s “load-in” music for her various stand-up shows for the last six years.Since taping episode one, we’ve had the same mix Tiffany made for the show. It starts out OK -- a little Afrojack, Boyfriend by Justin Bieber -- but by the time it gets to Born This Way by Lady Gaga (which, face it, we’ve all heard way too many times) I always think, “It’s time for a new Kathy 'load in' soundtrack.”

I didn’t want to put together a mix completely on my own. I felt that was a little ballsy being a newcomer around here. And despite my penchant for a little Katy Perry and Rihanna (OK, a lot of Katy Perry and Rihanna) my musical taste certainly has its eclectic, obscure, and indie patches. And I love a great mash-up.

So, I needed Tiffany’s input. I finally cornered her to get a new mix going. She explained that it was important to have music that was recognizable and would get audiences singing and dancing along.

“We want pump-up music,” Tiffany told me. “We don’t want to put people to sleep.”

Tiffany’s other edicts: lots of Pitbull “because I want to be Pitbull’s baby mama.” And definitely U Smile by Justin Bieber to appease Kathy. “She loves that song,” Tiffany explained.

Also, Tiffany added, “Don’t put in that Carly Rae Jespen song.” She was referring, of course, to Call Me Maybe. I snuck it in anyway, because I found a mash-up on Wednesday that was too terrific to pass up. (Don’t tell Tiffany!)

You can put this mix together and start playing it before you watch an episode of Kathy to simulate what it’s like to be in our studio audience.

So far, Kathy hasn’t provided her feedback. She’ll probably say, “Who changed my music?” Herewith, our latest Kathy “load-in” playlist. At least until I get bored and make a new one. Feel free to play it on shuffle:

Back in Time by Pitbull
Primadonna (Benny Benassi Remix)” by Marina & The Diamonds
Maybe We Found Love (So Call Me) (Carly Ray Jepsen vs. Rihanna), a mash-up by DJ Lobsterdust
How We Do (Party) by Rita Ora
Where Have You Been by Rihanna
Brokenhearted by Karmin
Pumped Up Kicks Take Over Control (Foster the People vs. Afrojack) a mash-up by Dave Wrangler
So Good by B.o.B.
Titanium by David Guetta (featuring Sia)
San Luis Obispo by Scissor Sisters
The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes (featuring Ryan Tedder)
Somebody That I Used To Know a mash-up by Norwegian Recycling
Payphone by Maroon 5 (featuring Wiz Khalifia)
Fight to Win by Goodie Mob (featuring Cee Lo Green)
Dancing in Houston (Robyn vs. Whitney Houston), a mash-up by Divide and Kreate
Whistle by Flo Rida
F*****G Best Song Everrr by Wallpaper.
Feel So Close (Radio Edit) by Calvin Harris
Dominos Feel So Close (Jessie J. vs. Calvin Harris) a mash-up by DJ Em-Tee
U Smile by Justin Bieber
Scream by Usher
Pound the Alarm by Nicki Minaj
Wide Awake (Jump Smokers Remix) by Katy Perry