Musical Inspirations and a Great Playlist

We asked artist Mike Whiting to share some songs that inspire him or that he likes to listen to while in the studio. He accepted the challenge and exceeded our expectations by creating a playlist that speaks to every work in the Pixelated: Sculpture by Mike Whiting exhibition! You can take your exhibition experience to a new sensory level by listening to the tunes while walking through the Gardens or while doing anything because this is one great playlist.

Take it away Mike….

Mike Whiting's Playlist

My truck only has a cassette deck. I'm mostly into bands on cassette.

“Bluebirds Over The Mountain” by Ritchie Valens (Bird, Birdie, Pigeon)
This song has such a great feeling. It makes me think of the big blue Bird sculpture and the trip that these sculptures take over the Rocky Mountains.

“[Nothing But] Flowers” by Talking Heads
If David Byrne is right, the whole world might be a garden again someday. I will also miss 7-Elevens.

“The Gnome” by Pink Floyd (Garden Gnome)
I only know of two songs about gnomes and the other is a David Bowie song , which may be the worst Bowie song of all time. I hear it’s possible to see gnomes with the help of psychotropics.

”Baja” by The Astronauts (Wave)
60's surf guitar really captures the feeling of the waves. It was hard to narrow it down. This song makes me think of sunny small wave days.

“Sloop John B” by The Beach Boys (Sailboat)
My Sailboat sculpture only has one sail, so I guess it is more of a catboat and not a sloop. But there are no good songs about catboats.

“California Desert Party” by Jonathan Richman
I head out to Joshua Tree or Borrego Springs almost every spring to camp and see the desert blooms. The listing of desert plants reminded me of the gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens.

“Blockhead” by Devo
A great song about 90-degree angles.

“Tu Muchacho” by Pizza Time (Pinky and Mr. Green)
Pizza Time is a band from Denver. Garage-bubble-gum-rock in Spanish. So great! They actually played a gig at my studio a couple of years ago. David Castillo is a pretty talented/super nice guy and he releases his music on cassette.

“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers (Ghost)
Ghost! Translucent Patrick Swayze.

“Castles Made of Sand” by Jimi Hendrix (Castle)
My Castle is not made of sand, but this might be the best song ever about any type of castle.

“Les Cactus” by Jacques Dutronc (Cactus)
I have no idea what he is saying besides cactus. The video is just Jacques Dutronc singing and walking around a modern sculpture.

“Dear Prudence” by The Beatles (Buck)
I was trying to find “Who Killed Bambi” by the Sex Pistols, but it’s not on Spotify. This is a different kind of deer/dear but definitely a better song.

“Cool for Cats” by Squeeze (Cathead)
Some weird lyrics but it’s cool for cats.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by-Iron Butterfly
This is THE Garden Song!