New Yorker cartoon on Bagpipe Day

**tubino** · 11th March 23, 06:24 PM

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Is there such a thing as International Bagpipe Day? Is it today?

**EagleJCS** · 12th March 23, 07:51 PM

Apparently it's been a thing since March 10, 2012.

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-bagpipe-day/

**FossilHunter** · 14th March 23, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by tubino

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Is there such a thing as International Bagpipe Day? Is it today?

The irony is that, with the time Claire comes from, she wouldn’t know what a mixtape was either.

**OC Richard** · 17th March 23, 08:59 AM

Could somebody explain to me what that cartoon means?

**Silmakhor** · 19th March 23, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Could somebody explain to me what that cartoon means?

Guessing that the unwritten punchline is something like "all bagpipe music sounds the same." But I dunno.

**OC Richard** · 19th March 23, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Silmakhor

Guessing that the unwritten punchline is something like "all bagpipe music sounds the same." But I dunno.

Who can say.

I've been doing music, live and as a studio musician playing on albums and TV and film scores, for 40 years and I can't remember hearing or seeing the word "mixtape". I guess it's a more recent term? Something from the DJ industry? I don't know what it means.

"Demo tape" on the other hand has been a common term in the music industry for ages. People still used "demo tape" after they stopped being tapes! I guess it's quicker to say than "demo CD" or "demo audio file".

**kilted2000** · 19th March 23, 08:34 AM

A mixtape is a term used for a custom tape of different songs usually made by a boyfriend to a girlfriend, a compilation of love songs for example. I don't know if it is still a thing but it was when cassette tapes were used. Maybe the cartoon means that in the past a mixtape would have involved a live band. I wonder if the bagpipes are an Outlander reference. I've never seen the show but the guy in the cartoon looks a bit like the main guy in the show.

**Silmakhor** · 19th March 23, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by kilted2000

A mixtape is a term used for a custom tape of different songs usually made by a boyfriend to a girlfriend, a compilation of love songs for example. I don't know if it is still a thing but it was when cassette tapes were used. Maybe the cartoon means that in the past a mixtape would have involved a live band. I wonder if the bagpipes are an Outlander reference. I've never seen the show but the guy in the cartoon looks a bit like the main guy in the show.

Yup, good explanation. I have seen a few Outlander episodes, and this definitely fits it.

The show is melodramatic fluff, but the music on the soundtrack is excellent.

**Touchstone** · 20th March 23, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by Silmakhor

Yup, good explanation. I have seen a few Outlander episodes, and this definitely fits it.

The show is melodramatic fluff, but the music on the soundtrack is excellent.

I don't think it's an Outlander reference, directly. For one thing, they don't wear modern kilts. Just "if a Scot wanted to make a mixtape for his girlfriend, how would he do it?" (But I agree with all the other comments.)

**tubino** · 21st March 23, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Touchstone

I don't think it's an Outlander reference, directly. For one thing, they don't wear modern kilts. Just "if a Scot wanted to make a mixtape for his girlfriend, how would he do it?" (But I agree with all the other comments.)

Mixtapes were a thing - you would spend hours compiling a meaningful journey of songs on a cassette to give your girlfriend. Now it's just a playlist.

But yes, I think the joke is to throw the word into a pre-electronic context. The translation means you don't hand over a tape; you have live musicians performing a set of songs -- and bagpipes are always funny?