Jimmy Kimmel: “I Know It’s Music My Mom Likes…”

THE CD I TOTALLY MISINTERPRETED AS A KID
The Clash, Combat RockEpic, 1982
“Familiar story: I heard ‘Rock the Casbah’ on the radio. It made the biggest impression on a teenage me. I listened to guys who looked like Huey Lewis back then, so when I saw what the Clash looked like, their mohawks, I felt very cool about myself. But I didn’t know they were political until you asked me about it. I didn’t know what they were talking about. I thought they were singing ‘Fuck the Casbah,’ which was part of the appeal.”

THE CD THAT MAKES ME FEEL ROMANTIC
Huey Lewis and the News, Picture This
Capitol, 1982
“My bandleader, Cleto, who’s been my best friend since I was 9 years old, broke into a boat and [grabbed] a bunch of cassettes, and Huey Lewis’s Sports was one of them. I liked it, so we got his previous one, Picture This, which has what just might be my favorite song of all time, ‘Do You Believe in Love.’”

THE CD THAT BRINGS OUT THE STALKER IN ME
Elvis Costello, My Aim is True
Columbia, 1977
“This might be my favorite album, though I have an affinity for the first album I hear from someone, so right up there is Punch the Clock. We’ve been trying to get Elvis Costello for the show, but he’s been very difficult. I heard that he didn’t like The Man Show and that’s why, but I can’t imagine Elvis Costello even seeing The Man Show.”

THE CD FOR PRETENDING TO BE A GANGSTA
Dr. Dre, The Chronic
Death Row/Interscope, 1992
“Growing up as a black teenager in Long Beach, I, of course, took to this album. My love of this album started with Snoop. I just loved the sound of his voice. I even used to do an imitation of him when I was on the radio, but all I’d say was, ‘Y’know what I’m sayin’?’ He just seemed so dangerous. Now he seems so loveable, but back then it seemed like if you told him you liked one of his songs, he’d kill you. I like that.”

THE CD THAT MAKES ME SOUND LIKE A DICK
Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle
Death Row/Interscope, 1993
“He may be the best cohost we’ve ever had. He really likes to fuck around. Growing up with the Fat Boys, the Fresh Prince and Young M.C., I had never heard anything like this before. But one thing I didn’t like was that he was promoting the word ‘jimmy’ as a synonym for ‘penis,’ and that’s something I’ve been trying to stop for years. I don’t want to be the dick of this generation.”

THE CD THAT MAKES ME FEEL “SPECIAL”
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP
Shady/Aftermath/Interscope, 2000
“We got him on Crank Yankers — he was such a big fan of the show that he had his people ask if he could be on. Which was crazy for me, because I really love him. Actually, the shit he wanted to do was much stronger than what we do. He’s got a retarded character who’s seriously retarded, much worse than Special Ed. [His character is] real-sounding. ‘Uh, we need to lighten it up a bit.’”

THE CD THAT MAKES ME SPANK THE MONKEY
Madonna, Madonna
Sire, 1983
“I thought Madonna was black when I heard ‘Holiday,’ so I was shocked when I first saw her in the ‘Borderline’ video. I was really in love with her throughout high school, and have probably masturbated to her more than any other famous woman. I think her appearance had a lot to do with how much I liked the album, to be honest with you. When you’re a 16-year-old virgin, Madonna is a real thrill. I’d still do her. Gladly.”

THE CD THAT RECALLS MY CRIMINAL PAST
Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
Columbia, 1975
“I got into Bruce in ’85 when a friend stole a copy of Born In the U.S.A. from the record store he worked at and sold it to me for $5. All I knew of him was that Rick Springfield song, ‘They Call Me Bruce,’ but after getting U.S.A., I went back and got his older albums. Now, it’s Internet theft, but back then we did it the old-fashion way: shoplifting. I like every Bruce album, but if I have to pick one, I’d pick Born to Run.”

THE CD THAT I (AND OTHERS) SECRETLY LOVE
Neil Diamond, The Greatest Hits: 1966-1992
Columbia, 1992
“I love Neil Diamond, and I think there’s a secret undercurrent of people who also love him. The song that tickles me the most is ‘Heartlight.’ Neil went and saw E.T. and was so excited that he wrote this song. That is one of the goofiest things you could imagine an adult doing. When I was a kid, I saw The Warriors and came out wanting to be in a gang. He saw E.T. and came out wanting to sing about it.”

THE CD I THINK IS ABOUT ME
James Taylor, Live
Columbia, 1993
“He just has the most pleasant voice of anybody. I know it’s music my mom likes, which always makes me worry, but I love James Taylor. Did he know he wrote ‘Sweet Baby James’ for me? It’s true. I even like his new albums. That’s how I started: I bought That’s Why I’m Here in 1985, and went backward.”