A groggy wake-up call

Earlier today, I took cold medicine that's known for its ability to make people sleep through virtually anything short of an earthquake.  I'm still not sure if it was the radio, my cat singing outside the door, or voices in my head imitating the garbled static heard between radio stations that woke me up.  At the time, all three options seemed equally plausible to me.

A supposedly natural sales pitch

You don't always appreciate well-written advertising until you've attempted to write a commercial.  Radio ads are notoriously difficult to write because a client will often want to tout all the selling points of a business in an allegedly natural, conversational format.  (i.e. "Wow!  You mean I can have said product shipped right to my door?" "That's right!  Absolutely free of charge!"  "How convenient that is, not even having to leave the house!" "That's ABC Products, Incorporated for you!")  Years ago, at work, a co-worker and I were discussing what to order for dinner.  After catching ourselves lapsing into advertising banter, I pretended our conversation was a commercial.  "Say," I said to my co-worker.  "I'm in the mood for a lean yet filling sandwich.  Perhaps we should order from Gordon's Deli at 101 North Main Street, which is just a two-minute drive from our office.  We can place an order via telephone and pick it up within mere minutes or take advantage of their fast, free delivery."  "Yes," my co-worker replied.  "And, you know, at Gordon's Deli, they slice the pickles three ways..."

Just your average, everyday conversation between hungry co-workers, isn't it? 

FM dial scan highlights L

Five standout selections heard tonight:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Kindness Be Conceived-Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (An uptempo acoustic charmer, vocally and instrumentally.  As I listened, I imagined how Troubadours Of Divine Bliss might cover this.  Also recommended: the band's cover of the INXS tune, "Need You Tonight," on avclub.com.)
• Lazarus-David Bowie (A fitting swan song from the "Blackstar" album, released four days ago.  Lyrically, it suggests how Bowie might look back at his life upon entering the afterlife.  Instrumentally, it reminds me of "Space Oddity," but with heavier world-weariness.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• So In Love-Eliane Elias (Elias leads the combo on piano, as usual, in an appealing instrumental with a bounce.  It's one of many examples of her consistently classy approach to every song she plays.)

WFUN 95.5 FM

• Take Your Time (Do It Right)-The S.O.S. Band (A throwback track encapsulating the feel of early '80s KMJM and WZEN.  It would segue well with The Gap Band's "Burn Rubber On Me.")

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. KNOU-HD2

• John Adams: Naive And Sentimental Music: III. Chain To The Rhythm (Live at Walt Disney Concert Hall) (Los Angeles Philharmonic/John Adams, conductor) (The term "cacophony" is a compliment here.  Imagine a cauldron bubbling over, and you'll have a good approximation of the third movement's feel.)

In memory of David Bowie

In memory of David Bowie, who passed away Sunday at age 69, here are five tracks of his that stand out most to me:

• Come And Buy My Toys (For most listeners, this is the most obscure song of Bowie's that I've listed.  Lyrically, it's a nice memory of childhood through the eyes of a toy store proprietor trying to drum up business.  He seems to be saying, "Enjoy your childhood while you have it.  Come in and buy a toy to make yourself happy."  In keeping with its throwback feel, I've always thought it's appropriate that whenever I hear this song, it's on an LP.)
• Golden Years (This is Bowie's most appealing song, in my opinion.  Its infectious enjoy-life-while-you're-at-your-peak vibe should lift almost anyone's spirits.  Vocally and instrumentally, everything clicks.  Bonus points for using hand claps so effectively.)
• Modern Love (Bowie's most infectious '80s hit, to my ears.  Name another song that begins similarly and draws you in this way.  Still thinking?)
• Space Oddity (Very few people know what it's like to float in space.  Although Bowie wasn't an astronaut, the lyrics might convince you that he was.  Natalie Merchant's live, unexpected cover of this is worth hearing, also.)
• Suffragette City (As with "Modern Love," name another song that throws you right into the action this way.  It's an odd compliment to say that you can enjoy the tune without even listening to the lyrics, but that's the case here.  The feel of it is that strong.  I've never heard any radio station or online service segue "Suffragette City" with Chicago's "Once Or Twice," but it would be a great pairing, stylistically.)

I would be remiss if I didn't also give "Changes" and "Young Americans" their due.  Bowie has been a staple artist of album rock radio stations since the '70s, for good reason.  Many of his hits and album tracks show a vision that's unique enough to stand out yet comfortable enough to draw listeners in decades later.

And, with that nod of appreciation, it's time to listen to "Golden Years."

Blues tune ponderable

If a respected blues artist recorded a tune about the flu or the common cold, would the subject matter help or hinder sales?  Would listeners be more inclined to purchase it because they can relate to it?  Or, would they avoid buying it because they don't want to be reminded of their illness?

Only in college XIII

"Say, could you do a Tippy Turtle impression?" asked someone I knew from my dorm floor when I answered KBIA's studio phone.  Somehow, I hadn't expected anyone to ask me to do an impression of the cartoon character from the 1984-'85 season of "Saturday Night Live."  "On the air?" I asked incredulously.  "Well, no...How would I do that?  This is an NPR affiliate.  Would I read the weather or do a promo for 'All Things Considered' that way?  Even on KCOU, it would be a stretch to do that impression."  "Oh, come on," he replied.  "Sorry, but no," I said.  Looking back, I'm still convinced that "No" was the right answer.  I could just imagine having to explain to the program director why I lapsed into a Tippy Turtle voice while introducing the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra's performance of Beethoven's fifth symphony.

Give the downbeat. Then, wander off.

I've written many times on this blog about how much jazz appeals to me.  Beyond the feel of the music and the way it welcomes improvisation, there's just a sense of freedom about it.  I used to feel this whenever I watched my college's jazz band perform outdoors.  During the band's annual "Jazz On The Mall" concert, I'd frequently see the conductor give the downbeat, conduct at least the first verse of a tune, and then wander off into the crowd to watch the band play.  To this day, I still think, "What a cool job that must be, to get your jazz band going, conduct them in a 'You get the gist of this...' manner, and still get to see them in concert the way the audience does..."