Context? CCCXIX

A radio talk show host reminded his audience this morning, "I don't go to war each day; I go to work each day."

That's a sound reminder, I think, that not every radio personality is out to antagonize the audience.  Often, they're just trying to entertain the audience and bring up topics designed to get people talking.

Persistent earworm alert CCCXXX

I haven't gotten lost on the road recently, but when I have, the chorus of Jefferson Starship's "Find Your Way Back" has blared in my mind like a siren.  Once, I said in the car to no one, "Care to elaborate, mental soundtrack?  Just telling me to find my way back isn't helpful. I know I'm lost, but how do I get to where I need to be?"

Precocious, perhaps--but also accurate

While listening to the radio in 1983, I heard our top 40 station, KHTR, play a song I hadn't heard before.

"Hmmm," I thought.  "This isn't terrible, but it's not as inspired as most of the band's other hits.  The chorus doesn't sound like it would stand up to repeated listening, and the song sounds like it didn't take long to write."

I was right.  The song was only a minor hit, and I don't think the station played it for more than two weeks.  Even back then, I had a program director's ear, complete with insight that might have been unusual for a 12-year-old.

Only in college CVII

One of my favorite compliments from a fellow KCOU DJ was, "You command a lot of respect (at this station.)"  My positive inner monologue upon hearing that from her was, "Thank you very much.  I'm glad to hear that.  That tells me that other DJs respect my work and find me approachable.  I need to remember that and apply that to everything I do."

Have I fallen short in those ways at times?  Sure.  Over the course of a lifetime, how could I not?  Sometimes, though, when I catch myself overreacting to some trivial nuisance, I'll remind myself, "Remember to act in a way that elicits respect."

Questionable inertia

While eating dinner one recent night, I turned on the radio.  I'd left it on the same station I'd selected when having lunch.  As I listened to a talk show host opine on how well various athletes had played this season, I thought, "These names mean nothing to me.  This isn't a team I follow.  In fact, this isn't a sport I follow.  Just because I was listening to this station during a previous meal, I'm not obligated to listen now.  I haven't sworn any blood oath to listen to anything this station airs whenever I'm eating."

Yet, despite the subject matter's lack of relevance to my life, I kept listening.  I was nearly finished eating when I had this epiphany, after all.

FM dial scan highlights CCXLII

Five standout tunes heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Lil Birdie-DJ Harrison (This excellent cover of a tune from "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" stays true to original version's spirit while modernizing it just enough on the piano.  As a bonus, this track also includes a version of the closing theme that plays under Snoopy and Woodstock enjoying their Thanksgiving feast.)
• Clube-Toco (This April release has a pleasant beach-at-sunset vibe in its vocals and instrumentation.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Satin Doll-McCoy Tyner (Tyner stays faithful to Duke Ellington's classy original melody while playing piano with the ideal amount of swing.)
• Just Another Day-Peter White & Basia (White's guitar takes the edge off of sorrowful lyrics about someone walking out of one's life.  Basia sings this with an appropriately melancholic tone.)

KWUR 90.3 FM

• Municipality-Real Estate (For times when you aren't where you wish you were.)
  

Persistent earworm alert CCCXXIX

Although it was a big hit in 1977, I'm surprised it didn't top the charts.  Since importing some Boz Scaggs songs from my CDs into iTunes this morning, "Lido Shuffle" hasn't left my mind.  

As with "Lowdown," there's an instant coolness factor from the first note.  Even if you have no clue about what's happening in the narrative, the infectious rhythm and strong "One for the roa-oa-oa-oa-d!" hook demand attention--and might make you drive a little faster.