We just recently acquired a decent radio station that plays alternative rock (99X). I'm pretty happy about that because I love alternative rock. I am, however, a HUGE classic rock fan, too. We have a radio station that has been around forever, 98.5 WNCX, which plays all classic rock. We have some other stations that will play a mix of classic rock and alternative rock. Okay, I get it. Those stations will play your popular classic rock songs that everyone knows. For instance, they might throw in songs like Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" or AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long". And when I say "throw in", I mean like every two hours, which brings me to my point. Why on earth do these stations even play classic rock at all? Who wants to hear "Black Dog"? No One. That is the answer. NO ONE.
Why can't they leave classic rock to the classic rock station? The problem I am finding, though, is that even 98.5 is playing these same overplayed songs that just need to be put out of their misery. How many times in my life have I heard "Money" by Pink Floyd? I can tell you how many. It's been 1,334,455, 316,792 times. For real. If I want to hear a Pink Floyd song, which I most certainly always do, play me freakin' "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" or "Careful With That Axe, Eugene".
Okay, so you're probably thinking why don't I just NOT listen to the radio? Most of the time, I don't, but I do enjoy it sometimes. Sometimes I would rather not get into an accident trying to locate a CD while I'm driving. And yes, I still use CDs - I don't have a fancy shmancy IPOD. I'm lame.
I think for a city that's supposed to be "The Rock 'n' Roll Capital of the WORLD", we are sucking hard. I just wondered if I am alone in this thinking. Is it just in Cleveland or everywhere? Any suggestions on what other songs should be permanently buried with the Black Dog???
FREEBIRD!!!!!!!! Bury the fuck out of it.
ReplyDeleteI think we can round up and just bury Lynard Skynard altogether.
DeleteGreat idea.
Deletemore beach boys! and cow bells!
ReplyDeletei have a greater question: at what point does "classic rock" become "prehistoric grunt"? get with the program cleveland, go indie.
thought there'd be more pushback on this one, after all the rock you covet as your own is more of my generation than yours, so it's nostalgia to me not "classic", not my choice to listen to everyday for sure. the fact is, and i'll get letters and postcards and telegraph messages on this one (what's a tweet, again?), is that your beloved Pink Floyd and similar bands only have a few great songs to listen to, as they don't fit the commerical format of what fm radio has become. and, it was cleveland who decided to induct "rush" into the rock 'n roll hall of fame, so don't blame me. i listen to, primarily, cbc fm radio, something like your public broadcasting (which includes the highly recommended Q with jian ghomeshi, if you check it out, it's on youtube and podcasts as well), to hear much more progressive and i would argue more interesting music. '65 to '75 is still probably the best decade of rock, but the 2000s aren't far behind...scandinavian, indie, and dare i say canuckian muzak really ain't that bad an alternative.
Deleteoh, you can add grateful dead to the buried list (can't wait to hear from the grady bunch on that one ;) )
and one more thing. there's a very interesting new station devoted to indigenous (first nation) music on station RPM.FM http://rpm.fm/podcast/rpm-podcast-009-indigenous-rock/ It's gaining popularity through the Idle No More movement here in the tundra. Better than Buffey Ste. Marie even :D
DeleteWhere do I even begin...
DeleteYou missed the point. (big surprise) I never said that I listen to classic rock 24/7, as you already know this. And most people that DO listen to classic rock DON'T want to listen to the 'few great songs' that you mentioned. THAT is the point. Although, I certainly disagree that Pink Floyd and other bands that fall into the genre of classic rock only have a few great songs. You don't even like Pink Floyd, so how the hell would you know? People who love classic rock DON'T want to hear the songs that have been overplayed. I'm not really sure who wants to hear those. If you are a true fan of those bands then you know that there are much greater tunes to be heard.
Secondly, I have no idea what the band Rush has anything to do with me, Cleveland or being inducted into the Rock Hall. It's not up to the city of Cleveland who gets inducted into the RRHOF. So, that point is moot.
And I know all about your CBC and the Q as you've sent me videos to watch before, so why are you telling me about it again? I know that you love '65 to '75 and I've told you before that my favourite is probably '67 - '77. So what. We pretty much agree there.
And again, I don't listen to classic rock all the time. In fact, genres like Trip Hop and Female artists and Singer/Songwriters are probably what I listen to more than classic rock OR alternative rock, which you also know. And I would also like to remind you that if it wasn't for me, you probably wouldn't even know or have heard of half the artists from the Scandinavian area that you are speaking of particularly Tina Dico and Maria Mena who I know are two of your favourites.
So there's your push back.
Bury Peter. He talks too much anyway. =p
DeleteWord.
Deletei knew i'd get the nasty sisters nastier. i love this :D
DeleteKeep your fantasies to yourself. =D
DeleteIf some jerkoff didn't rip the antenna out of my car I would have more choices :( My only choices are classic rock or pop. New Hampshire pretty much ruined Led Zepplin for me. They would literally play a Led Zep song every other song! Uggh. I don't have a cd player in my car but I do have an Ipod, thank god!
ReplyDeleteI had a friend at one time who only EVER played The Doors and completely ruined that band for me for the longest time. Luckily I don't hang out with her anymore and I can now enjoy listening to them again!
DeleteI'm not sure I'd want an ipod for my car. I do like my CDs :)
By the way, Kristy... I heard 'Stairway To Heaven' yesterday and thought of you. That is about as bad as 'Money'. Although the guitar at the end is pretty good. :O
Deletehey jude! i can't get no satisfaction, but honey-money shook me all night long, comfortably numb, at the california hotel in my sweet home in alabama, climbing a stairway to heaven to a bohemian rhapsody. gotta love classic "top ten" rock and roll. BURY!
ReplyDeleteThis comment you left forces me to ask the same question we used to ask my insomniac father after he'd say something insane, "Did you lie awake all night to come up with that?"
DeleteLove ya, P! :)
I'm in agreement; I'd like to hear some of the lesser-known songs by bands on the classic station. Some of the lesser-known songs by any artist on any type of station, really. But I'm guessing with the newer stuff they only play songs that the record company releases as singles?
ReplyDeleteI think so, Kim!
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