Posted on 03/25/2002 9:19:56 AM PST by southern rock
Radio Radio
by Elvis Costello
I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial
doing anything my radio advised
with every one of those late night stations
playing songs bringing tears to me eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
when the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe.
They really think we're getting out of control.
Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice
'cause they think that it's treason.
So you had better do as you are told.
You better listen to the radio.
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me.
I wanna bite that hand so badly.
I want to make them wish they'd never seen me.
Some of my friends sit around every evening
and they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference
and the promise of an early death
You either shut up or get cut out;
they don't wanna hear about it.
It's only inches on the reel-to-reel.
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel
[Chorus]
Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, radio...
Glenn Campbell?
Truly one of the most talented -- and underrated -- artists of all time. Sadly, his co-writer for most of his hits (the guy's name escapes me at the moment) passed away a year or so ago.
Check out their Country music offerings.
Well, I'd have to ask exactly which "70's and 80's" rock you mean. In the context of "rock" music, I don't see REO Speedwagon, STYX or Foreigner being any less comparable to Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney or Faith Hill in the context of "country music". None of its that bad if you are not looking for ground breaking ideas or musicianship.
No. But producing mindless pablum and labeling it "country music" is all but unforgivable. Take away the steel guitar and/or ocassional fiddle, and he'd be on a top-40 station. His music is crap, familial/employment loyalty notwithstanding.
I have always seen it like this: My parents grew up in the 50's and early 60's. They primarily listen to "Oldies" stations to hear rock&roll from their youth. Sure, they will listen to some new stuff, but the radio stays on the oldies station. Its no different with "country & western". While there are younger people interested in both 50's R&R and classic country, the numbers are pretty slim. Many are music students(thats how I was exposed to alot myself). Compared to contemporary music, there are few stations on the air that play "Oldies" and classic country. I say few in meaning you typically womt find more than one of each in medium sized markets.
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Probably been awhile, since albums have not been released in a couple of decades.
No I can't see it sad to say. Maybe you have hit on a reason for no airplay of bluegrass as many of the songs are about God and Jesus. Down To The River To Pray and Angel Band are my favorite songs on OBWAT. I guess muslims\non-belivers\(insert group here) wouldn't buy toothpaste from the sponsers of the radio station that played that!
That's a Johnny Cash song.
At least the O Brother soundtrack is. Is Alison Krauss or Nickel Creek selling millions of records? Krauss's newest album peaked at #3 on the country charts, and is certified gold, which is a mere 500,000 copies. Nickel Creek peaked at #13. Top 20 is good, real good, but if you look at the Billboard country charts, it's not like hillbilly music is blowing the lid off things. Just this one soundtrack.
I think it's a fluke. I mean, O Brother is #1 on the Album charts! Not country albums. ALL albums. But then you have to go down to #51 to find ANY other country album, and it ain't hillbilly music. It's Rascal Flatts, which appears to be a country "boy band." Right behind them are Toby Keith and Tim McGraw, who are the very pop country artists being lamented here. There is not a single bluegrass album in the Top 100. Not one. There's a fluke hit soundtrack of old timey music from a Coen Brothers George Clooney picture. This is much ado about nothing.
That is the strange thing.
Not if you are in the advertising business, which is what radio is. It's all well and good for O Brother to sell units, but if it doesn't fit the demographic, it don't matter how many fiddles and pickers you put in it. Country radio, like all radio, is about ad revenue. And they are better at it than they used to be.
I think that the fans for this old stuff aren't necessarily country music fans or in that demographic. Those listening to country music stations may well think the old type stuff is strange sounding.
Exactly right. The people who listen to the old-timey stuff are music fans. I remember Willie Nelson telling how he got heavy resistance from his label when he presented the concept for Stardust. Willie doing standards? It won't sell! But he knew it would sell, because he understood his audience. Willie knew that his audience was made up of people who like music. Lots of it. And of course, he was right. Same with this soundtrack album. It has nothing to do with "country" music, which is really just pop music with a certain rural flavor to it. It has to do with people who like music buying a soundtrack they liked from a very, very entertaining movie. It figures it's a soundtrack, too. It's a compilation. They get a bunch of artists with one purchase. But hey, I could be wrong.
I know you weren't asking me, but I'll butt in, since I'm an "alt.country", intolerant ideologue! 8^)
All I can say about brad is that one of my favorite country artists, Charlie Robison, called him "that little moron." You should check out Charlie, BTW. He's married to one of the Dixie Chicks (not Natalie Mains, his wife is the one who plays the banjo and dobro). Reminds me more of Steve Earle than anybody I've heard. Writes great story songs.
I really like Brad Paisley and happen to have his first CD sitting in my player here at the office. I too think he mixes traditional and current sounds well. Another one I like is Gary Allan. Some of his more "commercial" stuff is what gets played(well, thats the same with Brad), but he is really good. On his latest album, he has this really good/funny song called "What Would Willie Do?"(kind of a take on WWJD). The think I like about BP is that he writes nearly all of his songs. Thats very rare today.
Oh, and Charlie Robinson is pretty good too. He is married to one of the Dixie Chicks.
It's Charlie Robison (no "n"). See my post #78. Ironic that you mention Charlie, in light of his comments about Brad Paisely.
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