Thursday, June 5, 2008

Trouble with FM radio

No matter how many good songs are recorded, and no matter how many radio stations are up and running, you can always find yourself in a situation where there are no good songs playing. One can flip through every station, and the only two songs in the rotation at that time are "Bad to the Bone," and Carlos Santana.
Allow me to note that I don't have any big issue with "Bad to the Bone." George Thorogood and the Destroyers have earned their niche in rock n roll history. When I saw him perform in Mountain View, CA he boldly and selflessly stated, "If anybody is going to get arrested for rock n roll tonight, it might as well be me." There was no threat of any arrests for rock n roll that evening, but I don't think that bothered George one bit. He's just ready to go downtown in custody of the boys in blue for rock n roll, because that's how strongly he stands in conviction for rock n roll. I appreciate that. It's like someone in Canada saying, "I would die for my country." My original point was, if you are on a bar and you and a mostly naked chick are pouring tequila on yourselves on a school night and "Bad to the Bone" comes on the jukebox, so be it. Walking down the street on a sunny day, it can be a bit too much song for the moment.
Now for Senor Carlos Santana. The hombre who toca la guitar. It is an interesting fact that Carlos Santana was the FIRST musician to fuse two previously completely separate styles of music! That combination, as we well know, is the union of the completely obnoxious and the utterly unoworthy of listening to styles of music. It took a real innovator to have the heart and courage to bring those together. I guess San Francisco in the 60's was the perfect experimental time for such risk and invention.
Another bothersome element of Carlos' position in the music industry is that all different varieties of radio programs love to play his songs. He can be heard on programs dedicated to playing R&B, classic rock, rock, alternative, adult contemporary, and even blues! You cannot escape. He stands among Castro and Dr. Doom in the halls of megalomaniacal fame.
Any wise-ass who wants to point out that Carlos' touch, taste, and craftsmanship finally paid off when he sculpted the masterpiece "Europa," can consider themselves beaten to the punch. That is an amazing tune. Even the simplest of morons can create something beautiful I suppose. The poisonous licks and constant airplay of that song that goes, "Maria, Maria" alone undo all the good that "europe" did to lighten Carlos' filthy reputation. I hate Santana, and I love "europa." If Carlos has anything to say about this, let him step right up, and I am not scared of him.
In the end, I am just curious; is it too much to ask for the Commodore's "Night Shift" to be playing? Please?

2 comments:

a-ro said...

It's like someone in Canada saying, "I would die for my country."

Thats really really funny.gi

Unknown said...

God damn that was a funny post.