The new krth

[oldies76]

I'm sorry, Mister oldies76---what did you say? I was watching a rerun of game 1 of this year's Braves-Dodgers NLDS and doing the "tomahawk chant" along with all the fans when B.J. Upton came up to bat. "Ohhh-oh-ohhhh, ohhh-oh-ohhhh." Not the least bit offensive.

As a Dodger fan though, and going to countless games at Dodger Stadium in the 80's and 90's, I've learned what real and traditional baseball chants and charges / stadium music should sound like, even Nancy Bea playing that beautiful organ in between innings. Then hearing that nonsense from Turner Field in the NLDS for nearly every Brave at bat, one got tired of it quickly!! Although not offensive (to me anyways), I find that chant, silly to say the least, coming out of the speakers in a baseball stadium. I just prefer traditional baseball sounds, in a baseball stadium.

 

[Thomps2525]

I was going to mention Daddy Dewdrop's Chick-A-Boom but I changed my mind.

 

[oldies76]

Two things:

One: Who do you think is going to play it on the radio for original listeners, now approaching 60?

Two: Are you telling me that you really think that people don't re-evaluate opinions or have growth or evolution in tastes they hold over a period of more than 40 years? That you don't?

Man, the arguments I could have if you put 1971 me in front of me right now.....

You're right Mr. Hagerty. I'm just saying that the lyrics in "Indian Reservation" would probably be more of a shocker to new listeners hearing it for the first time, than ones who have heard it since 1971 (seasoned listeners). Personally, I don't listen to music much for the lyrics as much as I do for the sound, rhythm and instruments used.

Sure some may be offended, but I don't believe it's as much as you think for the original listeners vs. new and younger people hearing it for the first time. Maybe yes, maybe not.

 

[Thomps2525]

Is Indian Reservation all that different from PT 109, Hurricane, George Jackson, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Sink The Bismarck, The Battle Of New Orleans or any of the other songs that tell of a historical figure or historical event? If history is offensive, blame history---don't blame the songs about it.

 

[michael hagerty]

You're right Mr. Hagerty. I'm just saying that the lyrics in "Indian Reservation" would probably be more of a shocker to new listeners hearing it for the first time, than ones who have heard it since 1971 (seasoned listeners). Personally, I don't listen to music much for the lyrics as much as I do for the sound, rhythm and instruments used.

Sure some may be offended, but I don't believe it's as much as you think for the original listeners vs. new and younger people hearing it for the first time. Maybe yes, maybe not.

Even if you were closer to the truth than I about the percentage of those likely to be offended, it begs the question: Why risk it for a song the people you want (who are two years younger than the record) aren't clamoring for and won't miss?

 

[oldies76]

Even if you were closer to the truth than I about the percentage of those likely to be offended, it begs the question: Why risk it for a song the people you want (who are two years younger than the record) aren't clamoring for and won't miss?

It's been played for more than 40 years to some degree Mr. Hagerty. If it's going away from the radio, it's more in line with the aging demos than anything terribly offensive. Respectfully, let's just conclude this discussion, before the TIO police begins handing out tickets....

 

[michael hagerty]

It's been played for more than 40 years to some degree Mr. Hagerty. If it's going away from the radio, it's more in line with the aging demos than anything terribly offensive. Respectfully, let's just conclude this discussion, before the TIO police begins handing out tickets....

In the interest of clarity, it was David who raised potential offense as an issue.

My questions were about your seeming incredulity that someone's sensitivities might evolve over four decades and the value of the song for the desired demographic.

It may have been on the radio for most of the past 40 years, but probably not on stations today's 40-year-old listened much to in their teens, 20s and 30s.

 

[davideduardo]

David, in an earlier post you said "I understand the song perfectly, and I find it patronizing."

Now you say, "On a personal level, the song does not push my sensitivities one way or another."

You are contradicting yourself, unless you are now going to try to convince us that you can simultaneously find the song to be "patronizing" without "pushing you sensitivities", or something.

I am contrasting my own, individual reaction to the song with the potential for negative reaction by the audience. It does not annoy me any more than any other song I just moderately dislike... but that is not necessarily how some listeners, today, will view (or hear) it.

Regardless, what you are really calling for is censorship, pure and simple. You couch it by saying each station should make its own decision, but then truly tip your hand when you say it is "inappropriate on a variety of levels", which is to be understood by all to mean that if one were to be actually insensitive enough to play it, that person should be considered an unenlightened stooge at best and a racist at worst - according to you.

This is no different than evaluating changes in language or customs or morals. Remember, in the 50's bedrooms had to have twin beds as the idea of a couple sleeping, uh, together, was not appropriate. R&B music was advertised by "Negro stations" as being "race music" in their trade advertisements. It was acceptable then, but not today.

Censorship is not what we call the application of current standards... that is called "prudence" and "respect".

I never was a big fan of the song either. But I am even less of a fan of censorship. I happen to have it on several of my Groovy Hits of the Super 70's CDs, which I plan to whip it out and play it loud. If only I had a radio station, I would play it like KRTH plays "Brown Eyed Girl". I celebrate the "redman" singer and his Cherokee heritage, just as he does. I want his voice to be heard, as he intended it, not as you so mistakenly choose to interpret it. This is the essence of tolerance, which we are getting so little of from the people who like to talk about it the most.

I'd rather think that we have come a long way from the mentalities of the 60's and that we have chosen to not honor those discarded attitudes by repeating them unless in a highly analytical forum.

 

[CTListener]

Is Indian Reservation all that different from PT 109, Hurricane, George Jackson, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Sink The Bismarck, The Battle Of New Orleans or any of the other songs that tell of a historical figure or historical event? If history is offensive, blame history---don't blame the songs about it.

And how come you still hear "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" occasionally (usually the Band's version, on classic rock stations, rather than Joan Baez's hit single) but not "Johnny Reb," anywhere? Aren't both politically incorrect now?

And David, how do Native Americans feel about "Indian Reservation" these days compared to the '70s? Seems their opinion should be the one that counts.

 

[oldies76]

I am contrasting my own, individual reaction to the song with the potential for negative reaction by the audience. It does not annoy me any more than any other song I just moderately dislike... but that is not necessarily how some listeners, today, will view (or hear) it.

I don't believe this song is any more different than any other song in the last 50 years. People will either like it or dislike it and that goes for any song that has been released. Personally, I despise most rap music because of negative lyrics. As for "Indian Reservation", like I've told Mr. Hagerty, it has been played for over 40 years in some form or fashion. If the song was really offensive to many, it would have been banned years ago, decades ago. It's not. Let it be.

 

[michael hagerty]

I don't believe this song is any more different than any other song in the last 50 years. People will either like it or dislike it and that goes for any song that has been released. Personally, I despise most rap music because of negative lyrics. As for "Indian Reservation", like I've told Mr. Hagerty, it has been played for over 40 years in some form or fashion. If the song was really offensive to many, it would have been banned years ago, decades ago. It's not. Let it be.

And like I've told you, in many topics beside this one, what people thought 40 years ago is rarely what they think today. People evolve. 10 years is a long time to someone who doesn't habitually look back. 40 is more than half the average human lifetime.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

And like I've told you, in many topics beside this one, what people thought 40 years ago is rarely what they think today. People evolve. 10 years is a long time to someone who doesn't habitually look back. 40 is more than half the average human lifetime.

I just realized "You Light Up My Life" was a #1 song 37 years ago, approaching 40. YES, I loved the song then (yikes!) but TODAY I have NO desire to hear it again. Debby Boone's song should be the Poster Song about this topic. One of the biggest songs of the decade, if not THE biggest song and certainly the longest-running #1 song of the 70s.

BTW, David Eduardo, ChannelFlipper wouldn't remember double beds in the 50s since he may have been an infant in 1969 or 1970. But I remember my parents had a king size. Actually I thought those double beds only existed on "I Love Lucy", "Ozzie & Harriet", and "Father Knows Best". ( :^D }

 

[LKellerIII]

I just realized "You Light Up My Life" was a #1 song 37 years ago, approaching 40. YES, I loved the song then (yikes!) but TODAY I have NO desire to hear it again. Debby Boone's song should be the Poster Song about this topic. One of the biggest songs of the decade, if not THE biggest song and certainly the longest-running #1 song of the 70s.

( :^D }

I had no desire to hear You Light Up My Life when it was new. You have to admit though, Debby looks terrific. It must be a combination of good looks inherited from her father, and perhaps his clean living Christian life style as well.

 

[CTListener]

I had no desire to hear You Light Up My Life when it was new. You have to admit though, Debby looks terrific. It must be a combination of good looks inherited from her father, and perhaps his clean living Christian life style as well.

She always looked great. But I still don't want to hear that song on the radio ... a vintage video on YouTube, however, why not?

 

[michael hagerty]

She always looked great. But I still don't want to hear that song on the radio ... a vintage video on YouTube, however, why not?

Today, KOOL here in Phoenix played Starbuck's "Moonlight Feels Right". Fine, fun little song. Liked it when it was new, not offensive to me today, but while it played, I thought "Gee, that's really kinda trite." I imagine most of what I played on the radio in 1976 would hit me that way.

I've grown....my tastes have expanded, refined, whatever.

 

[krth101]

If I may bring the thread back a little closer to the original topic. An Interesting yet unscientific thought to share. Over the weekend, myself, 2 adults - far out of the KRTH target audience and 2 on the lower end of the demo spent time driving around Los Angeles and listening to the new KRTH. Comments about the change in programming were as to be expected from the older passengers. The younger - 27 and 23, *didnt even realize it was KRTH initially and enjoyed the variety of the new songs on both days 1 and 2. By day 3 they were questioning the lack of 60s songs that they had fondly remembered. By day 4 they were so tired of the repetition of the new playlist, they went back to their iPods. Scientific no, interesting maybe. My thought after listening for this prolonged stretch was just how much Rick has turned over the playlist since September. My guess is at least 25% of the songs in rotation are new and have been added since jhani left - and the playlist seems to have shrunk as well. How many times a day can I listen to "kodachrome" or "heaven must be missing an angel"? It's "brown eyed girl" all over again. Does anyone else hear it this way as well?*

 

[michael hagerty]

If I may bring the thread back a little closer to the original topic. An Interesting yet unscientific thought to share. Over the weekend, myself, 2 adults - far out of the KRTH target audience and 2 on the lower end of the demo spent time driving around Los Angeles and listening to the new KRTH. Comments about the change in programming were as to be expected from the older passengers. The younger - 27 and 23, *didnt even realize it was KRTH initially and enjoyed the variety of the new songs on both days 1 and 2. By day 3 they were questioning the lack of 60s songs that they had fondly remembered. By day 4 they were so tired of the repetition of the new playlist, they went back to their iPods. Scientific no, interesting maybe. My thought after listening for this prolonged stretch was just how much Rick has turned over the playlist since September. My guess is at least 25% of the songs in rotation are new and have been added since jhani left - and the playlist seems to have shrunk as well. How many times a day can I listen to "kodachrome" or "heaven must be missing an angel"? It's "brown eyed girl" all over again. Does anyone else hear it this way as well?*

Not just unscientific but atypical. The average listener listens in 12-minute bursts at roughly the same times each day. By the time they hear a song repeated they couldn't tell you how long it's been since they heard it last.

Listening to a radio station today for prolonged, concentrated periods of time is not typical behavior.

 

[CTListener]

Today, KOOL here in Phoenix played Starbuck's "Moonlight Feels Right". Fine, fun little song. Liked it when it was new, not offensive to me today, but while it played, I thought "Gee, that's really kinda trite." I imagine most of what I played on the radio in 1976 would hit me that way.

I've grown....my tastes have expanded, refined, whatever.

That's one of the few idiosyncratic holdovers from DRC-FM's old playlist, along with Paul Davis' "65 Love Affair" and maybe a couple of other oddities. Guess they must still do OK with Connecticut listeners; either that or the PD has let herself become sentimental.

 

[oldies76]

Today, KOOL here in Phoenix played Starbuck's "Moonlight Feels Right". Fine, fun little song. Liked it when it was new, not offensive to me today, but while it played, I thought "Gee, that's really kinda trite." I imagine most of what I played on the radio in 1976 would hit me that way.

It's currently in the KRTH rotation as it should be...Great song from '76. That's one of the many songs which recently as a few years ago, I would have called a "lost hit" since I hadn't heard it on any station. Good that it's playing again.

As for "You Light Up My Life", I think it should be played on a specialty weekend, highlighting 1977, or the 70's in general, but the days of hearing that song in regular rotation are long, long gone. The last time I actually heard it aired was in the mid 1980's on a KRTH special or on AT-40 reruns.

 

[Thomps2525]

Mister krth101 asked if we hear repetition on "the new KRTH" and my answer is an unequivocal yes: Jet Airliner, Lights, Sweet Home Alabama, Young Turks, Blinded By The Light, Feels Like The First Time, Carry On Wayward Son and You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet have all been played this afternoon and I may not be hearing those songs every day but it certainly seems like it. And that fershlugginer Brown Eyed Girl still gets played over and over and over. I agree that the playlist has shrunk: three hundred 1960s songs have been replaced by fifty '70s-80s songs.*

(*Rough estimate; please do not ask for documentation.)