Thanks for the Music

Sort of off topic.

I listen to music on community radio (mostly WOMR on the Cape) as much as possible, and usually when writing.  All the DJs are volunteer and play whatever they want to.  This morning, I am listening to "Help me Rhonda," hosted by a DJ named Rhonda who plays - you guessed it - 60s pop (plus other stuff).

Your mileage may vary, but I like this stuff.  In fact, I found myself thinking, no wonder the MAGAs want to turn back the clock.  Now in their case, they want to re-live a world where their racism and misogyny could run free, shared by everyone they knew.  That's the wrong clock.

I'd like to re-live a world full of Motown, proto-rock, early soul and R&B, popular folk, early punk.  Woodstock stuff.  1960's, early 70's.  Now playing - The Who, following Aretha Franklin.  To come, I hope, are the Stones, Bonnie Raitt, the Shirelles, Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Janis, The Ramones, The Beatles, Muddy Waters, The Doors, Phil Ochs, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield, The Kinks, Tom Lehrer, Cream, Simon and Garfunkel Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder... 

Lets Make American Music Great Again!  No, actually, that doesn't work.  It's not really what I want.  It's not great just because I like it.  How about:  Let's Make It Possible For Gary To Listen To the Music He Loves All the Time.  That's all.  Community radio pretty much achieves that.  And it's music chosen by people with a passion for music, not algorithms, and I think it really makes a difference. Thanks guys!

Two other things:

All the songs I've been listening to in the last half hour have "Fool" in the title.  Now WOMR is nothing if not political (when it wants to be) and I appreciate this setlist after reading the news all morning.

Also - American music is still great, even just according to Gary's metric. Of the list above, about half are still making music, many in their 80s.  Here are Joan Baez* (85) and Bruce Springsteen (76) performing at the No Kings rally in Minneapolis last Saturday.  This is, again, art that knows what it's about.

Actually, there are a lot of more modern musicians who have studied at the feet of the greats of the past, and the musical passion and talent of the past comes through in their work.  Jesse Welles.  The Big Push.  Cake.  And loads of new bands playing blues, punk, rock and soul, who I would never have heard of if I hadn't happened on Community Radio.  So - It's Alright.

* - Thanks Abbey!