Monday, March 21, 2005

The Path That Leads You

Crazy week and things might slow down sometime but I feel like I'm missing something when I'm not babbling. Anyhow, I picked up a copy of the double-CD Essential Willie Nelson the other day. When I popped in the first disc, it reminded me that I really owe a lot of my musical diversity to my mother. I can clearly remember my mother having Alabama's The Closer You Get in the cassette player of her car. I also remember her having Willie Nelson's Always On My Mind on vinyl. I have always believed that to really talk about the music of the 1980's that you should include all genres. Kenny Rogers was a crossover success as was Dolly Parton, Eddie Rabbitt and Garth Brooks. By not including them, you are ignoring a big part of what really was going on with music at the time. But, you will not see an 80's station create a format that shows a true mix of that diversity. There are a lot of people that define 80's music by the songs "I Melt With You" and "Tainted Love" but doing so excludes a lot of great music. It was a time with a little band named the Oak Ridge Boys were able to score a Top 40 hit with a song titled "Elvira." I remember hearing that song on a little radio in the shape of the trash can of Sesame Street's Oscar "The Grouch" that I got for my birthday that year. I still get a kick out of the "Ooom Papa Mao Mao" parts. Maybe, I was the right person to do a newsletter about the music. Thank you, Mom.

4 comments:

Teri said...

Research has shown that parents influence you the most when it comes to religion and politics. I can see how music is part of it as well. I am also thankful for my parents introducing me to such groups as the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel. Without growing up hearing k-earth 101 and all the oldies I was forced to listen to on the radio as a child, I don't think I could have such a great appreciation for music in general as I do now.

Teri said...

"Maybe, I was the right person to do a newsletter about the music"

Yes you are! And we appreciate that too, I guess your fans of the newsletter need to thank your mom as well.. So thanks mom!

LoraLoo said...

You are definitely the right person for the job - having no bias and such a large range of favorite music! I was definitely influenced by my parents which is why I love classic rock so much - but I'm so very biased toward 80's alternative. I think it comes from way back in the days of KUNV being the only place you could hear it here in Vegas, all of us considered ourselves this elite band of teens who listed to the "underground". LOL How funny that sounds now.

Thanks Marten for your diverse and very entertaining, informative newsletter!

Martin said...

I really miss KUNV. I remember listening to it in high school as a sophomore or junior and hearing "Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Marley and a song called "F*ck, F*ck, F*ck." My eyese were opened to a vast new world of what could be done with music. What passes as "alternative" now is pretty sad. My favorite show other than Rock Avenue on the station was called Difficult Listening. I wish I had some of those on CD. Everything from hand drills, women screaming, car crash sounds and moans mixed to an ambient matte. I think that got me hooked on the band Skinny Puppy more than anything else. Btw, you both are great and thank you for saying that. I'm just happy to know there are people that can really enjoy music.