The Radio Game

Music is such a funny thing. Who woke up one day and decided that it would be a good idea bang some keys and make notes. Then there are the ones who woke and decided to sing to said keys, strings and bangs on drums. Who ever did was a true genius. Some people would say that music these days has become auto-tuned BS with the "artists" not really being talented at all. I discovered music in the 90's where boy bands in baggy pants and hip hop first made their mark on the industry. I became a teenager in the double zero's where said boy bands faded from sight and hip hop was transformed into rap. Then I became an adult and realized that music can make an impact. Music can make a dreary day turn sunny, can inspire an entire population to be better, can help people get through hard times, and make happy times even better. Music is universal and is something I believe that brings us together as people. Yes, there is a strong argument that backs up the idea of auto-tuned BS, but that auto-tuned BS is still there and obviously those people are doing something right. They get heard, they sell records and they have a fan base. But all of this is beyond the point. The radio game. It is one that goes back decades to road trips in big vans with no seat belts across the country. I played it recently on one of my many hours and miles I spend in the car every day, alone. So I've learned to get creative with how I pass the time. I tried talk radio and realized that I really didn't want to listen to how crappy the world is. I can learn that from the news. I tried comedy radio. Laugh USA is too clean and Raw Dog Comedy tries to hard. Probably laughed twice. Then I tried being all alternative and Current like and got a few gems from it. But I didn't last long. I like singing along with the songs I hear. And the great thing about XM radio is that there are so many channels! They don't false advertise that. Either way, when you're in the car as much as I am, a lot of music plays over and over no matter what station. It's repetitive. The funny thing about the radio is it can give a song it's birth to the music population. It can make it popular and help an artist be discovered. Then, it drives that song into the ground and ruins it for everyone by being played on ever single station on the planet, genre out of the question. If I hear Someone Like You one more time, I'm going to cry. The radio ruined an epic song of gorgeous proportions by Adele. They played it on the local hip hop station yesterday. Really? Again, besides the point. 


I'm driving to work the other day and I am about half way 25 minutes into the 40 minute drive when I start to think. I know, it hurt. I was trying to figure out how the day was going to turn out. It was kind of cloudy, I was a little tired and I felt like my life had become a very boring predictable routine, which it has, but whatever thats life. This day had potential. I just felt like something good was going to happen. Now, this was Friday. I was going to the U to hang with friends that night and I was sincerely hoping to just have fun. But three hours of work and driving was still standing between me and my Friday night. So I asked the radio, "How is this day going to turn out?" Big question to ask a radio. And what song comes on but LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It". Just perfect. How did the radio know that I actually put clothes on and did my hair that day. Pure genius! So I thought, why not keep it going, ask another questions. So I thought long and hard and finally landed on the question "Did I make the right decision to come go to school at home?" A little driven into the ground since there is nothing I can do about it now and I am generally happy it. But, I asked anyway. And "Oh My God" by Kassidy come on. The main lyrics of this song are "oh my god, I know I've hit the bottom". Bleak answer to say the least. But I figure I can chalk this answer up to just my situation right now. I really need to start school so I can begin to regularly interact with people my own age and maturity level. Which I guess is kind of an oxymoron since I am 20 but on most days am lucky to reach 15 year old boy in the maturity category. So I thought, one more question. Could now go either way, one good one bad lets do this. So I settle on the question "What's the deal with my love life" Now generally I already know that the answer to this question since it doesn't exist. But I figure the question is kind of open ended, like is it going to pick up or is there someone there in the near future, stuff like that. Now, I tried in vain to avoid the country stations because generally those never turn out well for anyone. But the rules of radio game apply and one of those rules is that you have to turn the dial and let it loose. I was so happy when I didn't get a country song. I instead got "Highway to Hell" by ACDC. Great. But that's the radio game! I'm sure it's never right. Even though my first two songs were pretty accurate. Oh well, at least hell is hot ;) So next time you are driving to work, play this nifty little game and become enlightened about your life through terrible DJ's and over paid auto tuned "singers".