this morning's quick synopsis of trivial comedy, facts and nothingness

(the foreign title for this entry is: "I HATE YOU! DON'T LEAVE ME?")


so i gave up listening to the F.M. radio quite a long time ago. i'm not opposed to it. i just can't get into the constant commercials and the repetitive nature of the beast. plus a lot of the NEW music that is hashed out over the waves, ... well it kinda sucks. i don't want to sound like a snob (which i have been accused of plenty) but i just can't get into the idea of having Cumulus Media flooding the air waves with the same songs repeatedly that, coincidentally, happen to be performed by an artist on one of Cumulus' parent company's record labels. it's one huge system of greed. the often really good music, which ironically has little or no financial backing, has to generally be sought out. like crawling around on hands and knees sifting through a jungle of thick, tall weeds to find that 1/2 carat diamond you swear has to be buried down here somewhere.

so anyway, here's the story ...
a while back i signed up to receive WRRV's (local radio station: 92.7/96.9 f.m.'s) e-mails regarding local concerts, events etc.. (any access to concert info is great. too many great shows have passed me by in the past. too many concerts that i wasn't even aware of until after the fact.) so i read one e-mail, the other day, claiming if you listen at 7:20a.m., 12:20p.m. and 5:20p.m. you would have a chance to win Pearl Jam's new album "Backspacer". AND if you win this compact disc you are then entered, in another contest, to win two free tickets to see Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden PLUS that nights stay at a hotel in the city.
so i decided this morning to give it a shot.
of all the bands i have seen over time, i have never seen Pearl Jam. so while Kieran is way too into Sesame Street this morning (and while i should be making breakfast.) i'll give this station a listen on the laptop. so we eat a little later this morning. so what?

***(and i know what some of you are thinking ... how can you be so critical of so much music and then intentionally want to listen to Pearl Jam? i don't know what to say to that. and you're right to call me out on this one. it's like the same way i don't understand people listening to techno or house or jungle beats or some other thumping in your car when you know you're driving and not in a club on a dance floor .... or the same way some of you cherish country music but you're life is going great, your spouse hasn't left you or cheated and your dog is healthy and on the porch napping next to your rocking chair. anyway, Pearl Jam just does something for me. i like a lot of their music and i can't explain why. and i don't have to justify my likes and dislikes to any of you! this is my blog damn it! you got something to say? go getchyer own damn bliggity blog!)

so if you're not familiar with WRRV's "Ass-Backward Song of the Day" it goes something like this ...
they play 2-3 seconds of a popular song (which is popular because Cumulus Media over-plays the crap out of it on every station they own) backwards. then if you recognize it, you call them. if you have the correct artist and song, you win the prize. simple enough right?
to my shock and awe, not only do i recognize this song but the artist too.
Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"!
probably my least favorite song on that whole album. it's redundant and simple (and not good simple, boring simple) [but that's also a part of this particular bands appeal; simple, redundant, addictive riffs and hooks] and these things explain why most people like the song. this is not a bad thing. lots of research has been done by record companies to process crap like Britney and the likes to the masses in order to make millions and it's true that it works. i listen to some of that crap until i recognize there's nothing to it and then i'm outta there. there's a formula that the Beatles perfected and then violated. keep it light, floaty, unoffending and keep it right around three minutes long and the radio will play it. a great hook never hurt either.

anyway, i have tried to enter hundreds of radio contests in my life time. AND i almost always get the busy signal when calling. try again. still busy. and so on.
well this time ...
attempt #1 ... busy signal.
attempt #2 ... IT'S RINGING!
waiting ...
ringing ...
waiting ...
this goes on for the 2 minutes of commercials (none of which seem to have anything appealing to the demographic they're playing for. but what do i know?)
when finally the dj's; Boris and Brandi return to the air
disappointed, i hang up the phone.
obviously they're not going to take my personal info over the air.
i mean what if in my excitement i swear or curse on the air?
DUMB-ASS!!!
the first thing Boris says as i'm hanging up my call is, "WRRV. Who's this?"
WAIT!? ... WHAT? ... what the hell? NO! NO I DIDN'T?!
so the first guy hasn't a clue. his guess was so far off i'm actually talking to the radio [laptop streaming live] apologizing to his girlfriend [boyfriend/wife/life partner/best friend/WHOEVER] who was probably as excited to see Pearl Jam for free as i was.
next caller (which could have very well been me).... "umm ... it's Sex on Fire? ... Kings of Leon?"
Boris, "you're absolutely right it is"
me, ... "son of a bitch."


in summation, the point of the story is as follows ...

1 - while i know i can always try again 12:20, 5:20 and then again tomorrow and etc... i just can't believe that if i had been more familiar with their format, or more patient, we could have won the c.d. and potentially the free show and hotel stay right away and i wouldn't be subjected to anymore radio play.

2 - i also know i can always just go buy the cd or buy 2 tickets from the greediest whore of them all, TICKETMASTER for $163.40!!! (whatever happened to Pearl Jam's crusade to dismantle Ticketmaster? and now they distribute their tickets through them? damn the man! i feel as though sometimes it's best, as a public figure, to keep your ideals close to your chest. i'll use this example and Sinead O'Connor's pope ripping incident as prime examples. it could ruin your career, as it did with Sinead or just bring your integrity into question, as in the Pearl Jam/Ticketmaster confusion.)

[back to the point] it appears i will be tuning in for another chance to win after all.
damn you radio!
and damn your enticing prizes!
after i get what i need from you, ...

WE ARE TOTALLY BREAKING UP AGAIN!