So I went into the station with the intention of playing freeform, because it's open sign-up, right? Well, that didn't seem to sit well with the guys there, and said that a lot of people would get angry if I didn't play the regularly scheduled programming of Sound of the Sub-Continent. I didn't really think anything of this, because my gut reaction is, "Don't tell me what to do. I play what I want. This is WCBN." Immediately after thinking this though, and hitting play on my interview with Sahar, I got a call from a listener who wanted to know when the schedule changed, and when Sounds of the Subcontinent was on now. Kind of surprised I told him it hadn't gone anywhere, but that it was open-sign up, and that I would play some Sounds after the interview.
That's when I really realized how much people love us, without us knowing it sometimes. That man probably tunes in every week to hear Sounds of the Subcontinent, and he probably doesn't get to listen to Indian music most of the week otherwise. The moral I learned is that people are listening whether you think they are or not.
It's that magical time of year when the WCBN DJs sign up for random slots, submit their slot preferences for the coming semester, and wait for the program director to decide a worthy time for them. Thus how I now have a MUCH better slot this semester, and I can be a human again.
(you get this auf Deutsch because I'm a dork)
Something interesting that happened today was that I picked a slot before Free Speech Radio News (FSRN), which happens Monday-Thursday here at WCBN from 5:30-6pm. It's not a big deal to do, since you just downloaded/stream the news and hang out until it's done, but I'm glad to actually have done it.
I had a couple of good layers, and when I went in I felt really good about the set, but I got a call from a listener while I was layering the Camus and Russian choral song that really jarred me. This was generally what it was like:
<hella awkward conversation>
Me: WCBN!
Him: Je ne comprends pas.
Me: Excuse me, I don't understand.
Him: Exactly. I don't understand what you're playing.
Me: What?
Him: I don't know what he's saying. It's all in French. How am I supposed to know what's going on?
Me: Well, it's "The Stranger" by Albert Camus layered with some Russian chorus music.
Him: Oh ok. Is it his birthday or something?
Me: No, I just wanted to play it. It's pretty, right?
Him: I still don't understand what he's saying, so I don't know if it is.
Me: All right. Um, well thanks for calling. </hella awkward conversation>
It shouldn't have bothered me so much, but it left me with a really bad taste in my mouth, that I just couldn't shake. I tried to mentally give him the good ol' F.U., but it really made the next 1/3 of my set feel kind of off. This is a good lesson though:
Clickity click on this for the .gif
Another thing I did today was read some poetry and prose from a book I bought at the Kerrytown BookFest awhile ago, which was published through a collaboration with 826 Michigan and The Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor, which features young writers (anywhere from 5-17 years old, I think). I originally bought it for my mom, who recently retired from being a first grade teacher, as an example for her class to keep working hard on their writing, but I guess I kind of kept it. Flipping through the book, I was really amazed by the quality writing coming out of these kids and teenagers. It says a lot about both the kids, and the quality writing workshops that happen at 826 Michigan and The Neutral Zone. Also, now that I'm looking at both of these websites, I'm really impressed with both of these organizations. Good job Ann Arbor.
To the playlist!
[Artist: Song - Album]
Stevie Wonder: Can I Get A Witness - I Was Made To Love Her
Hradistan: Karneval - Carohrani
Giberto Gil: Vendedor de caranguejo - Quanta
Mahalia Jackson: Since The Fire Started - The World's Greatest Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson Sings
Dennis Scott: Mudhole of Mine - Songs That Tickle Your Funny Bone Vol. III
King Tee: Freestyle Ghetto Instrumental - Free Style Ghetto/Let's Get It On
Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears: Livin' In The Jungle - Scandalous
End Times Orchestra: Secrets - End Times Orchestra
GD Luxxe: Changed Body - The 20th Door
[EAS TEST]
U.S.S.R. Russian Chorus: Snow, All Around - The White Birch Tree & Other Russian Songs
Albert Camus: L'Étranger - Albert Camus Reading From His Novels & Essays
Ezekiel Honig: Falling Down - People Places & Things
Francisco Aguabella: Watermelon Man - agua de cuba
various artists: Bal plin - Sonneurs de Clarinette en Bretagne
Johanna Beyer: The Federal Music Project - Sticky Melodies
Doug Yokohama: Relations (Mother's and Father's) - identities
Europa: El Misterio De Los Tomates Electricos - La ultima emoción
unknown: Widgie the Walking Whale - Widgie the Walking Whale
Heresy Of The Free Spirit: A Prayer For Light - A Prayer For Light
whales: various whale sounds - Deep Voices
Ringo Death Starr: Two Girls - Ringo Death Starr
Patrick O'Hagan: The lark in the clear air - Dear Little Shamrock
Loga Ramin Torkian: Gavan - Mehraab
The Budos Band: Golden Dunes - III
Koji Kondo: Menu Selection - The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Shinobu Tanaka: Menu - Luigi's Mansion OST
Nintendo: Title Screen - Animal Crossing GC OST
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic: (Excerpts from) The Rite of Spring - Dawn of the Cycads
Adelaide: games without end - Adelaide
Kodaly Quartet: String Quartet No. 1 in G Minor Op. 10, Tré modéré - Debussy-Ravel String Quartets
Chorus of the Opera House, Rome: The Humming Chorus - Highlights from Madama Butterfly
Tiny Tim: I Saw Mr. Presley Tip-Toeing Through The Tulips - I Love Me
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant: West Cabaret Drive - Gear Blues
Einstürzende Neubauten: Ich bin's - Strategies Against Architecture II
DJ Shadow: Artifact - The Outsider
The Black: Green Leaves - Sun In The Day Moon At Night
Randy Grief: Octobus Robot - War of the Worlds
Anders Osborn: Had My Reasons - Living Room
Earth Wind And Fire: Moonwalk - Electric Universe
Livin' in the Jungle:
Camus and Russian Chorus: Despite the hater calling in, this was my favorite part of the set. I thought it was absolutely gorgeous. Also, it reminds me that I need to check the new music LP section more often.
Rite of Spring: I've been meaning to play this for a few months, but I keep forgetting until it's too late. I really loved this version of Rite of Spring, and I'm gonna go back and see if there are any more rock versions of classical songs from these guys.
Earth Wind and Fire: Soul saves the day once again.
Dyin' in the Jungle:
Green Leaves: There's no way to stop this from happening, because really it's just an accident, but sometimes it happens that you're playing a song on one CD deck, and you want to play around and find another song on another deck, but you get confused which is which and then you STOP the song from the deck you're actually playing. Oops.
Looped tracks: So I'll let you in on a secret...sometimes if I'm not sure if I can find a long enough track to layer with my voice while I read announcements, I'll play a looping track from my computer. I did this 3 times in a row while I was announcing today. I'm not sure if this is good, but I do like playing video game music for you all!
Mudhole song: Hm it was a little hokey for me, but I guess that's the point, right? Hahaha.
