Listen without prejudice.
The late George Michael used that direction as an album title, and it's good advice. As fans of pop music, we can be creatures of habit. And we can be resistant to the idea of opening our ears and minds to music that falls outside our familiar preferred soundtracks.
This week's playlist includes a track by Madonna. STOP! Don't touch that dial. I've never been much of a Madonna fan, though I recognize her talent and have even tapped the ol' toe along with a few of her hit records. Granted, that hasn't happened often, but it has happened. Hell, I quite liked "Borderline" when it was rising on the charts, and I kinda liked "Open Your Heart" a little later on.
Madonna's music generally doesn't fit with whatever it is we try to do on this radio show. I mean, except when it does. I don't remember who it was, and it was several years back, but one of our intrepid listeners once requested we play "Dear Jessie," a track from Madonna's 1989 mega-lurchin' blockbuster album Like A Prayer. While we may have been a wee bit skeptical, I bought the track...and loved it. We played it that week. That was in 2011. I'm pretty sure that was the only time we played it.
Until now. Last week, as I was looking for playlist possibilities, "Dear Jessie" turned up in my search. I'd forgotten about the track, but a fresh spin proved that I still love it. And so, into the playlist groove.
How much music do we dismiss without a thought? We have likes and dislikes, and that's how it ought to be. You know the mantra by now: Dig what you dig. But, sometimes, there may be more than meets the ear. Even an act you despise may be capable of crafting one (or more!) tracks that can turn your head and move your feet. Pop music is infinite.
So: Madonna returns to This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio. You can hear as she mingles with the latest indie pop from Richard Turgeon, L.A. Mood, Nick Frater, Kingdom Of Mustang, the Junior League, and the Test Pressings, nestled in all comfy with the Four Tops, Richard Hell and the VoidOids, the Motors, the Monkees, the Coasters, the Go-Go's, the Ramones, Amy Rigby, and your other TIRnRR Fave Raves.
Would you care to dance, Ms. Ciccone? We're delighted to have you with us. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO).
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