February of 1964. I was only four years old, but trust me: even little kids like me knew about the Beatles. EVERYone in America knew the Beatles that week, when "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and its moptopped brethren took control of every Top 40 radio station, and the Beatles themselves assumed command of a million percent of all TV screens with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was a shared experience. Some loved it, some despised it, but it included everyone. It was ours, whether you liked it or not.
And sure, a lot has changed in the 59 years that have slipped away since then. Our shared pop culture experiences aren't anywhere near as universal as they used to be. One categorical imperative remains steadfast and true:
Dig what you dig.
The Super Bowl. The GRAMMYs. Superhero movies. Even reality TV. Forgive me for cringing while typing that last one, but my own (extreme) distaste for, say, The Bachelor doesn't and shouldn't compromise your right and ability to love it just the same. I enjoy superhero movies. I liked this year's GRAMMY show more than many of my peers did. I will watch the Super Bowl when the Buffalo Bills make it back there. I love the Tony Awards. I'll skip the Olympics and the Oscars, and respect your interest in them if you do happen to dig them.
Pop culture isn't quite the massive shared experience it was in 1964. The triumph of the niche...which isn't necessarily a bad thing. More choices. More pathways. There's a lot of stuff for us to dig, individually or in groups, together or on our own. As we see fit. As we dig what we dig.
On Sunday nights, we have a radio show. Dana and I have a pretty good idea of what records we want to play, what we think fits and what we think falls outside whatever our format is. It's defined by what we dig.
And we hope you'll dig it, too.
This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This show is available as a podcast.
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 via the TuneIn Radio and Radio Garden apps as Westcott Radio.
REMINDER! You can help our friend (and Radio Deer Camp host) Rich Firestone, and we hope you will: Support Rich's Transition To Disabled Living. And we thanks ya!
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).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio: CD or download
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/
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