To quote Palmyra Delran and the Doppel Gang quoting Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich: Hold tight.
While looking for something else entirely, I ran across the following (excerpted) passage from a 2022 playlist. As our far-future world of 2026 seems increasingly hell-bent on spinning itself determinedly and irrevocably into the waiting abyss, the sentiment remains in place and relevant:
In 1976, when I was a junior in high school, a girl I knew wrote in my yearbook, "Carl, you've got to be the most happy-go-lucky person I've ever met."
I was struck, then and now, by how far off the mark she was in describing me. I guess I put up a good front. Then and now.
And that's okay. With great powerlessness comes great irresponsibility. While I don't believe in the flawed method of fake-it-till-you-make-it, I do recognize the transformative potential of gettin' through, with a chip on my shoulder and a song in my heart. Perspective is essential. A sense of humor can offer catharsis. Music is cathartic. If we're not always as happy-go-lucky as we seem, we can still revel in any opportunity to embrace the moment. For whatever the moment is worth.
Dana and I play songs on the radio. It's a good gig, and I think it may help some listeners be a little bit happy for a little bit of our allotted time on this odd planet. It makes me happy. The rest will follow and fall into place if it can. Happy-go-lucky? Me? My high school friend wasn't right about me in that regard.
But maybe she wasn't entirely wrong, either. I understand the meaning of calendar pages turning and flitting away. I will continue to greet their flight with as much grace as I can muster.
So here's another attempt at sight gags on the radio, rockin' pop music played loud and proud. Here's to the pursuit of happy-go-lucky. Here's to the giddy pleasure of giddy pleasure. Here's to you, and to yours. Laugh. Sing. Dance. Listen. 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, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO.
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). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
Carl's latest book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
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