The Music Tapes cover "Let It Snow"/"Zat You, Santa Claus?"

Gorgeous.

http://treeporn.tumblr.com/post/1424372973/portland-japanese-garden

Cable Radio updates

I listened to the Toddlers station in the daytime and it is more lively. The best song I heard was Michelle Shocked doing I've Got No Strings On Me.

I heard Man in Motion, better known as the theme from St Elmo's Fire on Stage and Screen. Boo!

I hear Bad Girls and Flashlight like, every time I listen to Classic R&B. Playlists, they're everywhere.

Cable Radio 41 - 45

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them. Last batch!

41) Blues

Several current songs, which was a disappointment, although I liked one from Solomon Burke, We Don't Need It. Then Sam Cooke's Tennessee Waltz which wasn't bluesy at all! Just at the end did they play more traditional blues. So I'm going to totally break with this channel and post one of my favorite blues songs:

42) Contemporary Christian

This sounded a lot like contemporary love songs to me, and then they would say Yahweh or Jesus Messiah. A Christian music station took over one of the radio stations I listened to, and I hadn't reprogrammed the channel and one night I heard Some Kind of Wonderful. Except it was "My savior, he's all right - My savior, he's clean outta sight!" "Can I get a witness" was PERFECT. Anwyays. This isn't bad music, it's a good message, the singers definitely seemed sincere.

43) Singers and Swing

I was mad when they added Swing to this channel, as it used to be a perfect nap channel for me. I could still nap to it, I think. Lots of standards, it would make nice dinner music, especially if I were having my parents over.

44) Classical Masterpieces

Well, that's exactly what they are. I like classical music, but I almost never listen to it. I had a roommate who did, he would play this channel on Sunday mornings while he read the paper. It's probably a good habit to get into.

45) Light Classical

According to the description of this channel, "From the Baroque era to the present, enjoy a tasteful mix of the all-time Classics you knows (sic) and love featuring a delicate styling of solo instrumentalists and chamber ensembles." I didn't know any, and I didn't notice a difference between this and Classical Masterpieces, except maybe they were shorter?

Cable Radio 36-40

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

36) Reggae

The Reggae sound I don't find objectionable, but I don't really like either. I heard Stir it Up and Wasn't Me, I like both of those songs, as do most people. This song was sweet:

37) Rock

This music barely captured my attention. I've never listened to such ignorable rock. All American Nightmare by Hinder caught my attention because sometimes it sounded like other songs I've heard. I still haven't forgiven Hinder for that Lips of an Angel.

38) Toddler Tunes

Nice quiet music after 10 at night, I wonder if it's different in the daytime. Loooong Teletubbies song that sucked, but the rest was nice. I'm going to check in the daytime and see if it's peppier. I think kids would like this one best, but what do I know?

39) Urbana

A slightly harder version of the music I heard on Pop Latina - and maybe Tropicale! Mostly in Spanish, and then they played a song by Usher/Jay Z.

40) Pop Latina

They played Alejandro! The other songs were in Spanish, but basically the same as Pop Americana. No rap though, at least while I listened.

Early Memories

10 memories before age 10. Inspired by Clusterflock.

1) A dream I had when I was 3 or 4. Someone offered me a cookie and I woke up when I reached out for it and my hand hit the wall.

2) Catching crayfish in the brook.

3) I went to a sleepover and I got my foot caught on a door and ripped the big toenail almost all off. The family either had an English Sheepdog or white shag carpeting, maybe both.

4) I woke up at what seemed like the middle of the night. I went out into the living room and my parents were watching the Miss America pageant. They let me stay up and I sat on my dad's lap and had a bite of his meatball sub. I couldn't wait to be grown up. "This is living", I thought.

5) Teaching my little sister how to make a bow on a sundress that tied at the shoulders. She learned right away and then I was mad, because I'd only known it myself less than a day.

6) A teacher yelling at me and when I looked up, the whole class had lined up and were waiting for me. I was reading a book and never heard a thing until she yelled.

7) Sitting under a round table in Kindergarten, trying to get away.

8) My present for my 6th or 7th birthday - a transistor radio that was a statue of a girl with a dog.

9) My father skating me out to the middle of a pond and leaving me to skate back.

10) My friend and I found a dead bird and we buried it and I had an idea that a hot air balloon would come down to take it to heaven, but I fell asleep before it came.

Cable Radio 31-35

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

31) Jazz

I always say I like the first 3 minutes of every jazz song I've heard. It's not for me, it's too repetitive. I know that makes me an unsophisticated listener, I am OK with that. My favorite of the THREE songs I heard in 20 minutes was Dizzy Gillespie's The Mooche. But in 10+ minutes, with Dizzy playing, it makes sense you're going to hear something you like, right?

32) Smooth Jazz

I kind of like Smooth Jazz better than Jazz, it's more melodic. Also I like to say "Smooth Jazz", I say it to my sister's kids when I want them to calm down. But it also strikes me as a little lame too. Kind of like Muzak.

33) Tropicales

Salsa! Fun songs that make you want to dance. Some were too long and repetitive, but you prolly wouldn't notice that if you were dancing. I liked this one; it's so dramatic!

34) Adult Alternative
Ostensibly, this is my kind of music, with the exceptions of John Mayer and Dave Matthews band, which are inescapable, unfortunately. I don't know why some bands get radio play and other's don't. Not John Mayer and DMB, but the smaller ones. I mean, I suppose I do and I could read more, but that would be depressing. I liked this one:

35) Soundscapes

Mostly ignorable New Age, but then this caught my ear - and not in a good way. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albedo_0.39

It's not my kind of thing.

I don't think I've said, but Cable Radio gives you facts about the song or the singer or the time period on the screen while they play the songs. While playing Cynthia Jordan's Childgrove, a Celtic instrumental, I learned that the first song she ever wrote was José Cuervo (You Are a Friend of Mine). That made me happy.

Cable Radio 26-30

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

26) Classic Rock

Just what it says. No deep cuts, but I hadn't heard Bat Out of Hell in a long time and I liked all of the songs they played. I'm calling this my favorite, because I like it and also I have a good memory of singing this with a crowd at a Smithereeens concert soon after John Entwistle died.

27) Hip Hop and R&B

It seemed like an OK mix between, but I didn't really like anything I heard, and actively disliked some really repetitive songs - Nelly's Tippin in The Club and Ciara's Gimme That. And I've liked both of them for other songs!

28) 90's

Started out Shania Twain to Green Day, so I was encouraged, but the rest of the songs would have been played on any Adult Contemporary station in the 90's. And still might be today, let's face it. And then they played What is Love. IMMD. Ha!

29) Party Favs

Cruel Summer, Good Vibrations, Our House, 1-2-3-4...It would be OK for one of my parties, but I can't imagine it would fit everyone's! It was fun.

30) Throwback Jamz

If you miss rap based club music of the 90s, which I don't. Didn't do anything for me, I was disappointed. I think they'd have to throw further back for me to like it.

Cable Radio 21-25

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them. Halfway there!

21) 80's

I graduated high school in the 80's, I'm a fan. They played Purple Rain and Boys of Summer, two songs that I think transcend the time period. This was my favorite "80s" jam they played:

22) Romances

Love songs in Spanish. Lots of talk of corazóns. No favorite.

23) MC Mix Tape

Club music. The day I listened it was OK until all of a sudden I had the urge to kill myself. Thump thump thump.

24) Dance/Electronica

Club Music, but just instrumental. Like with Mix Tape, it's fine for a while and then I rip off my ears.

25) Hit List

Hit songs in 2010. Well, what can you say? They're about love and sex and money, they're generic to a specific group. I didn't like any of the ones I heard today and actually actively disliked two - Teenage Dream is like freaking Dora with the yelling and lack of inflection. And an overly cutesy song by Train, who I don't mind usually.

Cable Radio 16-20

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

16) Retro Rock
Hair Bands from the 80's, at first then a little more variety, with AC/DC and Robert Plant:



17) Stage and Screen
They were all showtunes when I listened and I was relieved, I was worried they were going to play It Might Be You. Tootsie would make a very fun Broadway Musical, I think. You're welcome. I like showtunes and they played a good variety, I listened for way longer than 20 minutes.

18) Soft Rock
This was a confusing station, I assumed it would be soft music, but then they played the Pointer Sisters I'm So Excited, which isn't soft, is it? It was the best song they played too, I hated the others. Bad music, it should be called. Bad Jamz.

19) Gospel
It did have your expected gospel choir music, but then it showed some variety. Worship and praise music by black artists. I liked a song by Keith Wonderboy Johnson that said something about pulling your blessing down.

20) Metal
The instrumental music is OK in metal songs, but then the singer comes in with that voice and my reaction is always, "Are you KIDDING me?" It's ridiculous to me, I can't take it seriously. I always think they're having a scary voice contest.

Another Making Believe

I saw and liked:

Cable Radio 11-15

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

11) Easy Listening
When we were kids, we had an intercom in our house and sometimes we played music during dinner, but it was always WPAT. This is that music. Like Muzak, but maybe less cheesy. Instrumentals. Fascination was my favorite. I thought it was because it was always an instrumental, but when I went to YouTube, I heard Nat King Cole sing lyrics to it.

12) 70's
AM radio pop, seemed to be a little heavier with the late 70's, but that could have just been when I was listening. I noted All By Myself, Macho Man, and Reunited.

13) Hip Hop Classics
I liked the songs on this, but I only heard a few, old hip hop songs are long!



14) R&B Soul
There was a station in NY for a long time, they played "Nothing but love songs" and that was what I thought of listening to this. It was women done wrong and "Business Time" songs by boys who were not Barry White, if you know what I mean. My favorite song was Gone Already by Faith Evans, but mostly just because I like her voice.

15) Kidz Only
Well, we don't think much of kids these days. Insipid pop music that I assume doesn't get too graphic. I do like Girlfriend, but they bleeped out "hell", but left in making the girlfriend disappear and how stupid she is and how Avril can do it better.

Cable Radio 6-10

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

6) Classic Alternative
This was very 80's heavy the day I listened to it and I don't know, was Scandal Alternative in the 80's? But it was enjoyable and my favorite song was Berlin's Metro:



7) Classic Country
Broadly speaking, I'm not a fan of country music, but I heard lots of good stuff on this channel. First of all, old country songs are short, so I heard lots more songs than on other channels! And some were memories for me, Harper Valley PTA, Paper Roses, songs from my childhood. Some of the others I kept thinking were by Alabama, but they weren't. This is as country as you get, but it's great music:



8) Sounds of the Season
Of course, they play Christmas music and winter songs at the holidays, but I wondered what they played for October - and now I know. Classical pieces from German composers and Polka!

9) Mexicana
Mexicana music can sound like Polka to me, so it was funny to go from Polkas to this. The other songs were overly romantic songs by boy bands. Although all of the lyrics were in Spanish, the facts about the music on the tv channel are in English.

10) R&B Classics
This station was a treat. Brick House, Misty Blue, Bad Girls, Hot Fun in The Summertime, Flashlight, Mighty Mighty - you tell me which was the best song!

Cable Radio 1-5

I'm listening to all of the radio stations on my cable television for 20 minutes and then writing about them.

1. Today's Country

I am not a fan of Today's Country and listening to the station didn't change this. I find the lyrics overly cliched, and precociously clever. If I had to pick a favorite, I minded Kenny Chesney's Boys of Fall the least.

2. True Country

I couldn't tell any difference between this and Today's Country, I assume that these artists are actually from "the country".

3. Rap Uncensored

My favorite song came early, with TI's Yeah Ya Know.

But then they played Snoop Dogg and Master P's Lay Low. I'll just post a link to the lyrics, but I don't think they're safe for anyone's eyes:

http://www.lyricsmania.com/lay_low_featuring_master_p_nate_dogg_butch_cassidy_tha_eastsidaz_lyrics_snoop_dogg.htm

Now, I get the impression that they're upset about something. But seriously, where is that type of talk appropriate? As a woman, I would be mortified to hear that song, I can't imagine my father hearing that song. Ridiculous, disgusting. This was played at 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon too!

4. Alternative

In general, a lot lighter than I consider "Alternative" to be. I liked it all OK, this was my favorite:

5. Solid Gold Oldies

I grew up with 50's and 60's music, so I'm pretty comfortable with it and I like it. You almost never hear it on the regular radio, because that generation doesn't buy enough stuff to matter anymore. I enjoyed the 20 minutes, it was easy to listen to. My favorite song was Hang On Sloopy.

Cable Radio

When I was in college, I had a job where I worked in a file room three days a week. I had a radio and lived in Northern New Jersey, so there were a lot of radio stations. To expand my listening horizons, I listened to all of the stations on the FM dial in 20 min increments. Since I'm out of work, I decided to try it again, with the radio stations on my television cable.