Radio Rage

You know, I am not sure if it is the advancement of my age or if I do indeed have a legitimate grievance, but when I listen to the radio I find myself frowning with the utmost irritation. And, to add insult to injury I have to endure Radio 5 informing me that I am listening to “Great” music. Great!?! What exactly is great about it!?! The music is so far from great I find myself feeling pleasantly relieved when a Shakira song starts to play. Not only am I relieved but I am also rather surprised to learn that Shakira, at least, doesn’t make my ears ring. I think how wonderful it would be if we had a radio station that did not play the worse commercial rubbish ever produced in the entire Universe since the beginning of time. Then I remember that it was not so long ago we actually did have a radio station that gave us a wider variety of music and more intelligent, entertaining DJ’s. Once I have lamented the woe of losing Radio 2000 to the ranks of not even bothering to flip through, I resign myself to the fact that its either listen to my own personal music collection and never hear anything new for the rest of my days or listen to Radio my ears are ringing 5 or East Coast slit my wrists Radio in the hopes I will be lucky enough to hear one great gem that will make it seem somewhat worthwhile.

And then, inevitably, the Radio Rage sets in and I remember that it was only recently SABC stole money from me in the guise of a TV License while telling me it was the right thing to do (bad English you chump!). It makes me bitter; it makes me irrational; it makes me hate them. It makes me think “Damn you SABC, I’m glad you’re in Financial Doo-doo at least now the wheel has turned. You’ve been stealing money from us citizens for years; laughing all the way to the bank while expecting us to tolerate the unentertaining, garbage you shovel out in droves, time to pay your dues. Corporate devil’s Spawn!”

I remember the rape of The Husband’s wallet only too well and my memory is long. Like an elephant; only longer.

It was made bearable by Ray White and that guy on a Thursday night who used to flirt with all his guests, he was brilliant. It was wonderful to wake up to the radio alarm, a good song playing, setting the tone for a great day of happiness and positivity. Oh how I long for those golden days of sunshine and sun flowers. Now it’s just dreary and unnecessary advertising; inane, drivel masquerading as entertainment; horrid music and a sinking suspicion that there really is no hope.

I believe the only possible solution to this dilemma is the start of a pirate radio station. I do not believe SABC or who ever should be paid for broadcasting good radio on the air waves that we, the people, can pick up at our hearts content. It should be resource based and not monetary. And it should be protected by all of us like the French would. Because lets be honest, it’s not like we see or hear anything we really want to. We are forced to pay for a TV license and yet we are expected to sit through a badly edited movie, interrupted by stupid advertising belittling and condescending. I would even be willing to let The Husband pay for such a radio station provided it made me happy, wasn’t a propaganda machine and made the world a slightly better place to be.

So, should someone decide they wanted to be the greatest thing ever to happen to radio let me know, I’ll spread the word and be an avid listener.

Oh and on a completely separate note, I’d just like to say thanks to the Haiti rescue workers, you guys are the balm. Thumbs up and a big cheer!