Mood music

Columbus radio makes me sad and angry. Columbus, Georgia, in case you didn't know.

Let me explain. The "radio makes me angry" not the "Georgia" part.

I used to work in radio, back in high school and for a little bit afterwards. I know that it's possible to play one song at a time, and not have two overlapping so you can't hear either.

I know it's possible to have one commercial playing at a time, not have two or three playing at the same time.

I also know it's possible to have up-to-date commercials playing, not some Halloween Sale at the furniture store running the week after Thanksgiving.

Columbus radio stations, many of them anyway, don't seem to understand that. The typical listener, I suppose, it just confuses. Me, it pisses off. Because I know what's happening: there's an idiot getting paid money (not good money, but money, anyway) to not do his job right. A job that I could do well (the production board, not the announcing part, though I did both at the same time) when I was in high school.

Maybe I'm odd that way. But, think about it. If you were witnessing someone do something you know how to do, and they always screwed it up, wouldn't you want to say something? Or walk away shaking your head? Or take a stick and ... well, you understand, right?

That kind of stuff makes me just shake my head. But, I get over it easy enough. It's called XM Radio. When I find a local station that is playing good music (doesn't happen often, but it does happen), I'll listen. But, when they start screwing up (which does happen often) I switch over to XM. They don't screw up. At least, not that I've noticed.

The music isn't always what I want to hear. Some of the music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s really sucked. But, with the number of stations they have, I can usually find something I can listen to. Heck, if Classic Vinyl or Classic Rewind are playing crappy stuff, I'll even drop down to the 40s on 4, or Symphony Hall, or something. The point is, when the local radio stations get me in a bad mood because of their incompetence, I can find something on XM. Happens a lot. I can find music to get me out of a bad mood.

Works for lots of people. That's why they play Christmas music on the radio starting in August. Seems like that's when they start it.

XM does the same thing. The playing Christmas music early part. I discovered that a couple of weeks ago when I picked Wife up from work. You see, I normally listen to 60s or 70s music. But, when I picked her up, I switched the radio to XM 23 / Love.

You guys know why. Mood music. You don't have to play mood music for a guy. Heck, listening to music doesn't get guys in the mood. Just the fact we have dangly parts is all it takes to get guys in the mood. And music won't get guys out of the mood. The only sounds that might get a guy out of the mood might be a baby crying. Maybe. Other than that, most guys are ready to go at the drop of a hat. Or at the drop of a skirt.

Women, though, are different characters. That's why XM Radio (and Sirius, on channel 3) has that Love Songs channel. There are some guys helping out in programming, and they understand.

Anyway, I put the radio on Love Songs just as Wife got into the car. Mood music. And, it worked. Seems that, until the end of the year, instead of Love Songs, that channel is now Contemporary Holiday Favorites. Christmas-like music featuring John Mayer, Colbie Caillat, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, and other people I've never heard of. In fact, I though Josh Groban coached the Raiders at one time. Or was it Tampa Bay?

Anyway, as mood music, it worked. Only, instead of us running home and getting busy, we went to Walmart. And Kmart. And Sears. All on the same night.

And, other stores on nights since then.

Yep, that mood music really works.

Maybe we need some mood music for other things, too.

If we could find out what radio Obama listens to, maybe we could get them to play songs to make him, I don't know, actually be an American president. Like "God Bless the USA." Then again, I'm not sure Obama believes in either of those.

I wonder what Obama listens to. What kind of radio programs gets him in the mood to do the things he does. Does SiriusXM have an Incompetent Channel? If so, they need to change it. And fast.