The Spirit of Radio

Begin the day with a friendly voice
A companion, unobtrusive
Plays that song that’s so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood
Off on your way, hit the open road
There is magic at your fingers
For the spirits ever lingers
Undemanding contact in your happy solitude
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennas bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free
All this machinery making modern music
Can still be open-hearted
Not so coldly charted, it’s really just a question of your honesty
Yeah, your honesty
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennas bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free
For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall
Concert hall
Echoes with the sounds of salesmen
Of salesman, of salesmen

Thankfully, I grew up in Detroit when the “spirit of radio” was wild and free. First off, Motown ruled the airways. Rich melodies and intricate harmonies. Tons of soul, baby. Plus, my parents exposed me to 40’s and 50’s tunes, along with Broadway and musical showcases.

When I graduated beyond the walls of AM radio, I stumbled across FM and discovered a station with a staggering playlist. That station? WABX! They played an eclectic blend of rock, folk, blues, and progressive music. I was exposed to a plethora of sound waves. Lucky me. It’s a far cry from what they play today.

That soon faded, as corporations took control of radio stations. Now the airwaves are plagued by mediocrity. Dumbed-down music for the masses. That’s not to say there aren’t any talented musicians and singers, but the music industry now caters to a kind of geniality. Anyone offering anything different than the accepted formula doesn’t stand a chance of getting airplay. Radio has become generic. Sad! Oh, how Neil Peart’s lyrics ring true.

I no longer listen to the radio, except for XM/Sirius when I’m driving my car. Even then, I tend to stick to my collection of playlists on Spotify. Now, I discover new music by perusing YouTube, Spotify, and personal recommendations from friends and family. I couldn’t begin to tell you what’s on the TOP 10 hits, and I could care less. I love stumbling across songs that most of you will never hear. They grab my attention with intuitive lyrics and creative melodies. Trust me, Rush wouldn’t stand a chance with the narrow-minded program directors of today. Thank goodness for Cleveland’s legendary radio station WMMS and its music director Donna Halper. In 1974, FM music directors and DJs still had influence. Concise playlists didn’t limit them. There was freedom of the airwaves.

You may or may not like or love Rush, but that’s not the point. What’s critical is the fact that unless you fit into a minuscule mold, chances are that today, no one would ever hear your music on any AM or FM dial. If radio existed in Mozart’s world (mid to late 1700s), he wouldn’t have succeeded either. He was edgy and dared to create symphonies that no one had heard before. He broke the mold. “Too many notes!” He would have been shunned by the higher-ups who sit in walled-off high-rises dictating what we should listen to.

And now for a slightly different tangent… Imagine my surprise when I heard that Rush was going to tour again. Their beloved drummer, Neil Peart, passed away several years ago, and as any Rush fan understands, he is and was irreplaceable. Geddy and Alex understood this more than anyone. So, when the remaining members announced the news, a hush ran through the music world. Could this be true?

The lucky drummer? Anika Nilles.

Did we try to get tickets? Sure enough, but as anyone who has dealt with TicketMaster, chances were slim to none. I would have loved to see Anika perform live with the band. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. However, I can look forward to watching their live performances online. Still a treat? You betcha!

An hour or so later…

Hi again, decided to add this video because it says so much. From the guys themselves…