survey from the planet of the hip

[calimac]

The survey-taker on the phone was a (thankfully, because she had a lot to read at me) fast-talking woman who wanted to know my radio listening habits, if I was between the ages of N and N+X, which I am, just barely. These habits are, I had to say, minimal. I listen to the classical music station mostly in the car, not at home, and then only when I can pick up the signal, which isn't often. (The better one over the hills to the south packed up and quietly skipped town last fall, alas.) I listen to the all-news station in the car when I need to catch the traffic reports, or in case of natural disaster (partly because radio news keeps its head on better than does television news, but mostly because the power does not go out in the car). The last natural disaster around here that qualified was the Oakland fire, which was 21 years ago, so it's been a while. At least the survey-taker had heard of the all-news stations; I gather that the classical station wasn't on her list.

Then she had to ask if I regularly listen to any of the following musicians, and rattled off a bunch of names I'd never heard of. Nope. Then another bunch of names I'd never heard of. Nope. Then a third bunch of names, some of which I had heard of ("Lady Gaga", "Coldplay"), but I wouldn't know their music if it hit me over the head. Then a fourth bunch of names which ... wait, was one of those Madonna? I once watched a clip of her singing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from the movie. Does that count? The survey-taker chose to interpret that as declaring myself an ardent Madonna fan. A few more of these and we were done, and we still hadn't gotten anybody, even among active pop musicians who might conceivably show up on the radio, whom I do actually listen to. (Suzanne Vega? Enya? Weird Al Yankovic?)

And is there anybody else in the house between the ages of mumble who might be interested in taking this survey? On both counts, no. In another two months I, too, will be too old for this. Can't wait.

Comments

[ken-3k.livejournal.com]

Heh, you have more patience than I have in putting up with the survey.

I feel as unconnected to pop music as I ever have, though I did appreciate one pop superstar and one highly obscure indie-rock duo with folk influences last year. (Adele, and the Smoke Fairies, plug plug. :-) You might find the Smoke Fairies (two British women on harmony vocals and electric guitars) worth a listen if you have some time to trawl around on YouTube. )

But there's been no shortage of folk/world stuff -- right now I am listening to a BBC Radio Scotland concert featuring Nuala Kennedy and Naomi Bedford (not a duo). Also I seem to be getting a few more classical recordings, even as that part of the industry stumbles towards the audience fade-out.

I don't have any place to write about music any more, though.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

That's why I write about music here: it's a place. I occasionally put concert reviews on Grex, but it didn't really feel as if they were being read, and it felt slightly unreal to be posting about concerts 2000 miles away from the center of a localized board. I get more feedback here. The main thing I remember from the Grex classical board was a repeated argument over whether Morton Feldman is a minimalist composer. Of course he is. What he isn't is part of the minimalist community, but you don't have to be part of the science fiction community to be a science fiction writer.