It is time for 80s musicians to return to stage

I’ll admit it. I’m a big 80s fan. I think some of the coolest and most original sounds came out of the 80s. Sure, the twits at VH1 would like to drag out a bunch of D-list wankers to make fun of 80s music as if these wankers could do better. The sad, pathetic truth is that as I watch advertisments on the telly I keep hearing a lot 80s sounds. Sure it reparsed and remixed and passed of as something fantastically new (sort of like “secondary virginity”). The truth is this music defined a decade and is withstanding the sands of time. Sort of like how the grunge sound defined the 90s. So what defines the 00s? The music landscape has become so viciously raped of anything that is remotely close to talent that is really hard to decide what in bloody hell is the music that defines 2000s. And chances are, if they do find a song it is either going to be really good remake of an 80s song or some shitty girl power anthem/emo bollocks. My heart goes out to those that weren’t around during the 80s. That is why I think it is time to revive the careers of these fading 80s musicians. For crying out loud, we’re remaking their stuff to sell cell phones, cars and underwear. I say give the spotlight again. And BTW, remake is just another way of saying “let’s bollocks up a really good song”. Bring back the 80s and no, I do NOT want my MTV.

Another casuality in NYC radio: Pulse 87

Recently, I talked about the change to the NYC WQXR classical station on the FM dial. Up until a week ago, I was shocked to learn of the sudden demise of Pulse 87 (87.7 FM). Actually no, it wasn’t that much of a shock for during the previous weekend I had tuned into the dial and was listening to what amounted to nothing more disgusting remixes of hip-hop bollocks …er, music. Aye, and the chap kept talking about Party FM. Of course, this got me saying “bloody hell” a lot. The funny thing is I tuned into this radio station early this year and embraced it with warm fuzzy arms since it was the only NYC station playing decent dance music. Now when I say dance, I mean groups like Tiesto, Oakenfold, Massive Attack, and Armin Van Buuren. Not remixed hip-hop shite. Sure, KTU plays an occasional dance track here and there, but these wanks can’t seem to make up their minds as to whether they are dance, hip-hop or bloody disco. Alas, we are back to square one again. This whole Party FM reminds me of my days in Florida when I used to listen to Party 93.1 in South Florida. It had great dance music and then came new management … and we can all guess what happened next. Apparently, Pulse was having a bit of financial problem and for awhile was soliciting donations from listeners. Eventually, the donations were returned, because it seemed as if they had found a financial backer. And beyond that … bollocks and no more dance radio. Seems like someone’s got it in for dance music. Sad. It’s great stuff, and a relief from the repetative top 40 bollocks that saturate the airwaves. Well, thank goodness for MP3 players. I’ll miss you Pulse 87 and it was great while it lasted. Party FM, you’re just another airwave stinker.

Random useless bit of memory

It was the spring of ‘88, and I had just arrived into the US. I was visiting my first mall, and I was walking through Macy’s when I heard Siouxsie and the Banshees “Kiss Them For Me” music video playing on the numerous television sets that were set throughout the store. For some reason, I was captivated by that video and I just stood there watching it from beginning to end as people bustled by. To this day, I don’t know why this stands out in my mind. But there it is. Me in a Macys department store watching at a Siouxsie and the Banshees video. I actually like her music to this very day. It got me through some most interesting times in college. Reminds me a certain Asian girl. Hope she’s fine.

Some things never fade away with time

Last Sunday, I was in church (I know … shocking) and we were remembering our departed beloveds. Usually, my mum is there to carry up my grandmum’s name on the altar in rememberance, but since she couldn’t make it, I took it on myself to do the honours. I don’t know if it was the hymns or the resurge of the memory of this wonderful woman, my grandmum, but I had barely made it past the congregation before I broke into sobs on the stairs on the way to the balcony. For some reason, throughout the entire week I couldn’t shake Dead Can Dance’s Severance in my head. Such as sad song:

Severance,
The birds of leaving call to us,
yet here we stand
endowed with the fear of flight.
Overland
the winds of change consume the land,
while we remain
in the shadow of summers now past.
When all the leaves
have fallen and turned to dust,
will we remain
entrenched within our ways.
Indifference,
the plague that moves throughout this land
Omen signs
in the shapes of things to come.
Tomorrow’s child is the only child.

I love you Grandmum. Will always miss you.

Classic radio changes dial in NYC, death bell for music rings

It has been several weeks since the new changes at the classical music radio station (WQXR 96.3) occurred. Now docked at 105.9 FM, it is good to say that it is refreshing to STILL have classical music in New York City, though I could bloody do without the underpowered, static performance. Someone once said change is good. I bet that bloody tosser was either the one that was making the change or wasn’t affected by it. Aye, it was a harsh reality returning home that Thursday evening and hearing salsa en espanol on one of my few beloved remaining dials. Progress, nay. Bollocks, aye. Seems that has been the trend over the last two decades I spent in NYC. First it was WDRE 92.7 (the only radio that played modern rock music like the Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Peter Murphy and such ilk) and then several years ago … gone and replaced with another Spanish radio. Then came the eventual death CBS-FM and all that awesome music that came out of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Rest In Peace. Up until this moment, WQXR at its old dial gave me some hope about the musical landscape on radio and then came this. Sure, they “merely” changed the dial, but that’s how it always begin now, doesn’t it? So as the death bell starts it slow toll for all that was good music, many of us have to embrace the harsh, cold inevitability. Of course, there are those folks coming out of the woodworks harping about all the wonders of satellite radio. Aye, nice ploy … bollocksing up public radio so as to dupe folks into buying satellite radio. No thank you luv, that’s why the good Lord made MP3 players. So for now, I’ll just be grateful that we still have WQXR in NYC and its wonderful classical music that soothes my occassional bouts of viscous psychosis. For the moment.

Hello world!

Hello there. This is me spreading my self around in the blogosphere. Actually this is a spinoff from actual active blogs. For all intensive purposes, I am Larry H. Don’t worry you can know a bit more about me from my blogs that are here and here. I don’t write too much personal, political, or religious stuff on my blogs. Heaven knows, just about every bloke in the blogosphere does that. Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against them. To each their own, eh mates. And as the description suggests, I am an American that was originally born in Guyana (a former British colony in South America). That should sufficiently explain the occassional strange spellings and Brit-type slang and mutterings. So there it is folks. Here I am. The Evil Parrot (don’t worry, you’ll find me not so evil after all). You can trust me.