so, back-“track”ing a  bit here (snicker, snicker!), but more on my radio stint. the coordinator at work asks me at the last moment a few weeks ago, if i’d be willing to be guest dj on “saturday night fever” with dewald noel on jacarandafm. i’ve actually always harbored a secret desire to be a radio dj, so next thing i’m talking to someone from the station. the person on the line asks me to send him a list of my favorite songs – preferably from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. cool, i think – time to share my rather eclectic music taste.  despite my computer and my ipod being at home and me at work, i come up with the following list.

ZABALAZA – BROTHERS OF PEACE (B.O.P.) EVERYONE DESERVES MUSIC – MICHAEL FRANTI WIKKID LIL GIRLS – ESTHERO THE JOKER – BABEL SOUNDTRACK TWISTED – JONI MITCHELL FLAWLESS (SHAPESHIFTERS REMIX) – GEORGE MICHAEL MARGARITA – SLEEPY BROWN STARLIGHT IN DADEN (AURORA REMIX)- EKOVA STIFF JAZZ – DZIHAN & KAMIEN CANNOT CONTAIN THIS or SING IT BACK – MOLOKO DON’T STOP or DIE GEDANKEN SIND FREI – BRAZILIAN GIRLS KISS – TOM JONES I FEEL GOOD – JAMES BROWN PUMP IT – BLACK EYED PEAS DO YOUR THING – BASEMENT JAXX CIBO MATTO – SCI FI WASABI BIG TIME SENSUALITY/EARTH INTRUDERS/ISOBEL- BJORK

as i’m driving home, i get a call. “sorry, but we only have 3 of your songs on our playlist. could you please come up with a different list?” uhm, isn’t the tagline to the show, “your life’s greatest hits!”? oh sorry, you mean my life’s greatest hits as defined by your station! o-kay, just say so! the following is the list we come up with after going through the station’s playlist.

Flawless (in the city) – George Michael

I feel good – James Brown

Put your records on – Corinne Bailey Rae

Should I stay or should I go – The Clash

Sex Bomb – Tom Jones

Where is the love – Black Eyed Peas

Sisters are doing it for themselves – Eurythmics

Ants Marching – Dave Matthews Band

Praise You – Fatboy Slim

Smooth Operator – Sade

(I can’t get no) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones

Englishman in New York – Sting

BACK-UPS:

American Woman – Lenny Kravitz

All I wanna do – Sheryl Crow

all really cool songs, but i just find the process a little amusing. i suppose that’s the reality of commercial radio – each station has it’s pre-selected, and often, pre-programmed, playlist.

now, my favorite radio station in the world, kcrw, 89.9, public radio in los angeles, is a fantastic anomaly. the dj’s actually get to play whatever tickles their fancy and numerous artists who would otherwise not receive airtime, eventually break through and get picked up by other more commercial stations. i can think of rachael yamagata, corinne bailey rae, katie tunstall, to name but a few.

i love the station so much that i volunteered for years during their various fund-drives. you sit in a little dungeon room answering phones when people call in to donate and you rub elbows with a vast array of angelenos; waiters, professors, actors, you name it – all equally passionate about the station. i used to listen religiously to morning becomes eclectic, first with chris douridas, then nic harcourt, (who also lives in topanga, my home for 12 years and still home of my heart). and i remember countless “driveway moments” brought on by “this american life” on a saturday morning. then there’s “chocolate city” and “the drop” and “metropolis”. not forgetting all the news and discussion programs and of course the sunday morning weekend edition with the puzzle section hosted by puzzlemaster will shortz, the guy who edits the new york times crossword.

damn, i’m just realizing right now, how much i miss it. at least i can still tune in online from here on the other side of the world!  check it out!