Welcome to the New Oldies

looking back · Post by **looking back** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:54 am

I turned 11 the year "American Graffiti" was released. To me, the era the film captured seemed like ancient history even though it was set only 11 years prior in the summer of '62. The movie ushered in a wave of '50s nostalgia with radio stations such as CHUM and CFTR playing oldies weekends. Local schools began to organize fifties-style sock-hops, the tv series Happy Days launched and other movies such as "Grease" soon followed. The people re-living that era seemed, well, old.

The era we're discussing here happened 20 years ago. Sure, I loved it too, but, let's face it, we're not cool kids anymore. The current 102.1 belongs to another generation, let it go. Anybody who remembers the original CFNY is now in their forties or even fifties. We've got jobs, mortgages, kids and maybe even a little more perspective on life. But, looking through some of the messages on this board, I wonder how much growing up we've done. Sure, talk about it fondly, but skip the "you suck" "No, YOU suck" messages. Can't we age a little more gracefully?

50ish · Post by **50ish** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:10 pm

I think the "you suck" " no you suck" are the new, recent breed of CFNY listeners.

looking back · Post by **looking back** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:29 pm

I hope that you're right, but it's a shame that that sort of discord has to end up here. The whole Spirit of Radio movement was about a common passion for music, something that touched us and that we all shared. Maybe I'm idealizing retrospectively, but the sort of people who listened back then seemed a little more intelligent and articulate than the average Q107 or CHUMFM listener. That isn't reflected in some of the recent messages here.

And, as for the current station programming- I finally gave up on it a few years back and I now push buttons, flipping back and forth between Jack, the Mix and (blush) Q107. Edge102 is kind of like the cute little house you used to own- the new owners have re-painted and cut down some of the trees. But, it's not yours anymore, all you can do is remember the way it used to be and try to move on.

The thread slagging Alan Cross annoyed me on both of these fronts. A) I would expect more from the sort of people who I used to know as listeners, and, B) The station has to change to stay with its target audience- the kids we no longer are.

Where does that leave us? Well, not really anywhere specific for now. Maybe someday someone will come up with a sort of "grown-up" CFNY. Something that leans towards the old stuff while still playing Jakelope, the Killers, Jet, or whatever new stuff is worth listening to. A station with a cutting-edge news department, acknowleging that its listeners need to be plugged into the real world.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Great site, I enjoy the more thoughtful messages. Please take the juvenile stuff off to some other place.

p.s. Alan Cross, if you're listening- really enjoy the commentary on AC's EnRouteFM. Nothing like some good music and a familiar voice while traveling out of HongKong or Narita.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:40 pm

Whether it's childish or not....the message is consistant....radio as a whole today...stinks! It has become so carefully crafted and does not allow for any creativity or free thinking. I believe that all the comments are indicative of the sad state of radio today. I too, flip around and I am usually bored and annoyed at how badly programmed radio is. Alan Cross doesn't even need to be there....it's all done for him.

LUX-man · Post by **LUX-man** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:53 pm

David Marsden's show on 94.9 The Rock is the closest thing i've found on radio these days to a "grown-up CFNY". Dave mixes the old with the new, and adds himself into the mix. Well worth listening to on Thurs and Fri nights from 7pm to midnight. If you can't listen, tape it and listen in the car instead of wearing out your finger pushing buttons. Werks for me!

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:17 pm

As a promo man I have to take my hat off to Dave. He still believes in the music and the bands that helped make him a household name. I recently sent Dave some new material of the band I work for and he did not hesitate to play it.This classic rock band has had many hit records in the past and still continue to tour and record some great stuff. This has become a unfortunate stable in radio today. I think it's one of the reasons it is a dying format.Although I do have to send my sincere thanks to CHUM they have been playing the bands music for years and still continue to do so.If more people would take a stand and shut-off some of these arrogant stations they may get the message.

Jonathan/BNOrecordingUSA

http://www.thechildrenrock.com/

[email protected]

Dave Holden · Post by **Dave Holden** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 6:52 am

www.1077theend.com Stuff like Jet & The Killers, New & Old New Order The Cure and Sex Pistols. Streaming this month sometime (March 05)