I take it back.

Several months ago, shortly after I inherited Clicky, I wrote a post complaining about radio. Because Clicky's CD player didn't (and doesn't) work, I was forced to listen to the radio or nothing while I was in the car. Well, I'd like to take back what I said and update my opinion of radio.

Talking

First of all, there's the talking. Previously, I complained about it. That's because I was only listening to X96 and refused to flip between channels. Their morning show, Radio from Hell, is aptly named. I suggest you avoid it at all costs. In fact, I discovered that a lot of things I hated about radio were things I hated about X96. I just applied it to all radio because, as I said before, I refused to flip channels. After a couple of months, I discovered My 99.5, which is great because there's no talking. Sure, you have to listen to random voice mail messages, some of which are really annoying, but they're very low on talk, very low on commercials, and very high on music.

Then, there's 101.9 The End, which is great because their talking is actually good. First of all I was converted to Chunga and Mister. I actually usually prefer listening to them rather than music while I drive to work. I ususally am on the road for top news stories and Hollywood headlines. I've considered getting a radio in my bathroom to listen to them before I go to work, but it hasn't gone that far yet. And I can't listen to them at work because I actually have to concentrate when I'm at the office. But they're seriously funny. If you're not convinced, you haven't listened to this.

Recently, Parker has joined The End as an afternoon host. The Boy was questioning people's willingness to listen to talk radio in the afternoons, but he's not so much talk radio. He actually plays really cool music and introduces you to new stuff. I like his style and I like what he plays. And I actually like his interactions with Wendy, too. Last week, they played this song, which hasn't been released yet. Not usually my style exactly, but that's what I like about Parker. He plays things that take me out of my musical comfort zone, in a good way. I haven't gone out of my way to listen to him while I'm not in the car, but I might. On several occasions, he's made me sit in my car just to keep listening after I've already reached my destination.

Flipping

Previously I said that I refused to flip. I've since become a radio flipper. I usually refuse to listen to commercials now. I mainly flip between 99.5 and 101.9 but sometimes I'll go to Jack FM and sometimes I'll go back down to X96. (But can you believe---both times I flipped to that channel in the past several months, I happened to tune in just in time to catch "Lump." Why? Why??) I have retained Captain Fabuloso's radio presets because I don't know how to change them and I'm not really interested in trying. So those stations are basically it for me.

Commercials

Okay, so radio commercials still suck. That's why I've become a flipper. Flipping is preferable to listening to radio commercials. I don't take back ANYTHING I previously said about radio commercials.

Music

Finally, there's the music. I've recently bought three songs, all of which I heard on the radio. ("Grace Kelly" by Mika, "Read My Mind" by the Killers [the first song of theirs that I've really loved], and [I'm really embarrassed about this one] SOS by Rihana. ) Sure radio has its hits and misses. I hate The End's 80s party Sunday, but I love the Sunday morning End Zone performances (recordings of accoustic End Zone performances). Unfortunately I have 1:00 church, so I always miss the End Zone performances and am stuck with 80s party Sunday (I just flip to 99.5 instead).





So there you go. Don't ever say that I'm too proud to take back something that I've said before. I got an iPod and I got an iPod radio transmitter and yet I still choose to listen to the radio. Crazy, I know.