MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Well, true, but the same goes for the bleeding edge tunes beloved by the STW cognoscenti. Who imagines that everyone likes them, and even if they do, do they want to listen to them all day every day, especially when they're supposed to be working?
Listening to music while working can hardly be classified as multitasking. Well… not if you colour things in for a living
and I do actually like listening to Mongolian Death Jazz or Acid Harp while I do it.
Mrs Binners is on the same wavelength as you though Dr J. She wanders in while I’m ‘working’, looks at me with a mix of pity and contempt and says ‘what the **** are you listening to?’ 😃
Well, true, but the same goes for the bleeding edge tunes beloved by the STW cognoscenti. Who imagines that everyone likes them, and even if they do, do they want to listen to them all day every day, especially when they're supposed to be working?
I used to think I was a bit of a music snob, and the music I listened to was better than other music, but eventually had to admit that early 90s rave music isn't exactly known for it's quality, and some of my favourite tracks from that period lack any quality whatsoever (but not all).
More a case of not wanting to listen to the same music day in day out. Hearing the same music day in day out is extremely monotonous in my experience. I listen to some music some people might consider snobby music because I've made the effort to find music I enjoy listening to. However, there's a lot of music I listen to which I have to be in the right mood for. The radio station doesn't account for variability in people's mood, it treats everyone as a flat homogenous being.
Or something.
Its more the constant repetition than being snobbish for me, on a once a year frequency I don't mind hearing Six pence non the richer but not every bloody day against my will
I never get covers bands who, in the whole history of 50 years of pop music choose to play Maroon 5 or Bruno Mars....'its what people want!' is it? Is it really? I'm sure they'd not mind Raspberry Beret, any Motown track (except superstitious) or Lola, anything! Worlds your lobster!!
Thanks for the warning.
‘what the **** are you listening to?’ 😃
It’s not so much what are you listening to. It’s more why are you listening to ANYTHING.
Ghostbuster by Ray Parker Jnr currently pumping out. I fear that I may not survive the day.
Absolute 80s apparently. Absolute ***ts more like.
Ghostbuster by Ray Parker Jnr currently pumping out. I fear that I may not survive the day.
Absolute 80s apparently. Absolute ***ts more like.
I ain't afraid of no goats. 😆
Look at what the kids do. Wear headphones, airpods etc
Absolute 80s apparently. Absolute ***ts more like.
You have my deepest sympathy - if you blow and it all goes 'Falling Down' I'm sure the STW community would back you in court due to extenuating circumstances!
It’s not so much what are you listening to. It’s more why are you listening to ANYTHING.
Because it’s better than listening to the voices in my head.
For everybody’s sake.
Absolute 80s apparently. Absolute ***ts more like.
They had Absolute 90’s on in work the other week. Now, from my (admittedly addled) memory the 90’s was awash with great music
Not on Absolute 90’s, it wasn’t. The endlessly repeated playlist sounds like it was compiled by an aerobics instructor. Absolutely dire!
How can you have a decade of great music to choose from, yet conclude ‘you know what? I reckon I’m going to put 2 Unlimited on again’
I suppose. You can also use the noise cancelling though.
Btw - off topic, have you seen The Spiders in your House series by Travis McEnery on YouTube, it's fantastic. The latest one on spider cognitive abilities is fascinating
Not on Absolute 90’s, it wasn’t. The endlessly repeated playlist sounds like it was compiled by an aerobics instructor. Absolutely dire!
How can you have a decade of great music to choose from, yet conclude ‘you know what? I reckon I’m going to put 2 Unlimited on again’
There must be a pricing tier structure from record companies - and the shit they play must be the lowest bargain bin compilation album shite the radio stations are prepared to pay for.
Not on Absolute 90’s, it wasn’t. The endlessly repeated playlist sounds like it was compiled by an aerobics instructor. Absolutely dire!
Give heart 90's a whirl, see how you feel after that.
Getting familiar with the playlist now
Talking Heads : Road to nowhere
Animotion : Obsession
Aztec Camera : Somewhere in my heart
Whitney : I wanna dance with someone
Electronic : Getting away with it
Repeat.
Many years ago I worked at a place that played Key 103 in the canteen. Duel by Propaganda played EVERY DAY at 12:30.
Give heart 90's a whirl, see how you feel after that.
Just the word Heart tells me everything I need to know to NEVER EVER LISTEN TO HEART 90S EVER!!!!!!!!!
I feel I'd best declare my hypocrisy... I do willingly time in to heart dance most mornings as me and my daughter do the one beat challenge at 8:40 on the school run. As soon as she's in, it's straight back to Today on R4!
I remember a while ago we had capital on at work. They played Diamonds in the sky by Rihanna, it went to adverts, news, change of DJ, first song.... Diamonds in the sky by Rihanna. Piss poor.
I was working at a place that had Heart (or something equally awful) on during the week the last Adele album came out. They must have played Adele what seemed like every other track. By the second day of this I was ready to commit genocide
Our office Spotify sub is worth its weight in, well, whatever the opposite of genocide is.
I can dob you anonymously into the PRS if you like.
Stayed at my brother's and id forgotten that such diabolical music existed.
Glad I'm the boss and in charge of the radio in the shop.
I can dob you anonymously into the PRS if you like.
Stayed at my brother's and id forgotten that such diabolical music existed.
Glad I'm the boss and in charge of the radio in the shop.
Currently playing Pusherman by Curtis Mayfield
Ray Copeland is on Radio Caroline at the moment and he plays interesting shop friendly music.
Our office Spotify sub is worth its weight in, well, whatever the opposite of genocide is.
Genophilia? Not sure that is a word.
don't loathe Jeremy Vine already, you soon will
Can't believe he's still on the radio.....
Some 20 years ago when he was on I used to fire my nail gun at the radio when he was blathering away.
I win!
Ideally there would have been a screenshot of what's playing now and it was Uncertain Smile.
Whilst we're at it, does anyone else notice how bad Nicky Campbell is at presenting a talk radio show!? He rambles on about inconsequential stuff, drifts off topic, allows guests to talk over each other, allows long periods of silence, will let one angry caller shout down another without picking them up on it. He's just really bad at his job.
I, of course, am an expert in such things and would make a wonderful host 😜
He rambles on about inconsequential stuff,
In my experience of radio in the workplace, that is essential for radio presenters, in fact the more inconsequential the subject the better the happier they sound discussing it.
allows long periods of silence,
In my experience of radio in the workplace, I dream of this. Usually, there is minimal pause in the talking, whether it be presenters, adverts, news, whatever, the talking, the noises, it's like an incessant tortuous rhythmic ticking of time by a hammer against my psyche.
An ex colleague told me, seeming genuinely surprised, that I'd really thought about it far too much and was getting far too angry about it.
Whilst we're at it, does anyone else notice how bad Nicky Campbell is at presenting a talk radio show!? He rambles on about inconsequential stuff, drifts off topic, allows guests to talk over each other, allows long periods of silence, will let one angry caller shout down another without picking them up on it. He's just really bad at his job.
On the contrary. He’s brilliant at his job! That’s just what ‘talk radio’ is meant to sound like.
You just have to ask yourself what kind of person had both the time and the inclination to call a radio phone-in at 10 in the morning?
The answer: racist pensioners, unemployed/unemployable people, cabbies, alcoholics just polishing off their first bottle of white lightning, the mentally ill and bored mumsnet types.
Hes just a ringmaster for all the loons
Just put on Radio 6 in the office as an experiment. First track was My Favourite Dress by The Wedding Present. Common reaction was "Turn that shite off".
The answer: racist pensioners, unemployed/unemployable people, cabbies, alcoholics just polishing off their first bottle of white lightning, the mentally ill and bored mumsnet types.
Hes just a ringmaster for all the loons
Have you been watching Jeremy Vine TV programme? My wife's just watching this morning's, and that exactly what the callers are 🤣
Back in the day (I was 19!) in my first job they used to have Radio 1 on all day. I never would've complained cos my colleagues were all scary women (doing microfilming, oh yes). I heard Gary Davies do a competition, must've been niche cos I thought I'll enter that and sent off my postcard (would've cost me a stamp too, but they were probably about 20p). I won a Radio 1 goody bag
Seriously, the only thing I remember being in that goody bag was a sponge with Radio 1 logo on it. One of those compressed sponges that expanded when you put it in water. Happy days!
Back in the day, 1992, I used to have the radio on in the studio where I worked. Simon Bates was doing the morning show and used to have competitions promoting various films and stuff. One morning he was promoting a film called ‘Hackers’, which I’d seen, so I thought I’d have a go. Basically, there were four questions, things like ‘what does RAM stand for?’, write the answers on an envelope and send it off to the Beeb.
Some time later, I got a call at work, telling me I’d won a prize! Thanks, I said, having completely forgotten what it was. Several days later, I get another call, asking me if I was able to take time off the following April! At which point I had to admit I couldn’t remember what the prize was, she said she thought I sounded rather casual, the prize was a week long trip for two to Los Angeles, complete with a hire car!
I can forgive Simon Bates pretty much anything, for giving me that opportunity! 😁
Visage - Fade To Grey is playing. It must be 8:30.
Back in the day (I was 19!) in my first job they used to have Radio 1 on all day. I never would've complained cos my colleagues were all scary women (doing microfilming, oh yes). I heard Gary Davies do a competition, must've been niche cos I thought I'll enter that and sent off my postcard (would've cost me a stamp too, but they were probably about 20p). I won a Radio 1 goody bag
Back in the day, 1992, I used to have the radio on in the studio where I worked. Simon Bates was doing the morning show and used to have competitions promoting various films and stuff. One morning he was promoting a film called ‘Hackers’, which I’d seen, so I thought I’d have a go. Basically, there were four questions, things like ‘what does RAM stand for?’, write the answers on an envelope and send it off to the Beeb.
Some time later, I got a call at work, telling me I’d won a prize! Thanks, I said, having completely forgotten what it was. Several days later, I get another call, asking me if I was able to take time off the following April! At which point I had to admit I couldn’t remember what the prize was, she said she thought I sounded rather casual, the prize was a week long trip for two to Los Angeles, complete with a hire car!
I can forgive Simon Bates pretty much anything, for giving me that opportunity! 😁
Pah , I won a leather waistcoat on Hastings Rock.
Obsession by Animotion is getting it's daily airing. It is as if there were only 20 songs written in the 80s.
I'm going to listen to an Al Murray / James Holland podcast and try and ignore it, but if I hear Bruce Hornsby (again) I'm going to start throwing chairs about.
In the late '90s I spent a summer working in the kitchen at a New Hampshire holiday camp. We had a small cassette/radio player. We tried the American radio and... well, you can imagine.
So we were stuck with the two cassettes that one of the other people had. The Blues Brothers and Grease... yeah the ****ing musical.
The **** just wouldn't get bored of it.
I feel sick just typing this.
Getting familiar with the playlist now
Talking Heads : Road to nowhere
Animotion : Obsession
Aztec Camera : Somewhere in my heart
Whitney : I wanna dance with someone
Electronic : Getting away with it
Repeat.
When I worked in a London bike shop, we used to have the radio on there as background music (usually fairly quiet), however there was a real battle with the stations.
One of the guys liked a station called X FM, 104.9. They'd tell you it was 104.9 X FM every few seconds on X FM, 104.9 and they had a playlist of three songs (whatever total shite was in the charts) which the breathless DJ would shout about in between the bits where she wasn't saying that you were listening to X FM on 104.9.
I'd change it to Virgin which only required a few clicks on the ancient radio to move it to 105.8 and before you knew it, the channel would be dialled back to X FM. 104.9 in case you've forgotten.
It was called X FM.
Oh look, it's the same song we heard 15 minutes ago but it is apparently a total banger so we'll hear it again on 104.9 X FM. 🤬
Before the Capital scumbags bought XFM it was brilliant.
Hypothetically... if someone wrote to the Daily Heil accusing the chap from Level 42 of being a wrong 'un and it gathered some traction would they stop playing his records? Asking for a friend.
Hold on... They're playing Electric Dreams by Moroder and Oakey. I'll be back in 3 minutes once I've sound bathed in the only good song that I will hear this morning.
Before the Capital scumbags bought XFM it was brilliant.
I agree, IIRC it was quite regional to London and the surroundings and I always tried to catch it when I was in range on work trips.
I do occasionally still listen when there's a 6 music DJ on I don't care for. The thing that really jars now is that the only female artist they ever play on there is Florence and the Machine. Took me a good long journey with it on to realise, but now I can't not think about it when listening. Honestly, wall to wall male artists or bloke centric bands.
One of the guys liked a station called X FM, 104.9. They'd tell you it was 104.9 X FM every few seconds on X FM, 104.9 and they had a playlist of three songs (whatever total shite was in the charts) which the breathless DJ would shout about in between the bits where she wasn't saying that you were listening to X FM on 104.9.
I'd change it to Virgin which only required a few clicks on the ancient radio to move it to 105.8 and before you knew it, the channel would be dialled back to X FM. 104.9 in case you've forgotten.
Although it went down the pan, I'm really very doubtful that at any point in history was XFM more "whatever total shite was in the charts" than bloody Virgin!
Really winds me up when they describe generic pop shite as an absolute banger. The only thing banging is me on the inside of my skull 🤣
ITT: people in the 4th brain epoch
Getting familiar with the playlist now
Talking Heads : Road to nowhere
Animotion : Obsession
Aztec Camera : Somewhere in my heart
Whitney : I wanna dance with someone
Electronic : Getting away with it
Repeat.
Playlist from the gym this morning
Bruno Mars: Uptown Funk
Repeat
Really winds me up when they describe generic pop shite as an absolute banger. The only thing banging is me on the inside of my skull 🤣
I remember one day hearing the DJ say "coming up soon we've got an incredible tune from Eagle Eye Cherry."
I thought, well surely this must mean a new one? Or a live performance, or some other album track we've never heard? No, it was Save Tonight. Same as it was yesterday, and same as it will be tomorrow when it gets played again.
I also don't get why people request the same old stuff on request shows or when they phone in.
What can we play for you? "Ooo I'd really love to hear Gold by Spandau ballet. Or Take on me by a-ha. I've not heard it since this morning so it'd be lovely to relive that moment, bring back the memories."
Just put on Radio 6 in the office as an experiment. First track was My Favourite Dress by The Wedding Present. Common reaction was "Turn that shite off".
There's a radio 6? I'd love to hear Gedge on the radio.
Reminds me of being being in a regular shop in Sydney in 2000 and Triple J was on playing Closer by NIN. It's a tad graphic. No one battered an eyelid.
I remember Maynard the morning jock on triple j phoning someone up.
In the usual morning dj style ,he asked the man on the phone why he was up so early, the man answered…….”because you woke me up ,you see you next Tuesday “
Classic playlist this morning.... 2 princes, baby bird, fairground simply red, back for good, everything but the girl.
I realised it's not radio for people who don't like music, it's actually radio for people who don't want to actually listen to the radio.
Wheatons law applies when it comes to music in the office.
Want music? Put your headphones on.
I don't want to listen to capital FM any more than anyone else wants to hear my eclectic play list of whatever.
Headphones or get TF out.
Reminds me of being being in a regular shop in Sydney in 2000 and Triple J was on playing Closer by NIN. It's a tad graphic. No one battered an eyelid.
Working at one bikeshop, we had a downstairs workshop that was sort of open access - customers upstairs could hear some of what was going on cos the sound drifted up the open stairwell. We had a radio/CD player down there and one of the guys brought in a Bill Hicks CD. Suffice to say that his comedy routines contained some choice language and some risque topics; anyway, we ended up with a complaint from a customer who heard some of the material (and our laughter) drifting up into the shop floor from the workshop below and we got told that it was normal radio only from then on.
We did turn the sound characteristics into a practical joke once; there was some building work going on downstairs, lots of hammering and drilling and during a pause in the noise one mechanic said very loudly "OK, that's the first bike fixed, bring the next one!".
That also resulted in a complaint.
Everyone had to attend a meeting earlier this morning, so I sneakily turned it off.
Nobody has turned it back on. Bliss.
I'll miss not hearing "Ghostbusters" or Roxette's "You Got The Look"*.
* A lie.
I'll miss not hearing "Ghostbusters" or Roxette's "You Got The Look"*.
And Have a nice Day, by Stereophonics and why does it always rain on me by Travis etc 🙄
Lessons in Love, by Level Bastard 42.
No possibility of banging on TMS?
Spoke too soon. Some **** has switched it back on.
"somewhere in my heart there's a star that burns for you...."
Radio 2 for me today, which normally I would argue is better, but it started immediately with sixpence none the f*cking richer. And it's Gary Davis sitting in for Vernon, he's even naffer than ken Bruce or Steve Wright! We have had BBC session version of black dog by LZ though so that was ok!
I'm offended that you have Ken Bruce and Steve Wright in the same sentence.
*ing Absolute Radio
*ing Travis!
*Ing Why does it always *ing Rain on *ing Me!
*Ing Again!
What the * is wrong with the *ing world!?
Then straight into Keane obvs...
Edit- ooh red. Added anger. Like it 👍
Hate that song. Why does it always rain on you? Because you're a miserable little ****.
The end.
Then straight into Keane obvs...
Followed by snow patrol for the full trifecta
Live It Up by Mental As Anything has just had it's daily play. ***ts
I missed it as I was down in the staff kitchen putting the office Elf on a Shelf in the air frier.
Also... Bruce Hornsby. Why?
The amount of repitition on 'classic' stations drives me insane. There used to be a site called 'compare my radio' that analysed all the station playlists. Absolute were using it at the time to claim they had a larger playlist than other stations but when they nearly all became part of the same group they took it down
Comparemyradio.com, launched a few months back by the One Golden Square Labs team at Absolute Radio, analyses the music played on 20 UK stations, measuring it in a nifty "variety gauge" over the past 30 days. No repeats would mean a score of 100%; the average result across the radio industry is a paltry 12%.
Unsurprisingly, it's that variety gauge that makes for the most depressing results. BBC 6 Music is very strong, with 60% variety and 3,321 unique tracks played in the last month, but at the other end of the scale, it's a sorry tale: Capital FM (3%, 244 tracks); Choice FM (2%, 159 tracks), XFM London (6%, 562 tracks), Heart London (7%, 521 tracks). No wonder listening to those stations can feel so ossifying.
I suspect 6 is probably even more diverse now - having an entirely new music show 4 nights a week that rarely plays the same thing twice and the weekend changes have probably added more.
A lot of peoples music taste never moves on from their teen years. I've got friends who I thought were *into music* who still seem to be listening to the same stuff as when we were in our 20's. Whereas Spotify put my listening age at 21 this year based on the amount of recent music I listen to. (A 21 year old we know got 37 because she's a massive GaGa fan)
What puzzles me is how much the 'international' playlist got frozen in time. Visit Europe or Asia and theres often a playlist that has most of the same stuff on it now that it did in the early 90's. There are still 'reggae bars' that seem to play nothing but Bob Marley.
A lot of peoples music taste never moves on from their teen years. I've got friends who I thought were *into music* who still seem to be listening to the same stuff as when we were in our 20's.
I’ve read this many times, and I’ve wondered about it often. I guess it’s a combination of only being really interested in one particular genre, like Baggie, dance, punk, the music that was popular during any given decade…, then work, families etc just diverts attention from any media that might introduce them to something a bit different.
Myself, music has always been a significant part of my life, along with reading, and I’m always looking and listening out for new music, not just new recordings from artists from several decades ago, although that does happen, but new artists and new music from recent artists I’ve discovered.
I’ve never much liked the Chili Peppers, but I appreciate Flea’s skills as a bass guitarist, and he’s apparently got a new solo project coming with Anna Butterss, who’s a stand-up bass player, which could be interesting.
lots of emotion coming through in this thread - isnt music great?
How Music Affects Us Emotionally | Psychology Today
I swear that they have played Tom Petty's "Learning to fly" twice today.
double trouble!
double trouble!
A lot of peoples music taste never moves on from their teen years.
I'm 72 and still listen to 70s prog rock. In my defence I listen to music from around the 12th century to the present day too. If it's music you like who cares when it was produced?
A lot of peoples music taste never moves on from their teen years.
That's actually a very good point... I don't want to have S-club 7 & and the back street boys forcibly inserted into my ears any more than someone else might not want to be subjected to my archive of whatever I like... it's just torture if you force it on people.
It's not right in the workplace.
ooh, how do we get red text? is it by playing james ***** in the office?
Edit, no.
working in care homes smooth radio was the usual choice. Bland and inoffensive.
The girls in the care home used to love going to my 87 year old mum’s room as she always had ABBA and 70s disco blaring out.
ooh, how do we get red text? is it by playing james ***** in the office?
Now then... James *****. We've got a soft spot for him in our house because he is a very, very distant relative. Wouldn't want to listen to him in the office though.
Rebel MC! They played him in the office yesterday and I recalled the story of when I was a pot collector at Hull University Student's Union bar. The Rebble was doing a gig and I had to stop him trying to take a glass pint pot into the main hall. So there's the star turn having to tip his drink into a plastic glass thrust at him by some potty oik who had no idea who he was.
Googled him yesterday. He's doing quite well for himself apparently and is married to Marie Whittaker. Git.
I'm 72 and still listen to 70s prog rock. In my defence I listen to music from around the 12th century to the present day too. If it's music you like who cares when it was produced?
"Today on this program you will hear gospel, and rhythm and blues, and jazz. All those are just labels. We know that music is music…"
It's not listening to a variety of music, or listening to old music, it's listening only to music that was 'popular' in the years when you were 15-25. I've got more time for people who say, only listen to jazz.
Actually, theres a guy I know who listens to pretty much only tech house & progressive house (current stuff) and the stuff he was into from 15-25 (James are great, but not any of their new music - only the old stuff). Everything else is shit.
Just had Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jnr, again. His frequency seems to be every 48 hours, which isn't as bad as Mental As Anything who are on daily.
I wonder why they don't play any of his other hits?
A lot of peoples music taste never moves on from their teen years.
It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in future. I did a bit of work with the folk who set up 'Playlists for Life' who use music thereputically with people with dementia. Theres basically an age - our early teens - where we fall in love with stuff - music, films, art, (Maria Whittiker probably) and so on. Stuff we encounter at that age imprints on us in a way that things don't during the rest of our lives.
So if you have someone in your life with dementia theres a sort of bit of detective work you can do figuring out music that has an ability to cut through the fog and connect with people. Its not necessarily favourite music - its more what would have been around you at that age whether you were a fan of it or not.
Bill Drummond suggests taking the top 10 on your 13th Birthday as a start point - having a quick look at what was in the charts on my birthday they're pretty much all songs I know pretty well even though I wouldn't put any of them on a list of my favourites - but they might be much more engrained in my thoughts that songs I've preferred to listen to since.
But if you're a teenager now is there anything in our culture that has the same saturation as 'a pops song' had when we were young?