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Friday, June 24

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

Again I am surprised to find songs added on a whim at the top of the list.  As a rule, songs on KJRW are usually not found on other stations, especially "terrestrial" ones.  Last week, I threw on a few more popular tunes from the Cars, Pretenders and Billy Idol to see how they would sound.  Some did well and others did not according to the ratings.  Here is the top ten:
  1. Just What I Needed - Cars
  2. Jose the Arab - Iggy Pop
  3. School's Out - Alice Cooper
  4. Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
  5. Pretty Noose - Soundgarden
  6. Stranger Than Fiction - Bad Religion
  7. Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
  8. Charlit Movie Star - Lola Ray
  9. Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
  10. Waiting Room - Fugazi
I just added some more obscure songs from Offspring, X, Bikini Kill and others.  Give them the thumbs up or down when you hear them.  We'll see what makes the top ten next week...

Monday, June 20

Pride and Prejudice

There is a story on Billboard.com called "20 Great Gay Moments in Music".  http://www.billboard.com/features/20-great-gay-moments-in-music-1005242082.story#/features/20-great-gay-moments-in-music-1005242082.story  These moments were supposed to be the most "pivotal in advancing the understanding and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people".  Pivotal?  I do not think at least half of this list made a blip on the gaydar. 

Was anyone shocked when Ricky Martin or Lance Bass came out?  The only surprise was when Rob Halford of Judas Priest revealed he was gay.  A heavy metal front man?  What?!  Chely Wright professed she was the first lesbian country singer to be out.  Sorry, Chely, but what about k.d. lang? 

Metal and Country are very homophobic genres, and so is hip-hop, but Rapper Lil B put out an album entitled "I'm Gay (I'm Happy)" despite being straight himself.  Other items on this list I was encouraged to see were about Jill Sobule and Enrique Iglesias.  Jill recorded a song named "I Kissed A Girl" long before Katy Perry did.  Enrique brought a male fan onstage at London's G-A-Y nightclub without any worry about his own masculinity.

I was not sure I would find anything on this list valid when it began with something that happened on "Glee".  That is a "Gay Moment" in television.  The moments in rock?  There was the tribute to Freddie Mercury and Melissa Etheridge's album "Yes I Am". 

Could I come up with a better list?  Probably not.  There have not been enough pivotal moments in advancing the understanding and acceptance of LGBT people.  Happy Pride Month!

Friday, June 17

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

Some different tunes in the Top Ten this week, and a different Soundgarden song at number one.
  1. Pretty Noose - Soundgarden
  2. Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
  3. 12XU - Wire
  4. Chinese Rocks - Heartbreakers
  5. New College - Dollyrots
  6. Waiting Room - Fugazi
  7. Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
  8. Have A Cigar - Foo Fighters
  9. My Doorbell - White Stripes
  10. Charlit Movie Star - Lola Ray
The song list is now the longest it has ever been, in anticipation of the longest day of the year.  There are also some 'sun' and 'hot' songs for the beginning of summer.  And there are a few 'dad' songs sprinkled in for Father's Day.  Enjoy!

Monday, June 13

"I Do Both - I Go and I Go"

The Go-Go's are currently on their "Ladies Gone Wild" Tour to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the release of their huge debut album, Beauty and the Beat.  I caught their set on Good Morning America on the 3rd.  Watching Jane, Gina, Kathy, and Charlotte play gave me a smile.  But I found it difficult to watch Belinda after reading her book, Lips Unsealed.

I had recently read Runaways Lead Vocalist Cherie Currie's book, Neon Angel.  Anticipating a similar story, I picked up Belinda Carlisle's memoir.  They were both lead singers in all-female rock bands from the Hollywood area in the late-seventies.  They both had their battles within their bands and with drugs.  They both got themselves into horrible situations due to bad choices.  The big difference is that I think Cherie learned from all of it and grew.  Cherie counseled teens about drugs, and is now a chainsaw artist, carving beautiful statues.  Belinda never seemed to take any personal responsibility.  Now she is being propped up by another Go-Go's tour.

And the Go-Go's are a good band.  Our Lips Are Sealed, Vacation and Head Over Heels are great songs.  I drummed along to We Got the Beat in a summer camp talent show.  But they are way too 'pop' for KJRW.

Friday, June 10

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

The White Stripes are at numbers one and five.  Here is the Top Ten list for the first week of June:
  1. Black Math - White Stripes
  2. Kick Out the Jams - Presidents of the U.S.A.
  3. Bleed Together - Soundgarden
  4. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Devo
  5. My Doorbell - White Stripes
  6. I Think I'm Paranoid - Garbage
  7. Have A Cigar - Foo Fighters
  8. Middle Of The Road - Pretenders
  9. Activity GRRRL - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
  10. Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
Lots of songs being added to KJRW today.  If you like them, click on the thumbs up while they are playing.  Maybe they will make it into the Top Ten next week.

Monday, June 6

The Faces

KJRW now has its own Facebook page.  'Like' the page, and you will get updates about the station and the artists we play in your News Feed.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KJRW-West-Seattle/118914458193822

There is also a KJRW T-shirt.  Let us know if you want one, so we know how many to order.

Friday, June 3

KJRW TOP TEN LIST

Another song new to KJRW skyrocketed to number one in its first week.  Makes me wonder which other Soundgarden songs I should play.  (Any suggestions?) Here are the Top Ten for the last week of May:
  1. Bleed Together - Soundgarden
  2. Soup Is Good Food - Dead Kennedys
  3. I Think I'm Paranoid - Garbage
  4. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Devo
  5. Activity GRRRL - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
  6. Have A Cigar - Foo Fighters
  7. Black Math - White Stripes
  8. Middle of the Road - Pretenders
  9. Dreaming - Blondie
  10. My Doorbell - White Stripes