Pop music and the Radio for non-popists

I think you can hear lots of pop in shops or doctors surgeries or adverts on TV without knowing who the songs are by and you think you have never heard anything by *insert pop star mentioned in newspapers or ILM threads*. Until one day a youtube is posted in a poll thread then you go "Oh I have heard that! Just didn't know who it was by".

Because that is what happens to me. Same goes for the big "indie" or "mainstream rock" bands.

"xpost aw man, don't listen to The River, that shit's like musical poison."

but it's my official source for all things michael franti!

Different is Good.

There's quite a lot of push on the internet as well though - things like Last.fm, the Related Videos section on Youtube etc etc. Even Myspace to an extent.

OK well I don't do last.fm so I don't know about that. But related videos on Youtube, myspace etc - you have to click a link, type a URL - usually while you're sitting at a desk. It doesn't just wash over you. And yes Lex, with the radio (and pubs, and the gym, etc) there IS an effortless osmosis - the songs just come, one after the other. Sometimes the DJs even say what they are. And knowing that lots of other people are listening RIGHT NOW to the same thing you are gives it an added thrill, makes me feel connected up. It's (sort of) like the difference between watching the Roland Garros final as it happens or watching it on DVR or Youtube or whatever. It's the exact same match but one of them has an electricity to it that the other doesn't.

Cosign.

And knowing that lots of other people are listening RIGHT NOW to the same thing you are gives it an added thrill, makes me feel connected up.

I remember Tom Ewing mentioning something like this once. It's weird in that as I consciously recognize it being accurate (consider ILX/Twitter commentary on lots of things happening in the moment, not just musical), I don't recall getting this feeling from radio play. It always felt quite private, really.

totally agree w/ned - have never got any sort of electricity or communal thrill off the radio. i actually do get it when i read people's comments on last.fm or even youtube, though - seeing how much a song i love also means to other people.

you have to click a link, type a URL

OH THE EFFORT *wipes sweat from brow*

ok, everyone talking about the magic of this effortless radio osmosis which saves you from ever having to think or pursue a song - i don't believe that you've only ever consumed music via the radio. i know you have music you love that didn't come to you via osmosis. is listening to that music somehow lesser for you, then?

I think you can hear lots of pop in shops or doctors surgeries

Is this another British term? Because generally I am asleep during surgery.

Actually, I have a question: Does the UK have anything like adult-contemporary radio? Because I can sort of imagine someone being familiar with pop songs by Colbie Caillat or Jason Mraz or Taylor Swift from the Lite FM that gets played in offices, grocery stores, laundromats, etc., and not knowing anything by Drake or Ke$ha.

Colbie Caillat

Who?

Ignorance is bliss.

That stuff just doesn't seem to cross the Atlantic

I think you can hear lots of pop in shops or doctors surgeries

Is this another British term? Because generally I am asleep during surgery.

the waiting room while waiting to see the doctor as they're behind schedule usually. Not during surgery (my guess is they play classical in there)

Ah yes: see, that's another place where in the U.S. you'd hear pop music but it would usually be of the adult-contemporary variety.

Or maybe a "mix" station like this.

Actually, I have a question: Does the UK have anything like adult-contemporary radio? Because I can sort of imagine someone being familiar with pop songs by Colbie Caillat or Jason Mraz or Taylor Swift from the Lite FM that gets played in offices, grocery stores, laundromats, etc., and not knowing anything by Drake or Ke$ha.

BBC Radio 2 is sort of like that - they play a lot of polite singer-songwriter stuff and a tiny bit of modern r'n'b (more of the retro-styled Amy Winehouse variety as opposed to, say, Ciara). Surprisingly 'California Gurls' is on their playlist at the moment but I'd put money on it being some version with Snoop edited out.

Smooth Radio
or any local oldies station like Clyde 2 and its equivalents over the country that have the exact same playlists