This is a fun contest for me, being an old radio guy. I have been annoyed by many annoying songs over the years in my previously annoying radio career.
On the air, early 1970's, click to hear Steve in the summer of 1974
There is an old saying in the radio business that explains annoying songs quite nicely. It goes along these lines:
3 stages of annoyance for the deejay
1. As a deejay, when you first play a song, even if you like it, nobody in the listening audience will notice it.
2. When you are getting really tired of that song, people in the listening audience will start paying attention to the tune.
3. When you are so sick of the song that you want to break the disc and ban the performer for life, the radio audience will decide they really like the song and make it a big hit.
Fact is, people like familiar tunes and, as a song grows on them, it usually becomes more popular. I give you this story to better justify my explanation below.
It was 1974 and I was a rock n' roll jock. One of the songs that we were playing over and over again in the top forty rotation was really long (around five minutes) and, redundant as all get out, and it had become a big hit. Other than the opening riffs, which I kind of liked, the song bored me silly.
My annoying song entry has since been featured in movie soundtracks and commercials. There is, and it is hard to believe, even a Christmas version.
I am going to route you to the offending member. I will be curious to hear your comments. Do you like it and consider it a classic? Or, are you sick of it and you too would like to break the disc and ban Randy Bachman from your auditory space? Us old radio guys want to know.
35 Comments on Inspired by Song -- Stop the Song and Let Me Out
NOV
20
2008
I used to DJ as well and I know what you mean about music. I thought about this contest as well and couldnt decide if Frank Stallone was a worth contender or if I needed to dig deeper.
Steve! What a nice melodious voice you had. I think you need to be doing radio still. And you need to do some of those videos like Michael Thornton did with the gas flame.
As for the song, I remember liking it fine. The best way to enjoy it is after a few wines or beers or bourbons at a dance. That song comes on and everyone starts stomping and gets up to dance. Who cares whether it is a good song at that point!
I could live the rest of my life without ever hearing that song again. When I was a teacher in Arizona, that song was the school's theme song and it was played over the loudspeaker every morning before announcements. Brings back baaaad memories.
Steve - Thanks for entering this month's contest. Sorry I just realized that I forgot to respond to your email from awhile back. I guess you can tell what my response would have been about embedding YouTube videos. :-)
By the way, VERY cool of you to include the audio of yourself from your radio days.
Saw Randy Bachman on a documentary last night. He was singing you ain't seen nothing yet. I'm sure that one ranks right up there on the annoying songs list. He looks the same, but waaay older.
I'm surprised no one has asked, Steve Lewis? A stage name. I mean Smith is such a forgettable, hard to pronouce name. :0
I like how you included the blurb about the energy crisis. I remember that, I was in 5th grade.
Steve, you need to do one of those short videos and post it. Don't tell Charles but he has done some pretty good logos with that stupid raven. I sorta like the one above in a comment.
Back then, now too I suspect, most radio people do not use their real last name. Or maybe they usede a different first name. It is a high profile enough job that people will call and bug you at home or find your address. You want to be annonymous.
Mine, Steve Lewis, is actually my middle name Louis. Over the years it was spelled both ways. Randy is quite the popular guy in Canada. That aircheck I posted actually had ain't seen nothing yet on it. That tune I actually liked.
Steve, detested that tune then, and frankly have no use for it now. The popularity of BTO I really never understood. Give me Foghat, Budgie, Moxie...Heck, I'll even take The Sweet!! Spare me the BTO....
One of my favorite BTO songs. It was a big hit when I got my first job working for someone else. Still brings back memories of "taking care of business."
Steven - BTO just came up in the office the other day. I was ashamed that I knew the initials. Is it just me or is the presenter completely loaded in that video?
I would just assume stab myself in the eye than listen to that song (BTW...thanks to your video I am now one eye down!)...but this comes from my stint in the mid 90's going to Karoake bars...there is ALWAYS some drunk fool (or group of fools) who decides to belt it out with no regard for my mental health:)!!
As for the DeeJays...they just don't mak'em like they used to...my all time favorite was Wolfman Jack!! Thanks for the memories:)
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I used to DJ as well and I know what you mean about music. I thought about this contest as well and couldnt decide if Frank Stallone was a worth contender or if I needed to dig deeper.