Saturday Night Radio

“One of the five worst songs ever,” Helaine said as Melanie came on singing “Brand New Key.” I made her listen to the whole song anyway.

Helaine and I were out today. Our drive home tonight was around an hour.

It’s Saturday night and in our family there’s a Saturday night radio tradition. We need disco!

For years our needs were satiated. I’d turn on the radio and punch the scan button a few times until Gloria Gaynor or Barry White or Donna Summer came on. They were always there and at the ready like an afghan on the sofa.

Saturday nights were when you’d hear the ‘long version’ of these disco hits. Tonight not so much. The button was pushed and pushed and pushed.

From time-to-time we’d stop on something good though not really Saturday night appropriate.

“I love this,” Helaine said. She wasn’t talking about a song but the whole process of hopscotching through the radio dial–treating it as a buffet. Each of us has equal say to listen or go… but I push the button.

Not everything was good.

“One of the five worst songs ever,” Helaine said as Melanie came on singing “Brand New Key.” I made her listen to the whole song anyway.

When I was a disk jockey we ‘talked up’ the songs, speaking over the intro until the vocal began. It was fun to do. I was good at it. They don’t do it on the radio anymore. I understand the listeners didn’t like it much. Sorry. I miss it.

Saturday night is pretty much the only time I listen to commercial radio. It needs more disco.