Why I Love Radio Full Stop (Work In Progress!)

Don't expect things to happen right at the beginning.
It really does take time into making things.
Jonathan Wolfert's learnt this, Noel Edmonds has, as well as Phillip Schofield.

It's no good just making up songs about just anything because
you have to get to know them first.
This example has answered a lot of questions.

And I'm afraid I'm going to have to be subtle....

I always wondered why I loved the initials "FM"...
Here goes:
BBC Radio 1's First Top 40,
With Simon Bates

88-91 VHF
(Or why I possibly hate Sundays....)

You really don't have to listen if you don't want to.

http://www.smoke-radio.co.uk/s_bates_first_5pm_top40.mp3


But if you did...

Friendly Radio! What A Load Of Old Rubbish!

Literally.


That is what I believe to be known in the industry as "talking at the listener".
Or even worse, "talking down to the listener"
Something I've been guilty of for too long.
Because I've hated people doing it to me for too long and I know it doesn't get me anywhere neither.

Now you know why I do not want to hear that piece of audio EVER again.

Did that put you in a good mood for school on Monday?
Hell, no.

And I really can't listen back to that anymore I'm afraid.
Partly because it's why I hated working at ASDA on a Sunday.

But more importantly why I enjoyed my first attempt at a proper show on a Sunday last year at Smoke Radio.
And not just Sunday, whenever the time is right for what I like doing.
I'm not doing it for the money.
Radio, communication and music are my ways of relaxing.

Listening to it, presenting myself and the music to listeners AND speaking to them.
One to one.
But only more than one in a friendly social situation.
Because we'll all be happy!

And most importantly, putting my heart and soul into making things that would sound great for the listeners.
Because I've been listening for too long.
I want to start speaking to people in radio, beyond radio.
And find out what they like doing to keep the passion.

And here's the same presenter on Radio 1, on the 1st of October, 1987.

One day after Radio 1's 20th birthday.

Just before 5am...

and it's in AM quality for a very good reason.


This proves that radio can only be emotional and fun as 1, with the right balance between the 2!
It could be why I love my baby sister born a couple of months later in that same year.
And why I love my baby brother who was born on the 9th of July 1990.
Because I got to hear even more of Radio 1 as a solitary listener.

I'm guessing why I found Radio to be more interesting!

Because it talked to me a lot more, than anything else that I heard becuase it knew how to balance music and sound overall with talking to the listener.
It had passion, it was exciting, it was fresh.
But that was my problem!
Not theirs.

Both Kate and Olly have learnt to accept what I like and what I don't like.
And I can now accept that radio is not funny. It's very serious.
This explains why I don't eat the pips in apples.
I do it by accident.
Without noticing.

And this jingle below explains why I love the Greenwich Time Signal.
http://www.smoke-radio.co.uk/r1-87-track10.mp3


I've got to put my heart and soul into this.

One of the most fantastic and moving jingles ever, Full Stop.
This is why for many listeners, waking up early was never a problem.
I'm sure that particular jingle is on top of many people's JAM personal cut choices!
But my name wouldn't fit in.

I went with this one because I heard it for a station that had "FM" inside it.
http://www.smoke-radio.co.uk/rb-freshkiis09.mp3
Because that scans a lot nicer than Radio 1.
It flows "off of" the tounge.

But I could fulfill my dream at any time, and so can you!
http://www.smoke-radio.co.uk/r1-blamires-style!.mp3
(Thanks to Simon Hirst for giving me the idea!)

But I'm going to have to stop there.
The 1987 Radio 1 Jingle Package by JAM Creative Productions in Dallas,
is very special to a lot of people because it FINALLY, proved that the UK was capable of producing GREAT radio on a national scale in terms of music.
They just never got the "aural communication" bit right, did they?
But those in Dallas didn't know it either until Jon Wolfert decided to leave New York and stay in the city.

But I know where I belong and that's London.

And that's because Radio 1 is a national radio station which has to cater for many different people at different times.

I just want to do what feels right for me, just outside the busy city.

Because it will always be waiting for me when I want to go for a visit.

But I'll also have somewhere to enjoy myself and a proper job just wouldn't fit the bill for my social interests.

It's all "work, work, work".

But I'm not going to let that affect my decision.

And I don't want to tell other people how they "should be doing it".

It really isn't fair on them.


Those jingles were functional in many ways.

And it showed the way forward for Radio 1 under the caring eye of Johnny Beerling.

A man who had produced the first ever programme on the station.

I would really love to meet him, and Jonathan Wolfert.

Just to have a friendly chat and socialise, where they feel comfortable.

They know and love great radio and have done so for a long time.


And there's lots of other passionate people I'd like to meet to whenever they have the time.

Because I really do want to use my time the best way I can.


And with Jon Wolfert, they proved that that Radio 1 really was Britain's Favourite, with passion.

But we have to move with the times,

Or do we?

No we don't. We'll let radio move with the times the way we want to.

And that's a fact! (Thank you Steven Jones!)

I'm proud that I have such a great name. Because it was designed for broadcasting and I like doing it as a hobby. And will probably continue to do so for quite a bit....

Nah, Bollocks to it!

I'm going to balance both social and radio life together. Keeping the good things in mind.

That's why I love radio jingles.

Not just "jingles".

Radio Jingles

And I really do believe that I've NEVER been afraid of them.

But also understand why others might be.

Us British Broadcasters just didn't get the "No Nonsense" approach to radio and I believe the Americans found it very difficult as well.

I've learnt that the easy way which I'm fully grateful for.

And Kate if you're reading this, I hope you'll be really happy when you get back and head over to University to realise you dreams.

You did it the hard way because at times I can get scared to a point which I immediately forget all my other thoughts.

But being happy does that too!

And I focus more on what makes me happier in life!

And talking to people is about to be one of them.

Not because I've had a drink of alcohol!

Water will do just nicely.

At any time.

I'd best get on with the cooking downstairs.

But I'm ready to speak to you.

Whenever you are comfortable.

And most importantly,

Thank you for reading. x x x