Name: terrestrial radio
Age: 100
Occupation: alleged entertainers and informers of the general public
Last Seen: everywhere
Bee-otched For: playing the wrong songs at the wrong time
Age: 100
Occupation: alleged entertainers and informers of the general public
Last Seen: everywhere
Bee-otched For: playing the wrong songs at the wrong time
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Last week, I pointed out that since the brutal killing of George Floyd, the media is trying to rid themselves of anything that might be insensitive in regard to our country's past - and still ongoing - mistreatment of people of color.
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----HBO Max pulled the 1939 classic "Gone With the Wind" because of how slaves were portrayed in the movie. NASCAR announced that Confederate flags will no longer fly at their events. The popular country music group Lady Antebellum changed their name to simply "Lady A" because Antebellum refers to the pre-Civil War period in the south when slavery was rampant.
On Wednesday, I had a rude awakening brought to me by Grand Rapids' Rock Station, 97-9 GRD.
Now, many of you probably wake up to the sound of a cell phone or some modern device like Alexa. I wake up the old-fashioned way with a clock radio that I've had since I moved here to Grand Rapids 18 years ago. It's a little fast, but when 4:30 a.m. comes, it does the job.
But since GRD is the only radio station in Grand Rapids that's fit for a 39-year-old man, it becomes a sad reality when its corporate parent from Connecticut totally ruins it.
So, why am I pissed at GRD? It's because at around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, I was rudely woken up to the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Yes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, a southern rock band from the 1970s who performs on stage with Confederate flags to reflect on their allegiance to one of the most-bass-ackwards part of America. Yes, the south, were slavery and segregation was A-OK.
I know, I've had chats with 'Skinner fans regarding 'Alabama' and the fact that it was actually an anti-racist song (i.e. the "boo boo boo" part of the song where they reference Gov. George Wallace). Plus, the tune's original backup singers were black women: Clydie King (who worked with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Elton John (she sang background vocals on "The Bitch is Back")) and Merry Clayton, who sang with Mick Jagger on the 'Stones' "Gimme Shelter". It's true that the tune was a response to Neil Young's "Southern Man" and "Alabama", and strangely enough, he ended up becoming a fan of Skynyrd because of it.
I know what some of you are thinking: "Chuck, you're a fan of Howard Stern, and he used blackface on his WWOR-TV show in the 90s". True. So did his pal Jimmy Kimmel on The Man Show. Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal, Darrell Hammond and Adam Sandler did it on SNL. In the movies, Judy Garland and even Bugs Bunny did blackface gags. The reason why Howard's name was brought up was because Drumpf, Jr. has a feud with Stern and isn't happy that he's not supporting his father. On his show today, Stern admitted that thanks to therapy, he's all but forgotten about his past. He even admits that he personally vetoes reairing of certain bits because he's too embarrassed to listen to them.
I'll admit, I get embarrassed about the shit that I posted online over a decade ago. One man even said not too long ago that he'd rather drop bleach on his eyeballs than to read my site. I know. I was a punk in my 20s and, well, I kinda still am to an extent. But, people will always judge you on your past. One band I've always enjoyed is Pantera. Like 'Skinner, they flew the Confederate flag with pride. Not only that, former lead singer Phil Anselmo is a fucking racist. Often in concerts, he bitched about black privilege. A few years ago during a tribute concert to slain bandmate Dimebag Darrell Abbott, he flashed a Nazi salute and screamed "WHITE POWER!" He did apologize a few days later, claiming that he was intoxicated during the show. Former bassist Rex Brown has long-regretted the use of the flag as a symbol for the band.
Of course, 'Skinner still records and tours though the group is down to just one member from their glory days, guitarist Gary Rossington. Their 1977 plane crash and various members of the group dying afterward has played a role in their rotation of current members. Pantera disbanded in 2000 and the core of the band, brothers Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott have since passed on. Yet, they're still revered in the world of rock despite their associations with the stars and bars. However, I do give Pantera credit for raising money for COVID-19 relief through the sales of their masks. But, I don't see any mention of "Black Lives Matter" on either their socials nor 'Skinner's.
Now, why an active rock station like WGRD plays 'Skinner is beyond me. Hell, I just checked WRIF/Detroit's playlist and there's nary a 'Skinner tune. Personally, 'Skinner belongs on classic rock stations and not a newer rock station like 'GRD. Christ, my ex-stepdad LOVES 'Skinner so much that he even got a Confederate flag shaped like an eagle tattooed on his back. Sorry, but after the shit that he did to both my parents, I seriously avoid anything having to do with him or most of his drunk-ass family.
I've said it many times: The Dixie Chicks got banned from country radio stations when lead singer Natalie Maines told a crowd in England that they were ashamed that they were from the same state George W. Bush was from. Yet, when Ted Nugent told the media that "I'll be dead or in jail a year from now", hinting that he wanted to kill President Obama, not one radio station dropped his music. I believe when Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a "slut" on his tin foil hat on his show, yes, he lost sponsors, but he only lost two affiliates. It's tragic that if one has a leftist viewpoint, they're more-likely to be fired. But, maybe, it's a blessing that most newer car radios have a Bluetooth connection so one doesn't have to sit through Confederate flag-wavers to get to the latest tune from Godsmack or Bad Wolves, whose lead singer Tommy Vext is African American.
Up in northern Michigan, I just read that 94.5/106.3 North FM is soon going to be replaced with a simulcast of sister station Q100 in Grayling. Good, since adult contemporary has become a shitty format for northern Michigan radio. Look at failures over the past 20 years like EZ 95-5/106-3/97-7. 92.9 The Breeze and 106.7 WSRT/You FM. Of course, North FM was created when the Coynes - who also own sports-talker WQON 101.1 Grayling - were vacated from their lease of a certain radio station in Traverse City located between 101.8 and 102.0. A station whose owner has long-lied to the FCC of the status of his stations and is known for treating his employees like shit. To me, I think he should sell off his stations and focus on recovering from his recent heart attack and shoving some sense into his son, who proudly displays the Confederate flag on his Facebook page.
I know, I'm not perfect, nor are Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pantera, Howard Stern and the Con-flag-waving Texan whose father owns an illegally-silent 100,000-watt radio station in Traverse City. But, I'm proud to say this: I'd rather be friends with a black man over a far-right conservative white douchenozzle who wears a MAGA hat. When my mom was married to her 'Skinner-loving ex, she HATED Obama, HATED the Democratic Party and bitched about tax money going to lazy blacks in Detroit. Guess what happened? After her ex divorced her (he found another woman whom he quickly divorced and is now on wife #4), she started dating a black man. He's funny, he's intelligent and is a good father to his son, a talented jazz pianist. If he asked my mom to be his wife and to be my stepdad, I would in a heartbeat.
Would banning 'Skinner from terrestrial radio help things? Maybe yea, maybe nay. But for the fucking love of God, 'GRD, PLEASE SHITCAN THE 1970s BUTT ROCK! If you guys want to win the war against satellite and internet radio, listen to the locals and not what Clownsquare corporate wants.
At least the only time I mentioned 101.3 The Brew is in this very sentence.
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Bee-otch of the Day Archives can be seen on http://beeotchoftheday.blogspot.com
Bee-otch of the Day is a production of Chuck69.com, Grand Rapids' site for Stern, politics and more!
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