Radio Game

When my parents were dating in high school (they were way too young when they started dating, or so I've been told) they used to play something they called the Radio Game.  The concept is simple - you turn to a radio station, and the first person to (correctly) guess the artist gets a point (or ten points, or negative points for a bad guess... the point system is a little bit complicated, and the rules vary depending on... well, depending on just about anything you can think of).  I remember Mom and Dad continuing to play the Radio Game in the car when I was growing up.  Dene' and I thought it was a pretty huge waste of time, and they usually waited until we were otherwise occupied (a nap for Dene' and a book for me) before switching from the Christian radio station to oldies.

The advent of satellite TV and the plethora of music channels it provided was a major turning point in Radio Game history.  Now disputes could be settled quite easily (I have no idea what they did before) and commercials could no longer disrupt the game.

When I moved home for my final semester at UNL I was faced with a choice between spending my evenings upstairs doing homework (okay, who am I kidding - reading) or downstairs with my parents while they played the Radio Game.  Despite my love of solitary evenings with a book, it wasn't much of a choice.  Of course, I was at a significant disadvantage going up against a pair of opponents with ... well, a lot of combined experience :)

It's not much fun to play a game when you always lose, so naturally I decided I need to do some research.  I created a couple Pandora stations based off some of the standards (Moody Blues, Boston/Journey/Foreigner, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Pink Floyd, America, Crosby Stills & Nash, etc.) and went to work.  Pretty soon I could hold my own.  I even won occasionally.  Moving to Colorado threw a bit of wrench in the system, but I have it on good authority that I still gain points at times even when absent (as I said, the point system is ... creative).

Missing my parents and this very special bonding quite naturally led to seeking other outlets.  I found one in writing new lyrics for some of the songs.  Below is my first attempt - a surprise for Alex on our second Valentine's Day:

to Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" (it's a lot funnier if you have the song in your head for comparison - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg)

I found my first real true love

Met him at an Irish pub

We became Facebook friends

It was the year of 2009

Me and some friends from school

We took Greek and we tried real hard

Derek quit the Davids got married

I wasn’t sure I’d ever get far

Oh when I look back now

That year seemed to last forever

And if I had the choice

Yeah – I’d always wanna be there

It led to the best days of my life

(CHORUS)

Ain’t no use in complainin’

When you got a job to do

Spent my evenings praying for a husband

And that’s when I met you

Sitting on your mama’s couch

You said that you’d love me forever

Oh and when you held my hand

I knew that it was now or never

These are the best days of my life

Yeah after the year 2009

Man we were lovin’ the time

We were young and restless

We needed to unwind

We know it will last forever, yeah

And now the times are changin’

Look at everything that’s come and gone

Every time I look at my true love

I know he fixes whatever is wrong

Sitting on your mama’s couch

You said that you’d love me forever

Oh and when you held my hand

I knew that it was now or never

These are the best days of my life


A couple weeks ago I got the inspiration for my second attempt.  Michael was hanging out with Uncle Matt who was making up lyric parodies to fit Michael's actions.  As usual, Michael started bouncing, leading Uncle Matt to sing out "Don't stop ba-bouncing."  Brilliant!  I couldn't resist carrying this line to its logical conclusion:

to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I-SbwCHJ80)


Just a small town boy
Livin' in Colorado
He had a midnight snack almost every night


Just a happy boy
Born and raised in a loving home
He had a midnight snack almost every night


What's he gonna do for fun
Spending all his time at home
For a smile he can bounce away
It goes on and on and on and on


Playthings waiting
Up and down they bounce and bounce
Their shadows bouncing all the time
Bouncing baby
Living just for time to bounce
And snacking through the night


Working hard to get his fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Givin' anything to bounce away just one more time


Sometimes up, sometimes down
Sometimes going all around
Oh the bouncing never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Playthings waiting

Up and down they bounce and bounce

Their shadows bouncing all the time

Bouncing baby

Living just for time to bounce

And snacking through the night

Don't stop ba-bouncin'

Hold on to that feelin'

Bouncing baby

Don't stop ba-bouncin'

Hold on to that feelin'

Bouncing baby

Don't stop ba-bouncin'

Hold on to that feelin'

Bouncing baby