HouStoned makes fun of the local classic rocker’s new slogan, which is “Like a giant iPod filled with classic rock: 93.7 the Arrow.”
Don’t get me wrong: I love classic rock. Nothing quite lends itself to air guitar like a monster riff jammed out in 4/4 time on a Stratocaster. But what gets me, and I admittedly am not alone in this sentiment, is that the programming geniuses at Clear Channel have decided that there are only five Zeppelin songs worth playing, that there are only three Allman Brothers songs that have stood the test of time, and that you’d better love “Dust in the Wind” because we’re going to shove it down your throat.
I’ve been saying stuff like this about the limitedness of what I call “demographically appropriate radio stations” for awhile now, so I wholeheartedly agree here. Frankly, if the Arrow took all of the CDs that contain the songs from their stingy playlist, ripped them to an iPod and put it on Shuffle, that would make for an awesome format. Really, it’s okay to play those other songs, like “Love Ain’t For Keeping” or “Sister Morphine” or “Misty Mountain Hop”, once in awhile. The world will keep spinning on its axis, and regular listeners might actually experience a pleasant surprise.
Yeah, I know. It’ll never happen.
See, I don’t need a giant iPod filled with Classic Rock. I have a pocket-sized iPod filled with just the classic rock I like and lots of other stuff I like, with no ads and a fast forward button. Why should I listen to these guys?