R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

What did people think of this show yesterday afternoon?

It was a very interesting concept and there were some excellent records.

But I thought the production was a bit of a mess, with records frequently talked over and far too many tracks either missed out completely or truncated beyond what was reasonable.

And for such a potentially important programme couldn't we have had either Brian Matthew or Paul Gambaccini?

Ian.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:54 am Post subject:

Only heard a bit of it, but didn't think it was too bad.

What I'd like now is for Radio 2 to take that list, put it on every producer and presenter's wall... and never play any of them ever again.

They've conclusively proved these songs are overplayed so let's ditch them for good. I won't miss 'em.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

It would be interesting to know just how accurate it was.

I agree on how some records were just skipped over, how did they decide ?

It filled a few hours on a bank holiday Rolling Eyes

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject:

Briant · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:52 pm Post subject:

Did it have 'Hotel California', 'Dancing Queen' and 'Brown eyed girl' on the list or are they not played enough to qualify? Rolling Eyes

PS Where is ernie! Shocked

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

I heard one or two bits of the show whilst driving, but to be honest it just sounded like the usual Bank Holiday Filler to me.
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iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Dancing Queen was on. I'm not sure re the other two--perhaps there's a list on the BBC website?

Ian.

John H · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 36

I missed this programme, not on purpose, but to tell the honest truth,I was a bit under the weather and needed to get out so I paid little if any attention to what was on Radio 2 at all yesterday.

However, the comment that one of the other posters on this thread makes-do forgive me, I have forgotten who it was-is that such a list could also indicate which are the most overplayed songs.

Radio 2 is probably not the worst culprit for this, the local and some national commercial stations stick rigidly to a very safe playlist.I remember e mailing someone at a local commercial station near me a couple of years ago and asking if he would play tracks like "Something Better Beginning" by The Honeycombs and "Promise You'll Tell Her" by The Swinging Blue Jeans, both tracks readily available on CDs by the respective groups.This because I was fed up of hearing "Have I The Right" and "Hippy Hippy Shake".

On came the response, "well, we haven't got the track you asked for John so hope you enjoy this one instead... " FOR GOODNESS SAKE, I GOT THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE!!!!!!

It's not that I don't like the records, I do like them, but they are overplayed.The Honeycombs recorded far more than Have I The Right, and EMI have just put out a 130 odd track CD box set of the SBJs proving that there was rather more to them than just the Hippy Hippy Shake as well.

Personally, I would like to see some sort of listening of listeners favourite songs which are never, ever played on the radio.

Songs like "I'll See You In September" by The Symbols, The Happenings or Shelley Fabares

"Turn Around Look At Me" by The Bachelors, originally recorded by The Vogues and I have both versions but in my view The Bachelors version is superior.

"Very Unlikely" by Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares,part of the 3 in a row I have requested for SOTS|so maybe that will soon get an airing.

"An Angel" by Declan Galbraith, an amazing recording IMHO which was a huge hit throughout Europe but as far as I know never got any airplay over here which probably accounts for why its European success was not replicated in this country

And, of course, "Something Better Beginning" by The Honeycombs and "Promise You'll Tell Her" by the SBJs

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Thanks, John.

I've got Promise You'll Tell Her on a SBJ cassette compilation that I bought for about £2.50 donkey's years ago. Why its sales were so poor when it came straight after their Top 3 hit You're No Good is a real mystery. The same cassette contains another overlooked gem, Sandy.

To move to a more general point, a letter in today's Telegraph points out that both the winner, A Whiter Shade of Pale, and runner-up, Bohemian Rhapsody, contain the word fandango and asks if this could be the secret ingredient of a successful song.

Ian.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I listened to the first half hour or so of this just because I was doing something in a room adjacent to where the radio was. I've long since given up on listening to 'Best of Whatever' countdowns as they nearly always contain the same songs and most of them are ones that make me dive for the off switch!

I'll often look at the playlist afterwards but I'm seldom surprised by what is on it.

I must admit the presenting was a bit odd even in the first half hour or so,

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Ian Robinson · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:48 am Post subject:

The full list is here:

http://www.ppluk.com/en/News--Events/Latest-News/The-Peoples-Chart/The-Top-75/

Looking at that, it does seem the worst culprits are commercial stations, weddings, and funerals - but I do find it odd that Rhythm Is a Dancer has apparently been played more than Brown-Eyed Girl or that East 17's Christmas song is played more than the ones by Slade or Wizzard.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

No 'Come and see me make me smile' or 'Sweet Home Alabama' Rolling Eyes

2 of the regulars flogged to death on R2

aviddiva · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject: Top75 Most played

What? No Grace Kelly (Mika), I Don't Feel Like Dancing (Scissor Sisters) or Let Me Entertain You (Robbie Williams)?

These three were guaranteed to get on my wires at a certain shop!
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Angus McCoatup · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:48 pm Post subject:

Call me thick - actually, don't - but how are these figures actually compiled? How can anyone really know how many times a song has actually been replayed in a public place over the last x number of years.

I for one am pretty sure that I've heard that bloody "Halo" rubbish by Beyonce more times in the last month than I've ever heard Whiter Shade Of Pale so I seriously doubt the accuracy of this "chart".

It's much the same way as I've never really understood how listening figures are compiled. Me and Mrs McC leave the radio on during the day for our dogs so do our Collies contribute to CE's listenership in some sordid way?

Someone please explain................

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I could be wrong but thought it was done by the records of royalties paid out to artists?

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

This list appears to relate to everything except record sales.

http://www.ppluk.com/en/About-Us/What-we-do/Where-the-money-comes-from/

I'm slightly confused, H, because I thought that the Performing Rights Society (now called PRS For Music) licensed songs and recordings for broadcasting, premises and events, but it appears that this PPL, a separate entity formed "in 1934 by the record industry of the day", does so also.

Ultimately the list is as quirky and questionable as any that get published.
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colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

I think the whole list was put together by a producer and a couple of researchers in the pub round the corner from Portland Place. They chucked a load of song titles into a bucket, picked them out and got in another round of drinks. Sounds like a good job that!
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aviddiva · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject: Top75 Most played

Thanks, Angus for reminding me about that Beyonce song - she must have shares in the E4 channel on a morning as it's always on, every morning!
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We are loonies and we are proud!

- Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum'