On the penultimate day of our Spring Fund Drive, we emphasized the full lifespan coverage that WNXP provides to listeners who love Music Discovery by playing songs that reference ages.
Our mission becomes crystal clear when we hear from WNXP Members like Phillip in Smyrna (“I am 66 years old, I listen to the station every day. Love the new music, keep it up!”) and James and Carrie in Hendersonville (“We put 91.1 on every morning on our kitchen radio. The family dances while getting ready for school. I love hearing new music and music I grew up with.”) — and so many of you who tell us you love the mix of brand new tunes and throwbacks.
Even though our Fund Drive has ended, you can become a Member anytime here. Rock that swag, cradle to grave, and keep your radio tuned to 91.ONE. Stream the March 31 #ThematicStatic below.
Prelude
Sam Fender – “Seventeen Going Under” – The inspiration for this show is but one song about the ripe age of 17. It’s almost like that’s a formative time or something.
#ThematicStatic Playlist
Caspar Babypants – “When I Was Little” – Tony said (and I’m paraphrasing) this is kids’ music for their parents, and I — however child-free —also appreciate learning about this project from the lead singer of 90s alt-rockers The Presidents of the United States of America.
Big Star – “Thirteen” – This song was released on #1 Record 50 years ago (!) but it remains one of the sweetest, with this first verse:
Won’t you let me walk you home from school?
“Thirteen”
Won’t you let me meet you at the pool?
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I’ll take you, ooh-ooh.
Sam Cooke – “Only Sixteen”
Sharon Van Etten – “Seventeen” – Sharon has just announced a new record out May 6, but this sweeping beauty is from her last full-length, 2019’s Remind Me Tomorrow.
Broken Social Scene – “Anthems for A Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” – Indie rock ear worms writhe through the repetition in this weird song from 2002 record You Forgot It In People. (By the way, we also highlighted BSS during the Canadian artists #ThematicStatic last month.) Sample lyrics illustrating the life of a 17-year-old girl, presumably:
Bleaching your teeth, smiling flash,
“Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl”
talkin trash under my window.
Park that car, drop that phone,
sleep on the floor, dream about me.
Old 97s – “19”
Steely Dan – “Hey Nineteen” – Bet you didn’t see this one coming. But Matt requested, and I delivered.
Kings of Convenience – “24-25” – I love watching this Norwegian duo sing together like in this video, now some 13 years old.
The Beatles – “When I’m Sixty-Four” – Not sure why I’d need to sell you on this, but I’ll never get over Sgt. Pepper’s inclusion of this tale of growing old together. Maybe you, WNXP listener, will follow us through our second year and into our sixties?
I could be handy mending a fuse
“When I’m Sixty-Four”
when your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside.
Sunday mornings go for a ride.
Doing the garden, digging the weeds —
who could ask for more?
Will you still need me,
will you still feed me,
when I’m sixty-four?
Thank you for so much support, both with new and upped memberships, plus really lovely comments, during our Spring Fund Drive!