After receiving some, perhaps, well-intentioned but unsolicited “feedback” over Thanksgiving with family, maybe you needed to source the creatives for life advice, instead, I thought. This theme was another fun two-fer, and both shows can be streamed below!
Our Engineer and Weekend Host extraordinaire, Michael Pollard, joined me for the second show, on Day 1 of our Winter Fund Drive. By the way, you can STILL make a year-end gift to your favorite indie radio station, which has the freedom to do wacky stuff like listener-contributed sets each week, by clicking Give Now at the top of our site. ↗️ Becoming more invested in the community by way of WNXP: now that’s good advice.
Thematic Static is the weekly mixtape we make together, as I source your requests on Instagram and Twitter/X and also through VMs when you call 615-320-9100. Thanks for YOUR constant, trustworthy advising on what to play to make a mighty mix each Thursday morning and replay it Saturday evenings!
#ThematicStatic Playlist – 11/30/23
Coldplay – “Don’t Panic” – Our own Adam Culver requested this.
The Supremes – “You Can’t Hurry Love” – Carrie piped up on Instagram for this Motown classic.
Tammy Wynette – “Stand By Your Man” – The advice may be suspect, said Emily Young, but the song holds up. No arguments there!
Julia Jacklin – “Be Careful With Yourself” – Zach #1, as we’ll call this loyal listener/requester (because another Zach dialed us up and made a shreddy metal request for later in the show), loves Jacklin’s 2022 record Pre-Pleasure and remembered this lovely Side B track about wanting someone to live well so you can love them for longer.
Bobby McFerrin – “Don’t Worry Be Happy” – Baldwin knew we couldn’t tackle this theme without THIS song.
R.E.M. – “Begin The Begin” – Thanks to John in Franklin for the voicemail requesting this late ’80s deep cut from Athens, Georgia’s finest.
Robocobra Quartet – “Wellness” – Patrick offered this self-help pep talk song, which he found to be his most-streamed in 2023. Sample lyrics:
I often to go Hyde Park,
“Wellness”
Take off my shoes and stare at the sun for 20 mins
Being barefoot grounds me
And I receive electrons from the earth
I sun stare because UV rays aren’t harmful to my eyes
The first hour after sunrise
And it resets my circadian rhythms
Mitski – “Stay Soft”
Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger” – My old trusty karaoke song also includes great tips for maintaining sanity, according to Chris and Holly. Now if only the brothers Gallagher would take a page out of their own Morning Glory playbook and get back together, already!
Nada Surf – “Popular” – Justin pointed out on Instagram that this song includes, however satirical, excellent ’90s rock spoken word life advice.
Bleachers – “Don’t Take the Money” – Briana, obviously a Bleachers fan, will we see you at WNXP Presents Bleachers at the Ryman on May 29? Tickets are on sale now but you might also win some over at wnxp.org/giveways. If you win a pair, Ticketmaster will NOT take your money. You can go to the show on us.
Ministry – “Just One Fix” – Zach also called in to request this never-before-played-on-WNXP hard one. It’s the sample from the Sid and Nancy film that offers the succinct (and sadly solid) advice: “Never trust a junkie!”
John Prine – “Spanish Pipedream” – Cody, Will and Seth all requested this one with the great advice in the chorus:
Blow up your TV
“Spanish Pipedream”
Throw away your paper
Go to the country
Build you a home
Plant a little garden
Eat a lot of peaches
Try an’ find Jesus on your own
B-52s – “Roam” – Take the trip, maaaaan. YOLO.
#ThematicStatic Playlist – 12/7/2023
Life in Sweatpants – “Good 2 Yourself”
The Prodigy – “Breathe”
Paul McCartney – “Live and Let Die” – Jeremy asked for this one.
Sturgill Simpson – “Keep it Between the Lines” – Timely advice during drive time, as summoned by Caleb. Here’s a good live one from SNL with all them horns.
Salt-n-Pepa – “Push It”
Margaret Glaspy – “Act Natural” – Glaspy is just one of several dozen artists we helped to bring to local venues for WNXP Presents shows this year. AGAIN, don’t forget to check the Giveaways page for the chance to wiggle yourself into upcoming events.
Gardening, Not Architecture – “Be Here Now” – Jessica asked for this local track by artist Sarah Saturday, who creates as Gardening, Not Architecture, and once visited Jason’s New Music Experience to host a listening party.
Aaliyah – “Try Again” – Dust yourself off and try again!
Jeremi Duran – “Don’t Take It So Seriously” – Janet from Bowling Green called in to request this Nashville-based artist’s song about self-preservation in the spirit of lightness.
Georgia Satellites – “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” – Dang it felt good to dance in-studio to this one!
Frank Zappa – “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” – No explanation needed here…right? Ben, I was all too happy to drag some Zappa into our library, so thank you!