by Trailerman Sam (tapessam@gmail.com)
People walk in and out of our lives for so many reasons. Some get busy with new commitments like furthering studies, getting married, having their own family and the list could go on and on.
On the other hand, the one thing that never leaves you is the radio.
Listening to the radio makes me feel happier all day. It’s my form of escapism from stress-related issues, especially when anxiety tries to run all over my nerves. Whether I’m writing something, reading some news items on the net or just sipping my third cup of espresso on a rainy day.
Music from the radio with its unknown force generates so much freedom. Thus, I feel I’m at peace with my world. Since I don’t switch off my radio, music from it was, is and always be a 24/7 thing.
The last radio set I had lasted me for nearly 20 years. Yes, you heard it right, a good long 20 years. Even when my tuition classes are running, the background music from it helps in creating a cool atmosphere for the students and prevents them from dozing off.
Saranya K, a former student after finishing college once dropped by to pay me a visit. The first words from her mouth were: ”Uncle, wow! Your radio is still functioning. Haven’t exploded yet?”
But that trusty radio of mine must have taken those precise words as a curse and slowly started to fizzle out. The channels would suddenly vanish or an unidentical radio channel would pop up with some Thai songs. On some bad days nothing would come out from the speakers. Enough was enough, I thought.
I decided to get a new radio set. To enhance the warm nostalgia of yesteryears, I got an antique-looking set very much like the ones from the 50s or 60s. But only the look is ancient, like a museum piece, for it comes with a Bluetooth facility and USB connections. How up-to-date with today’s modern world! The entire casing is made of wood to give that nostalgic feel.
I got a bit sentimental when I took the new radio home and placed it on the very same spot where the old one was. Emotions, huh?
It took just about two or three songs from this new radio to kick away any emotionally-charged distractions I had.
Certainly, I am going to live happily ever after with it for music will be there always for me.
Radios are considered to an importance asset, especially for many old timers like me. People listen to the radio because it makes them feel happier and kills off the loneliness. It certainly does help one’s mental well-being because with a radio, the house isn’t empty at all.
Radio listeners usually stick to just one or two channels and hardly touch that dial even if the most hated song is playing on air.
The music, the news, the “interaction” with the on-air personalities certainly lifts up the tranquillity of a quiet and sombre home. Radios are great for stopping a lonely soul from talking to oneself once too often or to the surrounding walls! This is because it can help move listeners to be one-on-one and personal with the DJ. The key word here is connection.
There’s something comforting about hearing a friendly voice on the airwaves, especially during live broadcasts where you can feel the spontaneity and authenticity.
Every time an unforgettable song comes on, I’d actually feel that I should slow down physically while my mind takes a quantum leap back to where and when I first heard that particular song. Some songs don’t grip me but some do bring back a whole load of good and bad memories.
For my preference, it’s one English language station that plays the right kind of music at the right time of the day. The morning starts off with an “open conversation” with the man in the street, with medium beat music right up to the lunch hour. This is when songs like “Play the Funky Music” by Wild Cherry, or “Rasputin” by Boney. M come on and could have you dancing in the kitchen as you stir up a plate of fried rice!
Let’s admit that with such beats, the brain always releases hormones linked to the moods and feelings of comfort and trust.
During the drive home time from work, traffic reports come on repeatedly but as though I care as I’m more glued to the choice of music from the DJ.
As the sun sets for the day, the radio station somewhat goes into reverse gear and fills the air with the serenity and calmness of the night. There could be tunes like “Songbird” by saxophonist Kenny G.
Towards midnight, I might switch to one local Tamil language radio station that makes old folks like me happy and nostalgic with songs from a bygone era.
As the clock clicks towards the end of a long day, I’d hit the sack and look forward to the next sunrise to feel the continuity of sweetness and bitterness of life.
But if you’re down in the dumps with your moods and would like to improve things, try listening to the radio. It might be able to keep your spirits up.