is this how disco died?

[originally posted on myspace on February 1, 2010]

Today, the classic rock station played "I Melt With You" by Modern English.

I don't know why, maybe because it was such a 1980s song, but I was always fiercely protective of that song. It was always a little bit of 'do not touch' for me, though I don't know why...it holds no special memories for me...there was no junior high dance or anything to associate it with (except when Possum Dixon covered a snatch of it up in St. Pete because ME was playing in town the same night). And, really, the lyrics...do I really want a man to melt with me?

I digress.

When I first heard it in that Burger King commercial years ago (watching TV in my first apartment years ago), I was sad...sad that they had 'sold out' and sad that a corporation was using such a happy little song. Now, however, I understand the benefits of licensing out your music (i.e. Moby), and, hey, "melt" used in a cheeseburger ad...that's pretty clever, BK.

But, to hear that song on a classic rock station. Wedged inbetween "Hot Blooded" and "Money." No. That song belongs on an 'alternative' station (oh, right, we have none of those) or on a pop station's 'fun' '80s flashback weekend (between Huey Lewis and upbeat INXS songs). Class rock should be Led Zep and Pink Floyd and AC/DC and old Aerosmith...and if you're stretching it, maybe KISS or older Metallica (not Nirvana or Pearl Jam, no, not ever...that would make me old).

I suppose it's got to happen. The 'oldies' station has long abandoned anything from the '50s and now sticks with purely '60s (and usually later '60s) and '70s. I guess the classic rock needs to stay about a decade ahead (behind?) them.

But, no! If the classic rock station wants to take down my Modern English (ok, technically one song by them), they also need to start taking others with them, like the Specials, Madness (too late?), Elvis Costello, Squeeze, A Flock of Seagulls...etc.

And maybe I'm just old and stuck in my ways (or at least the radio formatting I have known for the past 30 years)...