Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Let's have a black celebration.

In writing this post, I am reminiscing fondly of 2/14/1998, in which Lemming and I hosted the All Cynical and Depressing Song Special: Valentine's Day Edition on Lloyd Radio.

We started with the song "Black Celebration", played cynical and depression songs (all with themes appropriate for Valentine's Day) for a little over two hours, and finished up with "Blow Your Brains Out" (what is the correct title for this song?). During practically the entire show, there were two couples slurping each other in Upper Crotch, which is right next to where we were broadcasting. Our RA was not particularly pleased about the show and its proximity to the couples, but she knew she couldn't stop us. Anyway, I was amused, and that's what counts. :)

So, with that in mind, "Let's have a black celebration." (Then maybe go to Hollywood & Vine and "Whip it good!")

18 comments:

Linda said...

Happy Singles Awareness Day!

Mason said...

I didn't wear black today or anything, but maybe I'd find a nice goth if I did? Mmmmm... vampires. :)

Lemming said...

I don't remember Ute being particularly displeased with the show, but it's all kind of a blur, to be honest. I do remember enjoying the broadcast, at the very least.

At the moment I'm trying *not* to focus on the day, and so far I'm managing to do fine. My only worry is dance class tonight, but I don't think that'll be too bad, considering how many singles there tend to be there.

Anyway, here's to... just another day!

Mason said...

She wasn't that displeased, but she did walk out of the RA apartment, look at us and shake her head a bit in a 'I can't believe you're doing this!' sort of way, and walk back into her apartment.

Hence, not particular pleased but not particularly displeased either. :)

"It's just another day..."

Actually, I'm doing ok with all this---if I were in a bad mood about it, I'd post about something other than our show, which I enjoyed as well. (I'm having trouble remembering precisely which songs we played during the two hours, although I am almost positive I chose certain Depeche Mode songs besides the opening one. "Shake the Disease" comes to mind as something I likely put in the queue.

Mason said...

She wasn't that displeased, but she did walk out of the RA apartment, look at us and shake her head a bit in a 'I can't believe you're doing this!' sort of way, and walk back into her apartment.

Hence, not particular pleased but not particularly displeased either. :)

"It's just another day..."

Actually, I'm doing ok with all this---if I were in a bad mood about it, I'd post about something other than our show, which I enjoyed as well. (I'm having trouble remembering precisely which songs we played during the two hours, although I am almost positive I chose certain Depeche Mode songs besides the opening one. "Shake the Disease" comes to mind as something I likely put in the queue.

Anonymous said...

Mason, you and Lemming should revive the show as a podcast this year. :)

Mason said...

AG: That is an excellent idea, although I would say that next year is more likely than this year. We can record it earlier and then post it on 2/14.

I'm tempted to do it today, but I don't want to spend too much time thinking about what songs I'd use.

Is it easy to stream podcasts live? (Now that I think of it, recording it early would result in a rather large file to get any sort of quality.)

Anonymous said...

That singles awareness day is amusing. ... My first year at grad school, someone asked: "you are in a department full of men and you are _still_ single on Valentines day?" I rolled my eyes and filed him away as an idiot. -jing

Lemming said...

Oh, you mean that. I always thought it was cute when she did that.

A little late to do a show for this year, unless we make it a bit belated. Work until 5pm, and then only a brief respite before I leave for Salsa (early, since OneMike needs a ride all the way from Montrose today). By the time I get home for real, the day will have passed.

I do really like the idea, though. I have this punk compilation album I picked up for chump change in a discount rack somewhere, and it's filled with a ton of great, bitter songs that I've never heard anywhere else... Oh, and one live performance of my favorite Jimmy Eat World song, which is oddly out of place, and doesn't sound very good. (They are very good live, however. A lot of their songs work much better with that extra oompf.)

Mason said...

Given Jing's comment, I must now officially pronounce with certainty that I am not the least tactful person on Earth. :) (Or at any rate, if I have ever said something like that, nobody has made me aware of it.) Do you want me to kick his ass for you? (Is this somebody whose ass I'd even be able to kick...?)

Lemming: Let's definitely do this next year. I agree this year isn't realistic at this point. The last couple days, I have had a million things suddenly land on my desk at once, so I am seriously just trying to tread water here (because I already had a bunch of things in progress). We can find a way to do this even if we're physically in a different place. I think it would be very fun, but I'd rather have things ready for the right day. We could come up with another holiday during which to do something like this, but Valentine's Day is so great for stuff like this...

Anonymous said...

Three words for you on how we celebrated across the Olive Walk:

Burning. Heart-shaped. Pinata.

Mason said...

As I read Wren's comment, my iPod started playing "Detachable Penis". I know the song isn't cynical or depressing, but I think this is a great Valentine's Day song and should clearly be included in next year's podcast.

Chandler today has some heart-shaped cookies with red frosting. Except the red frosting was in a rather sorry state, so it represented the day pretty well. :)

Linda said...

I heard "Singles Awareness Day" from the baristas at Starbucks.
Is "Detachable Penis" a gag song (no pun intended)? I never heard of it. Sniffle, I have lived a very sheltered life.

Lanth said...

Mason, by definition podcasts are prerecorded. I'm not sure you're really thinking of a podcast, because they're supposed to be a recurring event (although technically yearly would qualify).

"Large" file size depends on your metric, and how long you're talking. The ones I listen to average 20-30megs for a roughly half-hour show of very good sound quality. It's apparently surprisingly easy to get good sound quality with cheap equipment; if you google a bit, you should be able to find out more.

And the comment Jing was subjected to struck me as stupid as well as tactless: why would she suddenly not be single just cause it was Valentine's Day? Afaik, far more relationships end on VD than begin then.

Mason said...

There's no reason a podcast has to be recurring. I know that Caltech has made a couple isolated podcasts for recruiting purposes that provide info to supplement their mailings. (Noted on the pre-recorded part. The thing about quality and disk space is that we're going to be broadcasting music.)

I just noticed that VD stands not only for Valentine's Day but also for venereal disease. This is appropriate beyond measure.

Anonymous said...

Lorian, you are absolutely right that it's a high pressure time for many couples too. Few people win on this commercially amped-up day. Mason, no need for kicking ass. The ass has removed itself via graduating from UCSB. I've had my share of tackless or stupid moments too. -j.

Lemming said...

One last thing, this is just too good not to share.

The highlight of my valentine's day? Dancing with a dude.

Mason said...

Lemming, are you having an epiphany or something? :P

Then again, I didn't really have any highlight (or lowlight) today.