Originally Posted by Luca:
“I won't lie by saying Smooth Radio of old was one of my favourite stations, it wasn't. I mainly listened to Simon Bates's programme due to my wife having it as her chosen breakfast show.
I thought the musical content on the breakfast show was safe but reasonably varied, with the odd novelty record played, along with the occasional new release. The grumpy old man, forever puzzled at modern life routine from Bates was amusing and easy on the ear. The £1000 Minute was a pretty good quiz. My wife really liked Our Tune. Personally, I reached for the sick bucket whenever I heard the first few bars of the schmaltzy theme, but nonetheless, it appeared to be a much-enjoyed part of the show by most.
For now, my wife still has Bates as her alarm call. She cannot stand screeching, in-yer-face Evans and finds BBC local radio too much like Alan Partridge, so she persists with Smooth for want of anything better.
She is no radio anorak. She would never would consider posting on an internet forum about the subject. She is responsive in general to radio ads. Her musical taste is very much Bee Gees, Odyssey, Carpenters etc.. From her own admission, she is stuck in a 70s to mid-80s time warp of top tunes. She also tunes-in at various times of day when driving. Surely she is the type of listener Smooth want to hang onto throughout the day.
She says she feels Smooth has been ruined. She says she is sick of hearing the same songs each day. She says she misses the presenter interaction between tracks and finds gaps of 20 or so minutes between music depressing, when she seeks that feeling of having a bit of 'company' through your speakers on a long, lonely drive home. She misses the Bates quiz, his chats with the sports guy, the lack of any conversation in general and Our Tune.
How many other typical type Smooth listeners have similar views to hers? How many will in-turn become ex-listeners, driven to distraction by Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) and twice an hour sprinklings of monosyllables?”
I have to agree with the above.My husband and I loved the Simon Bates Breakfast Show too.£1000 min quiz, our tune, the repertoire with Johnny Gould was brilliant.However now, we have got 2 mins of recorded Johnny Gould at the top of the hour, and now the Golden Hour is one year only.I can now name the intro of the next song coming up, its getting that bad, they have tried to sneak in some other songs, but the Paul Young and Carpenters Greatest Hits CD must have worn out by now.......!!
Tried listening to Heart, and the Presenter was taking the mick out of procol harum a whiter shade of pale, turned back to smooth.....I miss Smooth 70s, I listened all day and loved singing along, maybe I am a Radio anorak, but the radio keeps me company all day
