Friday, April 17, 2009

Not So Fresh FM

About two weeks ago, Washington radio station 94.7 FM changed its format from classic rock to a "contemporary pop tunes" station. Radio stations change formats all the time, so this isn’t that big of a deal (although it’s the end of an era according to this Washington Post article). While I liked the old station and am sorry to see it go, my issue is with the station’s new title: Fresh FM. What music do you expect to hear with a station named Fresh? You would think music from new artists and recently released songs. Well, here is the song list from what I listened to for just over an hour Thursday afternoon:

Have a Bad Day – Daniel Powter (he was #26 on my list of top 25 Canadian musicians; I may need to reconsider that pick now)
Ever the Same – Rob Thomas
Keep Holding On – Avril Lavigne
If You Had My Love – Jennifer Lopez (I don’t even think she was J-Lo yet)
Why Don’t You & I – Santana and Alex Band (I think he was/is the lead singer of the band The Calling)
Someday (not exactly sure of the title) – Sugar Ray
Better In Time – Leona Lewis
Closing Time – Semisonic
I Need You (this is different than I Need To Know) – Marc Anthony
Slide – Goo Goo Dolls
It’s A Little Too Late – Jo Jo
Daughters – John Mayer
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
She’s All I Ever Had – Ricky Martin
Breathless – The Corrs
Who Said You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi
Drift Away – Uncle Kracker
Found Out About You – Gin Blossoms
What’s Left of Me – Nick Lachey

It was during the Nick Lachey song when I switched to Yahoo’s Big Hits of the 80s station.

When looking at this list, nothing jumps out as fresh. The Leona Lewis and Coldplay songs are the only ones released in the last year or so. (The Marc Anthony song could also be new since I’ve never heard it before, but I doubt that as the only thing I’ve heard about him doing recently in J-Lo.)

Look, I have nothing against pop music. I love pop music including some of songs here (Goo Goo Dolls, The Corrs & Gin Blossoms). However, there is definitely no truth in advertising; there is nothing fresh about this station.

3 comments:

tecmo said...

We got Fresh 102.7 here in NYC. The only time its good is near closing time at some bars/lounges when you're not expecting to hear The Eurythmics (sp?) or something.

And speaking of closing time, good for Semisonic for still getting airtime. They were hot for about a minute.

tiny350Z said...

That radio station makes me feel kinda old. I enjoy a lot of the songs on there... but it was a swift change.

lacochran said...

I had EXACTLY the same reaction. At least the last two incarnations of 94.7 had a personality but THIS? Not so much. And they have the nerve to rank on WASH FM.