DAN O’DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO

MONDAY RADIO COMMERCIAL SMACKDOWN: Ford Auto Sales Thanksgiving Stupidity-A-Thon

by Dan O'Day on November 29, 2010

First, the radio commercial….

The worst thing about this radio commercial for Ford isn’t the criminally inane opening line:

“It’s the Thanksgiving Sell-A-Thon.”

Hint: The opening line of a radio ad is the commercial for the commercial. It’s your one chance to grab the attention of the targeted listener.

And that’s the best they could come up with? That must’ve required a long, exhausting creative meeting. Maybe an all-nighter.

Nor is the worst thing about this radio commercial the banal, totally worthless music bed.

Nor is it the strained voiceover that communicates nothing and speaks to no one.

The worst thing about this radio commercial is this line:

“You may never see an offer like this one again.”

Uh-huh. Please raise your hand if your believe that.

Hint: Try to avoid saying things in your advertising that are laughably false.

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(Video) TV Debut of The Coolest Guy In The World

by Dan O'Day on November 28, 2010

Nobody ever was as cool as Paul Newman.

Here’s the first time he appeared on television. Fortunately, as his career progressed he had better roles in better productions…

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(video) CHUCK BLORE, KFWB RADIO…AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR LISTENERS

by Dan O'Day on November 27, 2010

Radio programming legend Chuck Blore defines KFWB Los Angeles’ relationship with its listeners when Color Radio ruled the L.A. radio market.

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THE THANKSGIVING RADIO DJ TURKEY

by Dan O'Day on November 26, 2010

radio DJ graphic

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(video) TWO MUSICAL WORKS OF BEAUTY

by Dan O'Day on November 25, 2010

It’s Thanksgiving in the U.S., and between the turkey and the football not many people will visit this blog today.

If I write about radio, six people will read this.

And I don’t want to write one of those “I’m thankful for…” essays.

But somehow it seems natural to share with you two powerful musical performances. There’s a good chance you’ve seen one or both of them, along with millions of others on YouTube.

Still….

I thought John Cale had the definitive version of this Leonard Cohen song until I witnessed kd Lang’s performance.

Not saying one is better. Just different.

Cale’s is mournful. Lang’s is anguished.

I will say, though, that I had a better understanding of what the song’s about after hearing Lang.

Anyway…Happy Thanksgiving, my radio brethren around the world.

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