When the Radio Chose for You

Even Flow just started playing. It took me straight back to 1994.

Back then I spent a good part of my nights connected to BBSes. Computer on, modem making noise, Transamérica FM playing in the background, and me waiting for something interesting to happen.

Today anyone opens Spotify, types “90’s Grunge” and within seconds has Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, all right there. In 1994 there was none of that. You depended on the radio.

When Even Flow came on it was almost a gift. “Damn, I love this one.” The song ended and that was it, no repeat button, no playlist, no algorithm trying to guess your taste. The radio simply moved on. Sometimes it played another song I already knew, sometimes a band I had never heard of showed up. That’s how I discovered a good part of what I still listen to today.

The curious thing is that now I have access to practically every song ever recorded. I can listen to exactly what I want, whenever I want. Even so, I get the impression that I discovered more when I had no control at all over what would play.

I think it has to do with something no algorithm reproduces properly: chance. It was chance that put Black Hole Sun right after some random song, that made Danzig’s Mother play on a random late night, that turned an unknown band into part of my life’s soundtrack without me choosing any of it.

Today I choose almost everything I listen to. Back then, for a few hours in the middle of the night, someone on the other side of the city chose for me. I miss that, even without knowing quite how to explain why.