Showing posts with label Elvis Presley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elvis Presley. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Losing it

You have got to hear this.  

BBC Radio 4 inspires a mesmerizing sense of pride and admiration among the 61 million odd inhabitants of this small island, and has managed to do so without sounding like a state mouthpiece. 

Each show feels warm and intimate, creating a sense of connection through the medium of voice. In spite of the standardized British accent, it never feels alien (unless it's The Archers.. I can't stand that show) Five years ago, new, alone, and without a TV, I sought solace in radio. It ended up being my first, and best, guide to decoding the many oddities of this very Angry Island.
 
How is it possible to have a state run, state owned, monolithic media outfit without an authoritarian government to match? I'm sure it's all explained here. Speaking of giggles, I am reminded of the truism that they tend to erupt at the worst times -- even for Kings. Though not every episode (the King's included, which I found just plain weird) is as charming.