Bootcamp Day 22 — Radio Disney

Today was a hellishly busy day at work, leaving me no time to listen to XM. So it’s just as well that today’s Bootcamp assignment was Radio Disney.

I listened for a short while at home this morning, until my son demanded I turn it off — a demand to which I was quite happy to agree. In the short time we listened, I heard more about Hillary Duff than I needed to know, as well as being treated to a McDonald’s commercial and some vaguely music-like noises.

Even though I don’t have XM in the car, I got more Bootcamp time on the way to work by listening to the local Radio Disney AM affiliate, KMKY/1310. Again, I was treated to more information about Hillary Duff, including her sister’s name (which I promptly forgot, and which turns out to be more difficult to find via Google than I would have expected (for those of you who are curious, it’s Haylie). And one of the songs I heard appeared to be the theme of a program I’d seen in the TV listings for the Disney Channel.

I decided that I didn’t need to try to work to the sounds of Radio Disney, and as it turned out, my day didn’t even make that an option. But I did tune in one more time to KMKY/1310 on the drive home — and they were having some sort of contest, and pushing yet another Disney product.

I have a friend who has two daughters, 11 and 13, and he says that they listen to Radio Disney frequently, as well as watching shows on the Disney Channel. I guess boys and girls are different, because the only Disney demand in our household is for trips to Disneyland. And I’m pleased about that.

I am grateful about one aspect of my Radio Disney experience: they didn’t play “It’s a Small World” during the time I was listening. I don’t think I’m going to give them another chance.

Shabbat Shalom!

Bootcamp Day 21 — XM Pops

XM Pops has been the most-listened channel in our house since we got XM in early December. Its goal is to play the basic repertoire, and it succeeds admirably in that goal. When we tune in, there’s always something familiar, and it’s always enjoyable.

There are times when I’d like a bit more humanness on the channel, giving a bit more information about the music, but otherwise, it’s just fine. And when I want to hear something more adventuresome…well, that’s why Bootcamp has been so educational.