Music

October 14, 2008

I love Kung Fu for the way it influences every aspect of my life. Whenever I describe Kung Fu to people I describe it as a way of life. I tell them it’s not only about kicking, punching and going to class. Eventually, everything you do is influenced in some way by Kung Fu. And everything you do influences your kung fu. That’s something I liked about coming up with my own 2^nd degree requirements. I can put down goals for self improvement that to the Layman’s eye wouldn’t seem connected to Kung Fu. Goals like buying a bike and riding it around in my spare time and reading good books.

Since I have started Kung Fu I have slowly developed a greater appreciation for quality. I demand better of things and have less tolerance for mediocrity. I see this as a good thing. I’ve come to read better books, watch better movies, listen to better music, make better life choices and surround myself with a better social circle. I’m sure some if this comes naturally with getting older but I attribute most of it to the affects of Kung Fu. I stopped watching television three years ago because I couldn’t handle the bad programming and advertisements.

Commercial radio is largely ruined for me with its advertising and phony dj’s. Don’t get me wrong I like a bunch of regular dj’s and music played on popular stations but the presence of so much other junk going with it kind of ruins it for me. If I hear a Spence Diamond commercial or a loud aggressive car commercial I immediately change the station (often to find the same thing on another). My sanctuary from commercial radio is CKUA, Canada’s oldest public radio station (80 years old). I started listening to it at work years ago and I am now a devoted fan. They play absolutely everything; classical, world, blues, rock, indie, Celtic, hip hop…every kind of music there is. They have different shows so that you can always find something you like or if a particular genre doesn’t interest you, wait an hour then tune back in. There are very few advertisements on CKUA and the ones they do have are tasteful and low-pressure; usually just a DJ reading a short pitch.

There is a wealth of fantastic music out there that very few people ever know about. It’s through mediums like CKUA that we can discover new worlds. All the DJ’s on CKUA are passionate and knowledgeable about their music. They can play anything they want and don’t have to worry about conforming to anything. They do what they do for the joy of it, they make very little (or no) money; there was a time when CKUA was in danger of going off the air and all the staff took pay cuts in hopes of keeping it on the air. The station did go off the air for a bit due to lack of funding. There is a really good documentary on the history of the station (can’t remember the name of it or who made it though). CKUA has a small but devote group of listeners; when they went off the air there was an uproar and hundreds of people got together and protested at the legislator building. Through the support of their listeners, donations, fundraising and volunteers they managed to come back and are still going strong. They are listener supported radio; over 60% of their operating costs are covered by private listener donations and subscriptions.

Anyway, through the help of a quality radio station I have discovered a new world of music and I honestly believe music can have a big influence on our lives. What I like about CKUA the most is what it represents. It represents an unbiased, independent, quality, intelligent, passionate media. It’s about the MUSIC, the way it should be, there for your benefit and asking nothing in return except to keep doing what they do.