Well, now that I sit down to write my little 'proposal', I've kind of hit a mental roadblock. I mean, I know what my show is, but I don't KNOW what my show is…so, I guess this is kind of an introduction to my musical taste, and my obnoxiously fun radio show…here goes nothing.
Well, my name is Robbie Chaplick, and I am (in order): A Canadian, music-obsessive, sarcastic and cynical mindfuck, not to mention a NYU student (well, when I put it that way, it's kind of depressing, but moving on). What I try to do with my show is force those beautiful (read: horrible) traits on the rest of the world. And, in doing so, I try to expose listeners to bands, artists, and genres of music that they would never bother to get exposed to themselves without a little prodding. However, I basically just let things go naturally. I've played shows with nothing but jam bands, or just Canadian Content…I go heavy on the indie stuff one day, and play the latest in unknown Power Pop the next day. People can call in and we chat about useless, trivial things, and overanalyze the best and most petty aspects of life. We even have the occasional live performance in the studio.
The point of the show is that anything goes. The playlists (which can be found at http://www.oocities.org/the_49th_parallel/ - Still Under Construction) have featured your usual indie fare: Modest Mouse, Tindersticks, you know… but that doesn't mean I don't mix things up. The show has your more bizarre tracks, such as 'Outsiders Extradorinare (sorry, French)' The Shaggs (who I highly recommend) and other fairly useless stuff such as that. I can't really give a genre of music, because free form just seems to get such a great response. Since people don't know what to expect, and since they know they'll get a good laugh, and learn a bit about a few new bands, they tune in (if they are awake that late). I just try to expose a willing audience to a new style of music, and the greatest compliments that I can get are from people that were turned on to someone like Mike Errico, Fela Kuti, or even Tram because of hearing a song that I played on the radio.
Basically, anything goes on the show, and everyone has a great time. But don't take my word for it. Take these barely solicited Emails from friends and people that I was introduced to through the show. Please read, and judge for yourself. (And no, I'm not pathetic enough to write these myself. I'm pathetic enough to force people to write them. All spelling mistakes are not mine, and they will be sufficiently mocked by me both in private and over the air.)
Subject: Robbie Chaplick
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 20:25:03 -0400
From: "Jacques Danier"
To: "Robbie Chaplick"
Robbie Chaplick is Canadian. Thats why we love him. And beacause the Canadians got their asses kicked in the war of 1812. And just about every war. Wait. Theyre cowards. They dont even have an army. Those bastards. They caused the South Park kids to say bad words. And just about everything else bad in this world was caused by Canadians. No matter how bad New Jersey is, Canada will always be worse. Oh yeah, and we have that shiny silver thing called the Stanley Cup. Twice, in fact in the past 5 years. Leafs havent won it since 1967. Hahahahahahaha. Oh, you wanted to know about Robbie Chaplick? He's a pretty cool guy, good enough for his own radio show at a normal afternoon timeslot. Nuff said.
-Jacques Danier jdd292@nyu.edu
Subject: Why bother
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 08:05:42 -0400
From: "Jordan Arnot"
To: rc492@is9.nyu.edu
Listening to The 49th Parallel - a show which I'm to understand is trying to fuse "American" music with indie "Canadian" - is like trying to cross the street but just as you get your foot on the road a bus comes out of nowhere and crashes into a tiny mazda inches in front you. "eeeeeeeer....boom. crush" that's all it is - over and over and over like a broken record. On some listens I've been prone to asking myself whether or not Robbie, the host, is really just putting a record on loop and going to sleep in the meantime (given the ill hours of his show). Sometimes Robbie even invites his own friends to call in or stop by the station to chat on air with him. You'd think that this might liven the experience - but no, it's just like watching your friend's friend get squished in-between the bus and mazda as you step into the street inches away from your nose. And mind you, that if Robbie has a Canadian friend on the phone with him - it'll be "MAAAAzda" not "MAWzda" like it should be. Just further proof that Canadians and Americans will never flow together - be it in everyday speech or back to back songs. Either way, America will always be the big bad bus lurking around the corner just waiting for it's moment to smash any and all hopes of the little MAAAAAzda's dreams of being recognized or noticed. He may try, but Robbie just doesn't seem to understand. We all wish him luck.
take it easy, JOrdaN
http://www.oocities.org/tmbgirl.geo/
Subject: (none)
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 20:45:36 EDT
From: "Kimberly Hare"
To: rc492@nyu.edu
I was first introduced to the 49th Parallel after coming home from a late night walk. My friend Jinay contacted me via AOL Instant Messenger and asked me to call Robbie, who was at that time hosting the 49th Parallel. She thought it would be pretty funny for him to get a call out of nowhere, because that's where I was. That's right, I'm in Utah. I am a student at BYU, a Mormon, and am seriously one of Robbie's biggest fans. It became a ritual, once a week I'd stay up late and listen to his show with Real Player, and max out my phone card. He's just my best girlfriend now. I seriously talk to him about everything, and he even remembered my birthday, after I told him it was last Sunday. I was able to send him music to play, so the show was that much more fun. I've even forgiven him for being Canadian. I would talk to my friends about how much fun I had on the show, and then they wanted to call in. One night I had half my floor listening, and nearly the ENTIRE 2200 floor of Merrill Hall (the guy's hall) was listening. They had his show on three computers. Robbie called Mark Ostebo, an angry hockey player from Minnesota, and after they made fun of me, they went on to talk about guy stuff. But, rumor has it Mark actually smiled. I didn't know that was physically possible for him. I keep asking Robbie when his show is going to be on again, but for some reason he doesn't have one yet. I mean, I need to hear haiku! Life's just not the same with out it. And I miss the way his little Canadian voice makes me crack up on live radio all the way back in my home state (I'm from Rochester, and yes, I often wonder why I'm in Provo, UT myself). Seriously, he has skill. I've hit him with some off the wall statements, and he has yet to lose his cool. My favorite part about the show, though, is defiantly when people are calling in and it's just mad crazy fun going on all over the place. He even has good taste in music! I mean, he did play the CD's I sent him. To make a long paragraph even longer, this boy has managed to culture a fan base in Utah, and trust me, these people are pretty glazed over. His getting to them is amazing. He has personality bursting from the seams, and his show was probably the best thing I ever did my freshman year of college!
Kimberly Hare Plasmodesmata49@hotmail.com
Subject: That kinky Canadian
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 21:35:03 EDT
From: "Nate The Evil Clown"
To: rc492@is9.nyu.edu
This is a man with a mission. A mission to the world. A mission… of evil. Yes, you heard that right. Evil. Satan worshipping. Monkey burning, goat sucking deathsquads controlled by radio wave transcievers implanted in their brains. When Robbie plays Belle and Sebastian, know that fires will be set somewhere near Central Park. When he "has a guest," a bloody coup will be staged somewhere in the fetid jungles of South America. And when he gives the call letters, well, then he's just giving the call letters. But when he shouts "Viva la Revoucion!" he's inciting a riot. Sneaky, that one.
Natebob The ugly smelly one that lives with no pants in a closet near the corner of 26th and 1st.
Subject: Why?
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 07:31:22
From: Alithea Howes
To: rc492@is9.nyu.edu
I have to say I'm opposed to canadians and canada because they'v hatched a cunning plan to take over the world. So cunning, in fact, you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel. Or a moose in this case. I can't say much now, they may be monitering this, so all I can say is Trees and Cheese. think about it. And wach out wisconsin. Oh yeah, something about robbie. Hmmm…. He's nicer than stalin!
Alithea
Subject: Post Coital Techno Jam @ the 49th Parallel
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 19:51:27
From: Nick Walach
To: rc492@is9.nyu.edu
Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Bop-Untz-Bop-Untz-
Bop-Untz-Bop-Untz-Bop-Untz-Bop-BANG-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Bop-BANG
-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-BOP-BANG-Crash-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz
-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Untz-Wakachika-Wakachika-Bang!
Subject: 49th Parallel
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 09:11:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: rgrunier@interlog.com (Ralph Grunier)
To: rc492@is9.nyu.edu
Dear Robbie:
When I first heard that your radio show was called the 49th Parallel I thought it was a really cool name. After all, if anyone was going to name something after one of the cheeziest Canadian bands of the 1960's, I was sure it would be you. So, night after night of getting up and waiting to hear the 49th Parallel's one hit from 1969 "Twillight Woman" it never happened.
Instead, all you ever played was good music.
I will be listening again this year. Just to make sure the song gets played, I am sending you a copy of it. I am looking forward to listening to your show provided they occasionally give you a microphone during daylight.
Your favourite (note Canadian spelling, eh?) uncle.
There you have it…there are no valid reasons for me to have a radio show. Except I have a damn good time making the show. And people seem to enjoy listening to it. The fun is, you never know what will come next, and that's what I'm aiming for. And good times are had.
Thanks, and I hope you listen.
Robbie C.
http://www.oocities.org/the_49th_parallel/
"Oh no, the radio
It's got me by the ears and won't let go."
-Owsley
"You won't have to think twice
If it's love, you will know."
-Songs: Ohia
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