We really are everywhere...including, apparently, NPR

[thatcrazycajun]

The Songbird and I were en route from a local supermarket bearing provisions yesterday evening and tuned the car radio, as we often do that hour of day should we find ourselves driving then, to National Public Radio's excellent afternoon drive-time news show All Things Considered. Imagine our surprise and delight when we heard a story on filk music being read.

Imagine how even more flabbergasted we were to hear the voices of our very own bedlamhouse and his wife ladyat speaking on the subject, not to mention former GAFilk co-Guest of Honor Sally Childs-Helton. We know we aren't the only filkers who listen to ATC, so I know at least one or two of you reading this probably heard it too. The only problem with the story: while it got the basic facts and history of the genre right and includes snippets of pop-music songs about space and aliens such as "Mr. Spaceman" and the late Sheb Wooley's "Flying Purple People Eater," no actual filk music was played...not even the Suttons'.

We need to write letters of comment and let the NPR folk know they only got half a loaf with this one. Who's with me? Aside from this one quibble, it was nice to hear someone we know talking on NPR besides osewalrus.

Comments

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

I heard the story yesterday, though I don't know who the notables in filkdom are besides you. ;)

[maverick-weirdo.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that was because of licensing reasons.

It is likely less effort to get permission to use "flying purple people eater" than it would be to get permission to use "Hope Eyre" or "The Moon Miners"

[kayshapero]

Depends - I'm sure some filk is registered with BMI or the equivalent, at which point it's the same as for the Purple People Eater.

[maverick-weirdo.livejournal.com]

Personally I would doubt if most filk artists are registered with BMI.

[kayshapero]

Well, I'm not but then I haven't released any recordings, either. I expect it varies with the original. Could be they actually checked and couldn't get the ones they wanted (though knowing Leslie Fish it wouldn't have been hard to get her permission for Hope Aerie.)

[wheezinggirl.livejournal.com]

I listened to that yesterday. I was alone in my car so when I heard Bill and Brenda I squealed and clapped with glee.

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

Don't forget, Barry Childs-Helton was also interviewed for the story.

Heck, at least filk got onto NPR!

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

I heard the report to & commented on it to min0taur earlier today. (He & his lady were also interviewed.) He replied that there may yet be further reports on filk by the same reporter.

The transcript of the NPR story is now online here.

Edited to fix bad usertag.

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

This may be just a question of the author's access to material. We're still a fringe group to mundane media and the reporter may be unaware of the resources available. Let us remind him, eh?

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

My mother heard it and called me.

I worked late, so I listened to it online.

A filk moment on radio...

[(Anonymous)]

We were kinda surprised,too, as was the interviewer/author Chris Boros -- surprised mainly because there's many a slip twixt the mic and the speaker, even for an item as carefully done as this one was. All NPR news items, it seems, go through a labyrinth of edits and run a gauntlet of possible pre-empts before they get to our ears. That's especially true of unusual human-interest stories. Chris did extensive interviews with us and with the Suttons at OVFF 25, and the final product reflects what would fit in the available slot, contextualize the topic quickly for the wider audience out there, and still convey the respect and fascination Chris clearly felt toward our tradition. We lucked out. And I'm glad we have an empathetic intro out there in radioland. Play on, people.

Re: A filk moment on radio...

[min0taur.livejournal.com]

I just posted that, and did not mean to do so anonymously. Didn't realize it was a direct link to LJ . I better go get my morning coffee. Thanks again, Matt, for carrying forward the banner of imagination and music.