Going back in time to when Mike Solo remembers the halcyon days of Friday Gold Rush, he paints me his #fbf radio picture of the past!
I bushwhacked Solo a couple of days back, when I intercepted his way out the door to beat the traffic and guess what? We had the ultimate interminable prattle on Friday Gold Rush, which turned out to be a reminiscing session for the both of us!
I kick-started our dialogue based on today’s version of the epic Y101 vitrine show-day which every radio station is green with envy about for drawing in a paramount of listeners. Unlike the Gold Rush of the 90s and 2000s, it is obvious that our music library of golds has expanded and with it comes our boost in listening audience. “There’s an addition to the Gold Rush party every week” says the ever-so-confident Mike energetically, adding “New alumni graduate every year!” and true enough, it has become the most sought after blue-chip over here at Y101.
As we rapped on about the 90s sounds, we concurred that those were the best years in the history of music – anyway it was for us! Those eons gave birth to the best alternative and metal rock influenced (of course) by icons from the 70s; the 90s also brought in brilliant R&B, superb pop, urban and even reggae compositions that totally rocked! The diversity of genres in a contemporary hit format was so amazing that it possibly made the 90s the definitive decade in avant-garde music.
“It is awesome that we can share these chartbusting tracks with our listeners” says Solo as he reminisces on the extravagant parties Y101 had lined up every week. “Cebu began to grow as a city then, together with the trendsetting power and inspiration of Y101” he boasts!
Although in Solo’s opinion, what were the best tracks heard on the Rush, came from back in the 80s. He cited Bruce Springsteen, Tears For Fears, Wham, Duran Duran, Madonna, Sade and Donald Fagen just to name a few of his faves. “These are the songs that attach me to my home town” he quoted as he narrated the story of a person he related to, who always locked in online to the station he grew up with. He further comments “Y101 has proven itself to be a world-class radio station when our listeners stream from around the world, finding comfort and harking back to the ROTC (Rhythm Of The City) days”; hence, the popular jingle played every #fbf Gold Rush.
We could have gone on a non-stop rattling session, but time constraints led me to rapping it up with Solo’s picks from the 90s since we both truly fancy that era and here’s his list: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots and Dishwalla definitely made his rock catalogue, Boys To Men his R&B, and yes, indisputably Janet Jackson is in there for his pop/dance! “Oh, and the hip hop band Bone, Thugs & Harmony” he exclaimed as he added that they were a protégé of the early 90s.
Lastly, when I asked him if he could only listen to one song for the rest of his life, which would he listen to? I told him mine would be Dishwalla’s Counting Blue Cars – his would be his all-time favorite All My Life by KC & Joe Joe as it brings back memories of slow-dancing with his love, Y101 Always First…
And with all this being told by our President, experience that time of your life from 8 AM – 6 PM every Friday and always be reminded how Y101 has influenced you on our special – Friday Gold Rush!
#y101fm #alwaysfirst #fridaygoldrush #fbf #flashback