TV Resurrected the Radio Star

I admit it. My CD collection isn't the best. If anyone were to walk into my house and try and judge my personality on my CD collection I would be mortified to find out what they truly thought of me based on some of the truly sappy and traditional selections in my collection. I'm trying though, to branch out, to shake poor choices like Hootie and the Blowfish and Jewel. It's just a lot to get over. There needs to be a twelve step program for children of the 80's who just need to get over their horrible "coming of age" music selections of the 80's and 90's. I thought Alanis Morissette was edgy, a little dangerous and just too "cool for school" (yes, I know that phrase is something I should also be deeply mortified of).

My point for admitting my strange and sometimes pitiful CD collection is this: TV has helped cure me of my poor music taste. What? I thought "Video killed the Radio Star," and now you're saying it resurrected the radio star? How is that possible you say? I have two little words for you "The O.C." Oh yes, I did just credit this soapy FOX network teen drama with resurrecting good music taste to my "Alanis Morissette-worshipping" jagged little generation. The O.C. has introduced me to Sufjan Stevens, Imogen Heap and many others and I'm proud to admit that my CD collection (or at least my iTunes library) is now a little less pitiful. I admit it. I like The O.C. for reasons other than the "cool" music. I like me some witty Seth Cohen and some crazy Peter Gallagher eyebrows (see www.televisionwithoutpity.com for funny commentary on Gallagher's eyebrows in their newly published book). I also have never been to California, and being someone from the frigid and cold Midwest, I like to watch non-pasty people wear tank tops and flip flops in the warm California sun while I sit in my wool socks, flannel slippers and fleece. Although that show did get unbearable for a while there when the writer's felt the need to introduce characters just to idolize Marissa Cooper and stalk her and obsess over her and just gravitate around her blonde gravitational pull. I was pretty happy when Marissa was killed off in a car accident. They used some new dramatic music I hadn't heard while the fire flashed in the wind and I no longer had to be subjected to story lines that tried too hard and an actress who seemed to not try at all.

Okay, this became a commentary on The O.C. and not a commentary on music in television like I had originally intended.
That's what happens when you use your blog to blow of some steam! Anyway, there are other television shows that I can discuss that actually have introduced me to some new musical influences. Veronica Mars introduced me to the Dandy Warhols and this great British pop band The Faders. Everwood (a show I truly miss now that it's off the air) introduced me to Hem. Grey's Anatomy introduced me to Tegan and Sara, Joshua Radin and Nellie McKay.

So there is my evidence that TV Resurrected the Radio Star. I no longer have music collection shame thanks to TV. Although I still have Alanis and Hootie in my CD collection. I might just keep them around for when my "jagged little pills" stop working and I want to sing along to "Let her Cry" at the top of my lungs.

Verdict: Check out TV to broaden your music collection. It gives you a could compilation of what is popular and what is just being discovered or rediscovered. I also recommend checking out The O.C. now that Marissa is gone. This new season is really quite good, the content now matches with the music = quality.