Back-announcing

Is there some special training that DJs who either do radio or instore programmes go on so that they know when failing to back-announce a song will really annoy the listener ? (or at least cause a slightly disgruntled case of "well I wonder if I'll ever find out what that was...")

Have just been in HMV at lunchtime and found myself liking what was on the instore radio - it then went straight into "Your Love Alone" by the Manics. On comes the announcer at the end of that one and tells me exactly what the Manics was and which album it's on but no mention at all of the storming track that went before that I now can't remember anything of so I guess I'll never know. Radio DJs do it all the time - yes I know that was Justin Timberlake, what was the one before it though ?

Of course, I could have asked the staff but I wasn't sure they'd have known either - that's the thing with instore radio as opposed to the "now playing" display where they've loaded six CDs into a multi-changer and stuck it on random, at least you can see what they're playing and go and have a look at it.

Grrrr!

It infuriates me - at least with regular radio you can check the playlist but in shops it's impossible.

Can you remember anything at all? Any snippet of lyric?

Em | 26 November 2007 - 2:46pm

Nope, nothing at all

I thought it sounded like U2 at one point but he then followed the Manics with "In God's Country" (or "In God's Country" from their classic 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree' as he announced it, resulting in another I-know-that-you-fool moment) so I don't think it was them.

Usually I try and get the words down somewhere and then google it when I get back to the office - even a draft text message, but I left my phone behind today and didn't have paper or pen with me either.

Simon Hoyle | 26 November 2007 - 7:11pm

Yes indeedy

Bloody instore DJ's. Even my local Londis has a piped-in pillock babbling over the semi-skimmed.
Anyway, you could always use Shazam on your mobile. Dial 2580, hold your phone up to a speaker for about 15 seconds and it'll text you with the artist & name. Often surprisingly accurate and no charge if it fails. Don't know how much the calls cost.

Paul | 27 November 2007 - 10:04am

50p a pop.

Although you can use the service almost without limit for £2 a month. And it seems to work far more often than it doesn't.

Fraser Lewry | 27 November 2007 - 10:15am