DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Depth
The theme this month is Depth. If there’s one thing modern culture isn’t, it’s deep. In fact it’s quite shallow overall. I don’t think it’s our fault. I don’t even know if it’s bad. It’s just a natural symptom of the information age. Everything is always accessible, anytime, anywhere. It’s a seismic shift in the way we process information. This transition from a narrow linear path to a spider web of interconnected multifaceted nodes has probably changed our brains. This divergent structure rewards superficiality and speed while simultaneously discouraging focus and depth of knowledge. It also tends to prioritize searching and sorting over processing and storing. I hope that’s why my memory is so bad these days. I alway think back to a time when I had probably 40 to 50 phone numbers and addresses memorized, MEMORIZED! We all did. If I were in a situation today where, let’s hypothetically say my life were on the line, and to save it I was told I had to memorize 50 phone numbers — I think I would simply acquiesce to my inevitable demise. I find myself longing for a time when we devoted more uninterrupted quality time digging deeper rather than wider, but you won’t find me ditching my smartphone anytime soon.
Speaking of reminiscing, this month has me feeling quite nostalgic for a few reasons. First, the theme was nominated by the good folks from our Columbus, Ohio chapter. While I have lived in the DC metro area for over 30 years, I spent my childhood in a small town outside Columbus. I have such fond memories of the Columbus Zoo, annual school trips to the Center of Science and Industry, and sneaking out to catch the midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on High Street. Some of my earliest musical interests were indulged in Columbus record stores. I remember, as a young metalhead, buying a copy of Appetite for Destruction from Magnolia Thunderpussy. That mysterious skull-laden cross on the cover daring me to buy it. In the 90’s I would return often to visit my nieces and we would always take trips to the eclectic Short North. I like to think these annual trips helped deepen their cultural perspective beyond what was happening at the church and sporting events in the suburban town where they lived. And by the 2000’s, we had made it a tradition to conclude our excursions with Jeni’s Ice Cream at their original location in North Market. Columbus will always bring me back.
The other nostalgic trigger is one that is less celebratory. Olivia Newton-John, multi-Grammy winning singer died recently at the age of 73. She was a persistent presence in my childhood. Really anyone who was around during the early to mid 80’s got a whole lot of Olivia on radio, tv, and in films. She had an angelic voice and seemed like a genuinely wonderful person. I remember being a little obsessed with her Australian accent, and when I found out that my mother’s cousin had actually been a bodyguard for her, my interest only intensified. I was only 6, but I was smitten. Me and everyone else I suppose. Most people remember ONJ from her role as Sandy Olsson, from the movie Grease, but it was her role in Xanadu that always stuck with me. If you’re looking for an epic 80’s romantic fantasy b-movie, you’ve found it, complete with roller skates, Greek goddesses, and a soundtrack produced by Electric Light Orchestra. It was also Gene Kelly’s last film performance and was so critically reviled, that it inspired the Golden Raspberry awards.
All throughout my time as a DJ, I have kept two of Olivia Newton-John’s tracks in heavy rotation. Magic, which is still, in my opinion, one of the all-time best grooves to be recorded. Pro tip, it mixes exceptionally well with early 90’s hip-hop and R&B. The other banger is the E.L.O. crafted masterpiece and title track of the aforementioned film, Xanadu. Now let me tell you, if you are DJing to a packed dancefloor and you drop Xanadu into the mix at about 2:30 am, people will lose their minds. I’ve seen it happen on many occasions. Even the most timid wallflower has trouble resisting the exuberance when that build up drops. For this playlist, I included her B-side hit Heart Attack. It’s a great example of upbeat 80’s production and sat nicely alongside her mega-hit video and single Physical. That may be deeper than you planned to go down the ONJ rabbit hole, but the theme is Depth after all, and this is a tribute, so I say immerse yourself.
How low can you go? Discover deep cuts like Dead or Alive’s “In Too Deep”, or immerse yourself in the deep “Sub Poppin’” bass of DC’s Black Rave Culture, or go off the “Deep End” with Fousheé. From Barry White to Broken Bells and beyond, this playlist might just reach the depths of your soul.
Thanks for going deep with me this month. I hope you enjoy the playlist. If you do, I would love to hear from you. Give me a holler on Twitter and be sure to follow me on Spotify. See you next month.