Weird, Not Weird
Entering A New Musical Soundscape
Who remembers the Dr. Demento Radio Show? Am I showing my age?
From 1974 to 1992, his Pasadena-based radio show broadcast in syndication all over the country. He featured satire, comedy and novelty songs, stuff literally no one else was playing or had the guts to play at the time. “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” for example, or “Fish Heads.” Weird Al came to prominence thanks to the good doctor, whose real name is Barret Eugene Hansen.
I say is because Dr. Demento is still with us, still spinning, though his show now streams online.
Back when I was just a wee lad, I owned a transistor radio from 1976. I know it was from 1976 because it had a big red, white and blue ‘76 on the front where the speaker was.
Dr. Demento came on late at night, once a week, and I’d sneak the ‘76 under my pillow, pop in a one-ear headphone and soak up the weirdness.
I had all but forgotten about Dr. Demento until a couple days ago when Little Bean introduced me to a singer and musician that goes by the name of Madilyn Mei, a Arizona-based songwriter whom I had never heard of. She also adores a Philippines-based outfit called Yaelokre.
These two finds are hers. She brought them to me. Not pop. Not rock and roll.
“What is this?” I asked her.
And then she said something that brought it all together for me. The masks. The Ren Faire. The crafting and the music she is beginning to find value in.
She said, “Daddy, this is Weird-Core.”
I looked it up and sure enough, it’s a style of music that combines experimental, ambient, and noise elements. It’s characterized by surrealist images, and often chaotic soundscapes and less traditional types of singing.
See why I thought of Dr. Demento? Weird-Core. Of course!
Cavetown. Valley. AJR. All Weird-Core artists.
I gave a listen to Madilyn Mei and Yaelokre and sure, I get it. Knowing my daughter like I do, I see what appeals to her - the imagery, costumes and anime-like videos. It’s fine. I like it. (Not like I like AC/DC, but I’ll take it.) In fact, we have tickets to see both those artists this fall - don’t tell Little Bean yet, it’s a surprise!
In a world of musical choices - where she’s being swamped day after day by the Olivia Rodrigos and Post Malones of the world - for her first foray into her own musical soundscape to be Weird-Core… yeah, that’s a win.
Just wait till she gets an earful of Dr. Demento!
Here’s Madilyn Mei’s song “Cryptid,” a gorgeous little ditty about a baby monster just looking to figure out who she is:
Liking this Madilyn Mei song! Will have to check out more of her stuff, and Yaelokre, too.
As soon as I saw the photo, I knew it was of Dr. Demento. That's how old I am!