Chris Moyles: To Tune In, or To Tune Out?

Is it just me that thinks we should all be welcoming the morning with a wee bit of musical joy? Okay, so the Government is failing us, the economy is well and truly going down the pan, and on opening your blinds in the morning, you see the outside world is nothing less than that of a Dickensian novel: dreary, cloudy, and miserable. Fret not! We always have the radio! Surely music should be something to brighten your mid morning gloom?

Tags: Chris Moyles, Radio One, BBC, Radio Two, Zane Lowe, Fearne Cotton

First thing in the morning, I am usually greeted with the ‘witticism’ of Chris Moyles. If I can struggle to hear past continuous moaning and groaning about his payment issues, I can almost make out the faint sound of something interesting, lurking in the background of his overbearing presence. Music maybe?  Who knows.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way denouncing the music Moyles and his team plays, I’m merely pointing out that with less wittering on, and the use of cheesy gimmicks and games, we could listen to more of the music we want to hear. Think of the artists, the DJs, and bands we could all be indulging in if there was no ‘Car Park Catchphrase’.

Trust us, Moyles, you may have the Roy Walker voiceover, in an attempt to make it that bit more authentic, but ‘Catchphrase’ makes absolutely no sense without the visual help.  And that’s not even mentioning their newest form of “entertainment”, a ‘Mastermind’ rip off. As much as I love to keep up to date with current music, I usually tune out of Radio One’s breakfast show in order to find something more pleasing to the ear. The process that follows consists of me relentlessly changing channel until I can find something I like. It does not necessarily have to be new; I at least aim to find something I can shout out ‘TUUUUNE’ to.  With the amount of cash the BBC squeeze out of the general public every year, I think it’s only fair that the early birds and the morning commuters tuning in, get a better deal: more music, less chat. I want to hear Chase & Status, Hurts, Adele and Katy B, not stories about Moyles’ girlfriend, Moyles’ money woes, or general Moyles’ self pity. The title of the production is The Chris Moyles’ Show, and that is exactly what it is: a show about him.

In saying this, Radio One does have a substantial amount of talented, interesting, and music fanatic DJs, I just believe Chris Moyles is not one of them. Radio One, on the whole, is a channel which is dedicated to introducing and nurturing new bands, ensuring their listeners are kept up to date with current affairs, and one in which the DJs voice their own opinions on the tracks they play. It is an all round entertaining Radio Station. Yet, with a vast amount of their listeners tuning in during the morning, surely it would be a tactical move for the BBC to ensure their followers are entertained, taking their minds off the early starts and gloomy weather. Considering the competition between Radio One and fellow BBC offering Radio Two, Moyles should up his game.  It seems more people are tuning into Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show: Evans, being the previous king of Friday Night entertainment, is sure to provide a more interesting show,  despite the fact that the music may not be as current as Radio One’s, but rather varying from era to era- again, not necessarily a bad thing. (It’s also the only radio show you will hear Elton John’s use of the F-Word).

Radio is not meant to represent some form of Kitchen Sink drama; we don’t need to hear Moyles’ life story, we just want to hear music. Radio One’s Breakfast show is far too autobiographical and self pitying. Give us music, Moyles - or pack your bags and let someone else wake us up! (Cough cough Zane Lowe!)

Erin Woods

Like this look at Chris Moyles then check out our Radiohead review here.