I think it’s kind of cool that listeners in Albert Lea now have the choice of two classic rock stations &045; The Hawk and Power 96. I enjoy that kind of music, and now, if one station is playing a song I don’t care for, I can always switch to the other. My listening loyalty is to the genre itself, not any particular station.

However, within any genre is a downside. Some classic rock could more aptly be called clich rock. You know, the tired old pseudo-classics that have been played to death over the years? Following is a listing of some songs I believe to fall in that category, and an explanation of why I don’t consider them classics.

&uot;Bad to the Bone,&uot; by George Thorogood and The Destroyers. It is virtually guaranteed that on any given night, you will hear this song in any bar that has both a pool table and a jukebox. The title says it all. I’m not impressed with any song in which the singer boasts about how he is to be a force to be reckoned with. Talk about an imbalance of testosterone. It reminds me a little too much of the kind of people who have those &uot;Bad Boy Club&uot; or &uot;No Fear&uot; truck window decals, and who hang around parking lots on Friday nights. Yeesh.

&uot;Old Time Rock and Roll,&uot; by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band. Although I detest Tom Cruise’s acting and ego, it was not the movie &uot;Risky Business&uot; that ruined this song for me. It was partly because, despite the fact that this song was released in the 1980s, it has actually become an &uot;oldie&uot; by proxy, due to being a playlist staple by cover bands that specialize in oldies songs. It was also due to the fact that for some reason, disc jockeys at wedding dances always seem to feel compelled to play this song. Incidentally, I gave the disc jockey at my wedding dance very explicit instructions to NOT play this song under any circumstances.

&uot;Bohemian Rhapsody,&uot; by Queen. This song was a decent tune until it was used in the movie &uot;Wayne’s World.&uot; Before that, the extreme homophobia of the parking lot people I was talking about earlier wouldn’t allow them to listen to any song by a band called Queen &045; especially because the band had been fronted by someone who died of the AIDS virus. But, when Wayne and Garth started headbanging to it on the silver screen, it suddenly, of course, became hip, and the song transformed from obscure classic to overplayed mainstream almost overnight &045; proving how easily some people can be influenced by the opinions of the famous.

&uot;Stairway to Heaven,&uot; by Led Zeppelin. I shouldn’t even have to explain this one. I remember hearing that at one time, this song was either the most requested or the most played song on FM radio stations. I can’t remember which. Given its length, it is probably the song that disc jockeys have spent the most time playing, anyway. Personally, I think the song is overhyped, twice as long as it should be, and that the only reason its popularity continues is because of the suggested fate of the lady who knows all that glitters is gold. I like Led Zeppelin, but they recorded plenty of better songs than this.

&uot;Born to Be Wild,&uot; by Steppenwolf. I don’t have anything against people who ride motorcycles, but this song has been forever ruined for me. Every time a TV news station covers a biker rally or similar event, they have to play this anthem along with their footage. It was only original the first time. (Incidentally, I dislike &uot;Radar Love,&uot; by Golden Earring for the same reason.)

Finally, any song ever recorded by The Doors. Jim Morrison was a drunken legend in his own mind who set his own bad poetry and ramblings to music. The literary works of Dr. Seuss are far more profound than lyrics like &uot;Ride to snake to the ancient lake. He’s old, and his skin is cold.&uot; Talent is not comprised of alcoholism, drug use and an obsession with snakes, fire and death. Likewise, reputation is a poor substitute for talent. Unfortunately, talent and commercial success are usually mutually exclusive concepts.

The funny thing is that I don’t listen to the radio to hear my favorite songs. That’s what CDs are for. I listen to the radio to hear the songs that I like, but not enough to buy for myself. There’s something to be said for free music &045; even if I have to weed through the clich to get to the classics.

Dustin Petersen is an Albert Lea resident. His column appears Mondays.