Van Halen is playing in Toronto next Sunday, so, as always, the local radio station is giving away tickets. And while I already have tickets, you can always use better seats. Oh, let's say, for example… fifth row!
They announce on the morning show that they'll be playing a montage of Van Halen songs within the hour and you can call in to win. Just so happens, unfortunately, that I have to go to school. But ah, having spare first period has its advantages…
I took the big clock radio to school with me. Jada and I went into the caf and had our phones ready. As they were doing the announcements, they start talking about Wolfgang on the radio, and how cool it is that he's sixteen years old and in Van Halen.
Then they announce that they're going to play the clips. But ah ha! There's a twist. It's not "name that song", it's "name that lead singer". I figure I have a pretty good chance, I mean, I know what David Lee Roth sounds like and I know what Sammy Hagar sounds like, so whoever doesn't sound like them is, by process of elimination, Gary Cherone.
They play the clips. The first one, I think it was "Why Can't This Be Love?" or maybe "Dreams"? I don't remember. But it was definitely a song they recorded with Sammy. The next one was "Jump". Dave! Yes! I've got it! And then… "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"? Wait, that's another Dave song! There's three songs, three singers… they wouldn't repeat them like that… would they? So, for awhile my guess was Sammy/Dave/Dave, because I thought maybe they were trying to be tricky. But eventually I figured, no, it was Sammy/Gary/Dave.
And the calling begins. Jada and I both called, got the busy signal, called, busy, repeat…
But then…
My phone is ringing.
IT'S RINGING!
What. the. hell! No way!
I was waiting for awhile. Maybe a minute. I don't know, my time perception was screwed up.
"Hello, Q!"
"HELLOOOOOOOOOOO!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?" I screamed. Seriously. Just like that. You could literally hear the exclamation points and question marks. Jada said it was the loudest she'd ever heard me.
"We already have the five callers, sorry."
"Oh… okay," I say quieter, "Thanks."
I think that's how the conversation went. Quite a conversation, eh? So yeah, bummer, but I kinda figured, since it seemed much too late to be getting through. I'm also pretty sure it was "The Kid" who answered the phone, which is kinda cool.
After a little while, they played the three clips again, and I decided, yes, first one definitely Sammy, second Gary, third Dave. They introduce the first guy, Guy from Wherever, and ask him to name the vocalists in order. The radio guy says the last one is pretty easy, so it's really only the first two you have to worry about, which confirmed that the last one was definitely Dave.
"Sammy Hagar," the caller says. "ENNNNNH!" the buzzer goes. So obviously, the first one is Gary and the second is Sammy. They go to the next caller and the radio guy says the first one has just made his job a lot easier, so the second guy obviously gets it right.
So, sure, I didn't win, but it was fun. But Q107 should seriously consider hiring me to be their official concert ticket winner. I would have been so much more exciting than the guys who did get through. "You won two tickets to go see Van Halen!" "Oh? Cool." Pfft. Laaame.
It is now my quest to win a radio contest. She will be mine. Oh yes.