Local radio really is the same as at home… they just speak in German (not really surprising). And though I’ve always been a dedicated Triple J listener, due to the time difference, a few hours after I wake up in Austria late night music starts in Australia… which is generally not that enjoyable.
I’d like to introduce you to my current radio station of choice, and the somewhat odd songs they choose to play.
And yes, I know there are all these online radio stations I could potentially listen to, but there’s a switch on the kitchen wall that when I flick it the radio instantly comes on. It’s just too easy. And my other excuse is that I’m meant to be listening to local radio to subconsciously learn German.
The selected station is called Ö3 (said: ooooh drei), which I find funny, for some reason. It’s a pretty standard commercial radio station and the announcers have the same tones as I’m used to, except again, it’s in German.
The songs are surprisingly, mostly in English. I suppose the influence from the UK and American music industries means that the most well known songs are generally in English. But there’s always a couple of foreign-language songs thrown in, though they’re not as noticeable as you would think… just poppy and catchy.
But it’s the random songs they play that make me laugh. Though Ö3 is predominantly top 40, on any given day I can expect to hear one or all of the following:
- Land Downunder (yes, really)
- A Roxette ballad
- Some Alanis Morissette angst
- Riptide by Vance Joy (I’m sure it’s been a year since it was released)
- Somebody that I used to know by Gotye
- That song that goes: It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now
- Black Velvet by Alana Miles
- You’re the Voice (again, go aussie)
But I have to say, I don’t mind it and I’ve gotten used to the lively Austrian voices, the extra long traffic report (reporting traffic for the whole of Austria) and the hourly news I now partially understand.
an aussie in austria 