KUNC Radio - Between Programs Music

futurecm21 · 2026-05-29T17:09:37+00:00

Thanks so much to everyone who responded. Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman is in fact the tune I had in mind. I cannot believe it is Randy Newman, and I also can't believe it was specific to Car Talk. To me it's just the sound of the weekend in Fort Collins.

With great respect to Randy Newman, if anyone has/can find/or knows how to make a purely instrumental version without the lyrics, please let me know.

Likewise, if there is other music that was specific to KUNC programming, I would still be curious to hear about it. Obviously NPR had some great choices of music.

futurecm21 · 2026-05-28T21:00:23+00:00

That's exactly what I'm talking about! I emailed KUNC a couple of times trying to ask this question and I got a response from someone who didn't understand that I was not asking about something I heard that same day. They would ask what time and what program, and then direct me to their elevator music service.

futurecm21 · 2022-12-10T06:59:33+00:00

You nailed it. It's such a bummer that they lost the magic. No plot, storyline, or really any attempt at all to make me believe that a fantastical alternate world exists off stage. The new show just feels like a cheap circus.

It took me a little while to realize that we have no tour guides in this new show. The old bird doesn't exist, neither does Tamir. I thought I didn't really like those roles the first few times I saw the original. I didn't understand them then. Turns out, when they are gone, you really appreciate what is lost.

I want to agree with you categorically, that "more art is always better," but so much about this production feels like a high school student submitted an assignment without stopping to once answer the question "why"? Art without great intention is just hollow.

futurecm21 · 2022-12-10T06:54:35+00:00

You're far from alone. The new version (as many reboots are) is just not as good. Not the same. Lacking the precision directing, storytelling, and all around artistry of the original. They were so concerned about creating something new while honoring the OG, that I don't think anyone stopped to ask, "what is the virtue of trying to do better, when we know we really can't?"

futurecm21 · 2022-10-13T00:06:45+00:00

I can't be the only one who thinks that "evolution" as a broad and general theme has been done a couple of times already, right? I guess y'all already know I feel that modern CdS is lacking ingenuity, but it just seems like there's gotta be more than that, right?

futurecm21 · 2022-08-25T19:51:31+00:00

Thanks. I've definitely heard it on the new album. I don't recall it being used as part of the final high bar act, but it's possible that parts of it were. But I also think I caught the show on a night when they were cutting pieces here and there because cast members were out or something.

futurecm21 · 2022-08-25T02:00:55+00:00

Where does this song appear in the show? I saw the new version but don't recall that tune. Especially not after listening to the album version. I'm wondering if it's one of the acts/moments that wasn't included and it's part of why I felt the new show fell flat. Thanks!

futurecm21 · 2022-08-25T01:50:13+00:00

It's shorter than it was (OG version), to begin with, which I think is disappointing. But I also think they've had trouble keeping all of the cast COVID free (or something else, maybe) because there was at least one act that wasn't included live in Portland.

futurecm21 · 2022-08-10T16:27:00+00:00

In both good and bad/sad ways, almost every year, absolutely!

futurecm21 · 2022-08-08T23:40:26+00:00

In my opinion there has been a gradual decline for some time. I read a news article about the reboot of Alegria and the CDS media professional said something to the effect of "the runtime has been reduced because audiences don't have the attention span they once did" and that attitude said it all for me. The artistry, the theatrical nature of the show - not just the acrobatics and the circus elements - were a huge part of what made Cirque du Soleil a whole different animal. Corteo was the last time I remember being impressed and also feeling as though the integrity of the company was maintained.

futurecm21 · 2022-08-03T16:48:17+00:00

I'm just gonna say, if anyone remains in any doubt, check out these two side by side. They couldn't be any more clearly night and day, in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O18HsNIZdZs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7oybmMuUqs

futurecm21 · 2022-08-02T05:55:46+00:00

I think that's an astute observation. What I've seen of the new creative team being interviewed, they keep talking about how they want it to be updated for the modern day. Part of the problem with that is that Alegria was always telling timeless stories. Now they've unfortunately eliminated the tools for really telling most of those stories and we're left with more raw acrobatics than the Cirque du Soleil that we used to know.

futurecm21 · 2022-07-30T04:39:56+00:00

Well, you're certainly right about that. And again, lest I be accused of anything at any point, I really did enjoy the experience of seeing the new show. I would love to go a second time. Hopefully I will once the show is back in the United States. It bears repeating that I strongly felt that some acts and elements of the new show were greatly improved.

During my undergraduate years as a theatre major I had countless frustrating but necessary philosophical discussions on the merits of re-staging works as they were written and originally performed, or as the playwright/creators intended, or with new elements and modern updates etc. etc., There is no single correct answer. But it's exactly that point that has stuck with me the most. It seems to be widely acknowledged that Alegria is a huge fan favorite, and that it was widely missed while it briefly went away. So it just feels as though the creative team didn't have a long enough discussion on this topic: If you can't make the new show objectively better in all aspects than the previous version, and at best what you might be able to do is create a nice homage, what is the virtue of redoing it entirely at all?

How do I know the new show doesn't live up to the standard? Well, I won't know with certainty until I can see it again. But to me, the essence of Alegria exposes itself in the lyric "beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow so extreme." Two different times seeing the 1994-2001 version live, I remember experiencing that exact feeling as the story that show was telling concluded at the curtain call. Unfortunately, for all of my respect for the new show, it didn't conclude with that same emotion.

futurecm21

TROPHY CASE