I used to listen to smooth jazz CD 101.9 back when I was starting to grow up. That was in the mid-2000s. My dad used to listen to 102.7 WNEW between 1968 when it had just become a progressive rock station and when it started to lose out to its competitors in 1979 due to disco, new wave, and alternative music. What radio station did you use to listen to (or still listen to) at bedtime in order to fall asleep?
I could never master listening to the radio to fall asleep because I liked to use the clock radio to wake me up in the morning, and the radio needed to be a lot louder to wake me up than to put me to sleep.
Back when I was growing up I use to listen to Night Flight 760 with Jay Roberts on WJR and would wake up to either the Morning news center or the J.P. McCarthy Show.
I don't listen to it as much to fall asleep to but leave the TV on instead. If I do have the radio on I'll just leave it on 94.7 WCSX out of Detroit or 107.5 KGLK out of Houston, both of which I listen live with online although I could probably pull WCSX in on a good radio.
I barely have the radio on anymore. In the past, I would fall asleep to WCBS-AM 880 of New York City. More recently, I would listen to 740 AM of Toronto ("Zoomer Radio").
I switch between 92.5 WZUU and 96.5 now that it is Jack FM. I am on 92.5 right now, because I was listening to the Michigan football game yesterday and haven't changed it back yet.
Used to fall asleep to late night ESPN Radio when I was in college. I didn't have cable or internet and my apartment was loud as all hell, not much else to bleed out the background noise.
I have shit radio reception here, so I just leave the TV on at low volume. My TV reception is sometimes shit too, so I usually pop in a DVD or Blu-ray and set the player to "repeat" . Having a TV or radio on is pretty much a necessity for me to fall asleep at night, otherwise I'm awake. My uncle is the same way. He wakes up and gets pissy the instant someone tries to turn his radio off while he's taking a siesta. I found that out the hard way when I was a kid. Never fuck with his radio.
Oddly enough, I can catch a catnap during the day without a TV or radio on, but not at night.
I'd rather have a fan on with a constant tone vs. something with changing volumes and tones.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on November 11, 2018, 07:44:05 PM
smooth jazz
What's the difference between smooth jazz and regular jazz?
Quote from: hbelkins on November 12, 2018, 02:22:30 PM
What's the difference between smooth jazz and regular jazz?
Less dissonance, less improvisation.
To really enjoy regular jazz, you need to be
paying attention. Smooth jazz is more like Kenny G (hence
triplemultiplex's reference to saxophone), is "easier" to listen to, is more like other mainstream music.
Watch this YouTube video, and tell me if you would in a million years call it "smooth":
I was home alone (parents out to dinner) and watched "The Day After" on TV, then had paranoid nightmares that we were being bombed. I had to listen to the news/talk station in order to convince myself we weren't under attack, and from that point onward I have usually had something on to help me fall asleep. For many years it was ESPN Radio (when the overnight hosts were a little more free-form in their content); after streaming became commonplace I bounced around between NPR, CBC, ESPN, and the BBC. Now I listen to podcasts so I can tailor the content to my mood.
I'll add to kphoger's comments. Generally speaking, smooth jazz is slicker production-wise and more likely to use electronic or electro-acoustical instruments. I think that I know the difference when I hear it, but its hard to pin down. I'd say something about authenticity and rootsiness, but those are perhaps vaguer terms than slick.
I'm not sure if the analogy holds, but the difference might be similar to contemporary country versus an artist like Johnny Cash.
I fall asleep to silence, but there was a period where my wife would have a local classic rock station on and around 3 every morning, I swear I heard Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle" night after night.
I have NPR classical music running.
Quote from: jon daly on November 12, 2018, 07:28:37 PM
I'll add to kphoger's comments. Generally speaking, smooth jazz is slicker production-wise and more likely to use electronic or electro-acoustical instruments. I think that I know the difference when I hear it, but its hard to pin down. I'd say something about authenticity and rootsiness, but those are perhaps vaguer terms than slick.
I'm not sure if the analogy holds, but the difference might be similar to contemporary country versus an artist like Johnny Cash.
As far as sound goes, smooth jazz is to regular jazz what light rock is to classic rock. However, in terms of musicality, that analogy cannot be made.
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 12, 2018, 09:17:57 PM
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Rain is a relatively constant noise compared to music of any type.
However, the metal buckets hitting the roof...
In years past, I would listen to the local country station that would usually have an Indians/Browns/Cavs (loved listening to Joe Tait!) game on, or it would be "Costas Coast to Coast" on Sunday nights. But when a team wasn't playing, it was country music. I quit that when I went to college because I knew a roommate would likely not listen to the radio. In recent years, I've tried falling asleep to smooth jazz when I'm traveling, but I found myself focusing too much on the music and would still have trouble falling asleep.
Quote from: hbelkins on November 12, 2018, 02:22:30 PM
I'd rather have a fan on with a constant tone vs. something with changing volumes and tones.
This. About 7 years ago we moved into a house with no central air and would have a box fan on throughout the day and into the night to somewhat cool the house. The first night we didn't need the fans, it was way too quiet. We turned them back on and have slept with box fans on ever since, no matter the temperature, to help us sleep.
Quote from: 1 on November 12, 2018, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 12, 2018, 09:17:57 PM
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Rain is a relatively constant noise compared to music of any type.
However, the metal buckets hitting the roof...
Don't knock it till you've tried it.
I had a period of insomnia during my high school years, so I would listen to the radio frequently to fall asleep. Most times I'd listen to a playlist and usually by the 3rd song I'd be passed out
I've now lost enough weight that I shouldn't need to treat my sleep apnea with a CPAP anymore, and may be able to get away with using a mouth guard instead (I have to have another sleep study early next year before a decision can be made), but I've stopped using the CPAP in the meantime, and I am having trouble falling asleep without the white noise generated by the machine.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on November 11, 2018, 07:44:05 PM
I used to listen to smooth jazz CD 101.9 back when I was starting to grow up. That was in the mid-2000s. My dad used to listen to 102.7 WNEW between 1968 when it had just become a progressive rock station and when it started to lose out to its competitors in 1979 due to disco, new wave, and alternative music. What radio station did you use to listen to (or still listen to) at bedtime in order to fall asleep?
Funny you should mention that, because I used to like WNUA 95.5, the Smooth Jazz station in Chicago; before that, my go-to station was WLS-AM 890, before it went news/talk. Nowadays, my wife and I will use Warm 106.9, the "lite rock" station in Seattle and home station for the Delilah show (WLIT 93.9 Lite FM in Chicago is similar), to go to sleep.
Music plays when I need something to distract a churning brain, otherwise I leave it off. When younger I would almost always have the radio playing the Top 40. Today it is Music Choice (on cable) or a local golden oldies station. My paternal grandmother loved to listen to KGO (talk radio) at night. No one else in our family played a radio at night besides us two.
Rick
IANAE, but it seems like smooth jazz doesn't swing as much as rough jazz; syncopation is less of a factor.
Quote from: US71 on November 12, 2018, 07:35:47 PM
I have NPR classical music running.
Or you could listen to the dry, droll delivery of NPR commentators. Not much different. One of the reasons I don't care much for NPR (among many LOL) is that their hosts rarely show any emotion or passion.
Quote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2018, 01:08:00 PM
Quote from: US71 on November 12, 2018, 07:35:47 PM
I have NPR classical music running.
Or you could listen to the dry, droll delivery of NPR commentators. Not much different. One of the reasons I don't care much for NPR (among many LOL) is that their hosts rarely show any emotion or passion.
Just the facts without the hyperbole. As a former newsman surely you understand that?
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 06:53:41 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 12, 2018, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 12, 2018, 09:17:57 PM
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Rain is a relatively constant noise compared to music of any type.
However, the metal buckets hitting the roof...
Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Rain on a tin roof is LOUD; have you ever had to sleep through that? Even rain on plastic window well covers is loud enough to keep me awake sometimes.
The house style of "All Things Considers" grates me sometimes. In particular,I'm not sure I like the informal casualness between the anchors and expert commentators. It doesn't seem news-like.
"Hey there, expert."
"Hey."
I will listen to the top or the bottom of the hour news update and meld it with a commercial station one to get a better picture of what's going on in the world, but a lot of what is newsworthy from day to day won't become major history.
Quote from: US71 on November 13, 2018, 01:19:21 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 13, 2018, 01:08:00 PM
Quote from: US71 on November 12, 2018, 07:35:47 PM
I have NPR classical music running.
Or you could listen to the dry, droll delivery of NPR commentators. Not much different. One of the reasons I don't care much for NPR (among many LOL) is that their hosts rarely show any emotion or passion.
Just the facts without the hyperbole. As a former newsman surely you understand that?
Yeah, I'll take my news stories without large shows of emotion, please.
Quote from: kphoger on November 13, 2018, 02:07:47 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 06:53:41 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 12, 2018, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 12, 2018, 09:17:57 PM
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Rain is a relatively constant noise compared to music of any type.
However, the metal buckets hitting the roof...
Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Rain on a tin roof is LOUD; have you ever had to sleep through that? Even rain on plastic window well covers is loud enough to keep me awake sometimes.
We have a Plexiglas(?)-covered skylight, and that's the loudest I've ever heard - it sounds like it's raining in the house. This was a little quieter. But so, so soothing.
You wouldn't want a tin roof in a rainy climate anyway. That's how you end up with a tin roof...rusted.
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 02:34:21 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 13, 2018, 02:07:47 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 06:53:41 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 12, 2018, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 12, 2018, 09:17:57 PM
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Rain is a relatively constant noise compared to music of any type.
However, the metal buckets hitting the roof...
Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Rain on a tin roof is LOUD; have you ever had to sleep through that? Even rain on plastic window well covers is loud enough to keep me awake sometimes.
We have a Plexiglas(?)-covered skylight, and that's the loudest I've ever heard - it sounds like it's raining in the house. This was a little quieter. But so, so soothing.
You wouldn't want a tin roof in a rainy climate anyway. That's how you end up with a tin roof...rusted.
When I've slept under a tin roof (northern Mexico), it wasn't in a rainy climate–but that doesn't mean it never rains there. When a rainstorm does come through, it's anything but soothing.
I used to have a roommate who grew up in Mexico City. When he was little, they lived in a house with a tin roof, but then they moved into a house with a concrete roof. He remembers arguing with his brother in the new house, because his brother told him it was raining outside. He refused to believe it was raining outside because he couldn't hear any rain on the roof from inside the house.
Quote from: kphoger on November 13, 2018, 03:02:20 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 02:34:21 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 13, 2018, 02:07:47 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 06:53:41 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 12, 2018, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 12, 2018, 09:17:57 PM
I was in Austin last night, in a bedroom under a flat roof, and it was pouring buckets. Slept like a log.
Rain is a relatively constant noise compared to music of any type.
However, the metal buckets hitting the roof...
Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Rain on a tin roof is LOUD; have you ever had to sleep through that? Even rain on plastic window well covers is loud enough to keep me awake sometimes.
We have a Plexiglas(?)-covered skylight, and that's the loudest I've ever heard - it sounds like it's raining in the house. This was a little quieter. But so, so soothing.
You wouldn't want a tin roof in a rainy climate anyway. That's how you end up with a tin roof...rusted.
When I've slept under a tin roof (northern Mexico), it wasn't in a rainy climate–but that doesn't mean it never rains there. When a rainstorm does come through, it's anything but soothing.
Have you ever had a B-52 go over your head before? :P
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 14, 2018, 07:46:36 AM
Have you ever had a B-52 go over your head before? :P
During the annual air show here in Wichita (home of McConnell AFB), it's always roll of the dice if the kids will be awakened from their nap by the jets screaming by overhead. I swear, some kids can sleep through anything, though.
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 14, 2018, 07:46:36 AM
Have you ever had a B-52 go over your head before? :P
I live near an airport, so I get to hear the National Guard when they are out on maneuvers.
Quote from: kphoger on November 14, 2018, 01:08:57 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 14, 2018, 07:46:36 AM
Have you ever had a B-52 go over your head before? :P
During the annual air show here in Wichita (home of McConnell AFB), it's always roll of the dice if the kids will be awakened from their nap by the jets screaming by overhead. I swear, some kids can sleep through anything, though.
So glad we live too far north for this to be a concern during next year's Air and Water Show...
I listen to NPR or BBC I keep the volume just loud enough to understand. I can usually set the timer for an nour & it turns off.
I can't set timers for things to turn off because I will be anticipating said object deactivating itself instead of focusing on sleep.
I've had a radio to go to sleep since I was 7 years old. It was music when I was kid (rock, classical, country, I tried it all), but since I was 11 or 12, it's been "talk radio" since. By talk radio, I mean news broadcasts, old radio serials, but mostly sports talk for the last 30 years.
Quote from: allniter89 on November 14, 2018, 08:10:38 PM
I listen to NPR or BBC I keep the volume just loud enough to understand. I can usually set the timer for an nour & it turns off.
NPR/ Beethoven Radio Network
Classical music, or just white noise. I'm always happy to have the sound of a fan running somewhere.
I can often lie awake wired unable to go to sleep. And then when I want to actually listen to LA Theater Works, I fall asleep. I can tell I've fallen asleep because suddenly the plot doesn't make any sense.
I grew up in a very rural area. Loved falling asleep to the crickets, amphibians and wind, with the occasional coyote or owl. As a young adult I would listen to classical - but then then local NPR affiliate changed format and started playing jazz at night instead, which I did not find relaxing. Used a box fan for many years as white noise, especially while working night shift.
Now I tend to play audio books, podcasts or Netflix - familiar shows that I can just listen to, not usually something new to me while in bed. I do like to set a timer or to have the app set to play the feature and stop. If I wake up in the night, I just start the next episode....
Quote from: US 81 on November 19, 2018, 10:42:54 AM
I grew up in a very rural area. Loved falling asleep to the crickets, amphibians and wind, with the occasional coyote or owl.
The absolute worst is donkeys in heat. Had to try and sleep through that for three nights in a row a couple of years ago.
Quote from: kphoger on November 19, 2018, 01:54:02 PM
Quote from: US 81 on November 19, 2018, 10:42:54 AM
I grew up in a very rural area. Loved falling asleep to the crickets, amphibians and wind, with the occasional coyote or owl.
The absolute worst is donkeys in heat. Had to try and sleep through that for three nights in a row a couple of years ago.
Ever live with a cat in heat?
Quote from: roadman on December 06, 2018, 10:40:10 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 19, 2018, 01:54:02 PM
Quote from: US 81 on November 19, 2018, 10:42:54 AM
I grew up in a very rural area. Loved falling asleep to the crickets, amphibians and wind, with the occasional coyote or owl.
The absolute worst is donkeys in heat. Had to try and sleep through that for three nights in a row a couple of years ago.
Ever live with a cat in heat?
I've heard stray cats in heat. Donkeys in heat have to be worse.
Quote from: roadman on December 06, 2018, 10:40:10 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 19, 2018, 01:54:02 PM
Quote from: US 81 on November 19, 2018, 10:42:54 AM
I grew up in a very rural area. Loved falling asleep to the crickets, amphibians and wind, with the occasional coyote or owl.
The absolute worst is donkeys in heat. Had to try and sleep through that for three nights in a row a couple of years ago.
Ever live with a cat in heat?
At the last house we lived in, the previous tenant must have either had a cat and left it or been feeding a stray cat. When we moved in, the cat hung around the house and meowed all the time. So we decided to put something out for her to eat and drink every so often, and she just kept staying around the house. Then we found out she hadn't been spayed, because she went into heat and began caterwauling on the sidewalk at all hours. We then decided to take for a little drive out to the country. We dropped her off in a spot between three farmhouses, hoping she might find a new place to live. Then we drove the 20 miles back home again, only to find...... another cat that looked just like her in the dark, sitting on the front porch. For a second, we couldn't figure out how she'd beaten us home.
Quote from: abefroman329 on December 06, 2018, 11:21:35 AM
Donkeys in heat have to be worse.
The difference in volume is no contest.
I used to battle insomnia a few years ago, but I have now been on a psychiatric medication that induces drowsiness right after I take it, so I no longer have to worry about not being able to fall asleep at night. I take it every night before bed, and I am knocked out for a several good hours. Back when I had insomnia, I never knew what quite to do to make it any easier to get to sleep, so I never tried listening to radio or anything, although I may should have.
Four years ago back in 9th Grade, I pulled an all-nighter as a result of strenuous schoolwork; that afternoon when I got back home from school, I lied down in bed and listened to "My Sweet Lady" by John Denver (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6VY0xciiks) on my phone. I unintentionally fell asleep (this was around 4:00), and I did not wake up until 12:00 A.M. (since my parents and brother were busy away from home that evening). Since the song was on repeat, and my phone was charging, it was still playing when I woke up that night.
I don't have a fan in my own room, but whenever I have slept over at friends' houses (many of whose rooms would have fans), I would always find it very relaxing, calming, and nice to fall asleep with a fan going.
Quote from: hbelkins on November 12, 2018, 02:22:30 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on November 11, 2018, 07:44:05 PM
smooth jazz
What's the difference between smooth jazz and regular jazz?
IIRC, along with what everyone else has said, Smooth Jazz is a genre of music that is a mixture of the genres of Jazz Fusion (a blend of jazz, rock, funk, and more) and Easy Listening music (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_listening). It does have a more polished feel than regular jazz, as noted, and it is also a much more recent (contemporary) development than regular jazz, which has been around for quite a while now (perhaps a century or more).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPxVMpeVRGI