The Verve, Bittersweet Symphony on WRIF?

[Colonel Flagg]

I was pleasantly surprised to hear this song on WRIF this afternoon, in between Bush, "Machine Head" and Skid Row, "18 And Life". How long has The Verve been in regular rotation on WRIF?

Sounds very AOR-ish.

[Colonel Flagg]

At least a few years; have heard the song on Riff many times.

Somehow, this has escaped me. Thanks.

[radioandtventhusiast]

It's not been in rotation constantly during that time, of course.

The station reset its song rotations recently, and this song is now being played more frequently than before.

Please don't hate me for saying this - but I think the song doesn't belong on WRIF.

It sounds weird to me on a rock station. I remember hearing it on the old 93.9 the River, and it was a better fit there, IMO.

[Ben Zonia]

Dayparting can significantly alter perceptions about a format. Depends on the demographics. If you're working while they play it, you might miss it.

[Mega Hertz]

It's weird to me, knowing it was something Riff wouldn't touch in 1997. I made mention of it a few years back on my Facebook the first time I heard it. It was a 96.3/93.9 song. But at least WRIF is trying to work in more Alternative/90s/early 00s songs that other supposed Alt-ernative stations don't play.

[BayCityJohn2337]

Does the RIFF play Nada Surf, Popular? Maybe that would just be too cool man!

[BayCityJohn2337]

WRIF I mean. Oops....

[Mega Hertz]

Does the RIFF play Nada Surf, Popular? Maybe that would just be too cool man!

I would literally shit my pants where I stood if I ever heard that song on 101. I haven't heard it on regular formatted FM radio since 1996.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

I heard it on the River all the Time. If WRIF is playing this sort of thing instead of continued butt rock, I guess I need to listen more again.

[JLesinski]

I'd agree it probably doesnt belong on there but that is why WRIF continues to kick ass and why WLLZ continues to tread water. This is how I imagine the decisions being made at each:

WRIF: "Lets mix it up a bit and throw this one at them!"
WLLZ: "How can we squeeze another song from 1969 into our playlist?"

[ChrisWL1980]

I agree with MW... it's a FAULT 98-7 "in between the Billie Eilish" type of song, not an active rock type of song. Honestly it fits better in between the Starship/Billy Joel WNIC crossover on WCSX than it does on WRIF.
I think the last time I heard "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was either on Ann Arbor's 107-1 or on the '90s version of Back Trax USA.

[thatonedude]

I was pleasantly surprised to hear this song on WRIF this afternoon, in between Bush, "Machine Head" and Skid Row, "18 And Life". How long has The Verve been in regular rotation on WRIF?

Sounds very AOR-ish.

I'm surprised they'd play that. I agree with MW...doesn't seem fitting for Riff.

At first I thought this was about the Verve Pipe. I haven't heard "The Freshmen" on the radio in quite a while.