The R3-30
File:R330.jpg | |
Genre | indie record chart |
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Running time | 3 hours |
Country of origin | Canada |
Language(s) | English |
Home station | CBC Radio 3 |
Starring | Craig Norris |
Produced by | Pedro Mendes |
Original release | August 26, 2006 – present |
The R3-30 is a weekly record chart show on CBC Radio 3, which counts down the week's top indie rock singles as determined by airplay (top 30), listener feedback (Chartbreaker segment), and other criteria (Tastemaker segment). The show, hosted by Craig Norris and produced by Pedro Mendes, airs at noon Eastern time (9 a.m. Pacific time) Saturdays on CBC Radio 3, and is repeated at various times through the following week. The program also aired on Sunday mornings from midnight to 3 a.m. on CBC Radio Two until March 17, 2007. The final episode that aired on CBC Radio Two was the first and only live episode where listeners could call the show in real time.
The program was launched on August 26, 2006.
In addition to the show's weekly Top 30 charts, the show airs three "Chartbreakers" each week, songs not currently on the chart which are proposed by listeners. During the show's run on CBC Radio Two, the prize for pitching a song selected for the Chartbreaker segment was a satellite radio. Since March 17, 2007, the show is now heard primarily by listeners who already have a satellite radio, and accordingly the prize is a surprise pack (which may sometimes still be a satellite radio) determined by spinning the "Wheel of Freedom".
The show also occasionally includes a "Tastemaker" segment, in which a song not currently on the chart is proposed by a music blogger, a concert promoter or somebody else in the Canadian music industry. Unlike Chartbreakers, however, the Tastemaker segment does not air every week.
On the week of April 26, 2007, The R3-30 had its first episode without Craig Norris hosting. The episode featured former Brave New Waves host Brent Bambury as the special guest host while Norris was away. In August of 2007, Amanda Putz guest hosted two episodes of the program while Norris was on vacation.
Format
In addition to playing the charting and chartbreaking songs, one of the show's signatures is the comedic banter between Norris and Mendes, as well as the extensive use of audio clips and sound effects.
Each week, the show marks the week's fastest-rising song on the charts with a clip from "Movin' On Up", the theme song to the 1970s sitcom The Jeffersons, and the week's fastest-dropping song with a descending slide whistle tone. In early 2007, the show's use of the slide whistle resulted in a comedic on-air feud between Norris and the band Henri Fabergé and the Adorables.
A small choir of CBC Radio 3 employees sings each number, as well as occasional side comments, such as "songs are nice!" or "yet another collective!", which Norris and Mendes might play at random moments during the show. The network has also aired a comedic commercial promoting a (fictional) compilation album of these R3-30 choral comment jingles — including some, such as "does this look infected?", "you're dead to me!" and "are those new slacks?", which have never actually been used on the show.
A brief clip of Kool and the Gang's song "Celebration" is also played at random points during the show.
Podcast
The show is also now available as an hour long podcast for listeners who do not own a Sirius radio [1]. While the radio show plays all charting songs, the podcast names the whole list, but in order to keep the podcast to one hour in length only certain songs are actually played.