Burt's Eye View: One clever DJ

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Burt Ross,

Many decades ago, long before I was married, a girlfriend and I were listening to some of our favorite music on the radio. A female vocalist sang a beautiful ditty, and my date said something to the e ect of “Melanie sure can sing.” Far be it from me to let a glaring mistake go unchallenged. “ at was not Melanie. at was Bu y Sainte-Marie,” I corrected her.

An argument ensued with each of us doubling down on our opinion as to which female vocalist had sung

Contributed Column the song. As is always the case, I knew I was right, and unfortunately, my female friend was equally sure of her position. To her credit, she came up with an intelligent way of nding out the truth. “Let me call the disc jockey, and then we will know for certain,” she proposed. at solution was the only thing we agreed on all night. She phoned the disc jockey, and I heard her explain our two positions rather clearly. en I was saddened to see a smile emerge on her face as she handed me the phone, “ e disc jockey wants to tell you himself.” I picked up the phone expecting to hear the words I dreaded, “ e young woman is correct. at was Melanie,” but instead I heard con rmation of my position, “You are absolutely correct. e singer was Bu y Sainte-Marie.” I had won again. e sweet taste of victory! I hung up the phone and with a bit of condescension declared, “Now do you believe me?” Her reaction was not what I expected. “What are you talking about? I was right,” she announced. Confusion ruled and pretty soon we were in a heated argument, each apparently having heard con rmation of our positions from the disc jockey.

Just as our disagreement reached its peak, we heard the disc jockey laughing over the radio. “ ere’s a couple somewhere in New Jersey who are having a hell of a ght,” he explained. He had intentionally told each of us exactly what we wanted to hear and knew what would ensue.

By the way, we never did nd out who sang that song, but I bet I was right all along.