But there was more. Once I switched to the short-wave bands, the whole world opened up to me. Exotic music that intrigued me and strange languages that I didn't understand made for intoxicati
ng listening. I especially enjoyed some of the broadcasts from Spanish-language stations, because even if I didn't understand the announcers I loved the music.
And finally I discovered Radio Moscow, which at that time was making regular, powerful broadcasts in English. They had newscasts (with definite slants to them) and a lot of classical music, probably mostly Russian composers. It was the height of the Cold War, so I was intrigued but also felt a little guilty — almost as if I was somehow being disloyal. And even beyond that, I wondered if their propaganda might somehow - well - brainwash me.
I don't think I seriously believed that, but I was pretty unsophisticated so it's not that far-fetched that the thought would have crossed my mind, especially in that era. But if any brainwashing actually occurred, it was probably the kind that helped open my eyes to classical music. I can still remember relaxing in bed late at night, headphones in place, listening to something like Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."
It wasn't my first exposure to the classics - my Dad had a few classical records - but it helped make the music a little "cooler" in my eyes, and to a teenager that's everything. As for the verbal parts of Radio Moscow, I usually would change stations when the music ended — that newscast bored me.
But the use of propaganda in broadcasting was - and is - a reality, and the medium has also had a history of being used by the intelligence agencies of countries to communicate with their agents. The Conet Project was formed just to explore that concept and it's fascinating stuff. Oh and by the way — I never did manage to pass that FCC test and become a ham.
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