tylercoates:

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I will be the first to admit that I indulge in a little Delilah when I’m back in the States. Leaving aside the music, which can be enjoyable in an Adult Contemporary sort of way, listening to her is like travelling to another planet of which she is the overlord and her audience are supplicants making their pilgrims’ progress. The songs she chooses for those lost souls that phone in only rarely relate to the quandaries they describe, or at least not in any way that is appropriate. The caller can be on the verge of tears, and the tune that queues up is as upbeat as you could ask. And yet people are usually too awed to ask for a tune of their choice; it’s always, ‘no, no, Delilah, you pick something that’ll speak to me’. As if they’ve finally realised one of their life goals. Which, ya know, maybe they have.

Once I was listening to Delilah and this woman called in and talked about how she was getting married and her brother was giving her away. She never had a relationship with her father, but her older brother was a mentor to her, or something. She asked Delilah for a song to play at the reception that would be appropriate for a brother/sister dance. Delilah picked “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong - I’m sure she put about two seconds of thought into that one. (I was really hoping for “Father Figure” by George Michael. Sigh.)

On the same episode, a woman called in with a story about how she was hoping her adoption of her foster child would go through. Delilah played “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash. As much as I like to poke fun at Delilah, I saw a goddamn rainbow when the chorus started. I swear to God.

 Dan makes fun of me for liking her, but Delilah is deep.  Her soothing words calm even the most distraught of callers.  And sometimes she plays the Backstreet Boys.  Shit can even bring tears to my eyes sometimes.