In the 21st century, we live in a digital world and all radio shows are being digitalized. Three decades ago, however, radio broadcasts used the analog system. For the HelloMyfriends Website, we have digitalized the 30-year old cassettes with some of Andrei’s shows.
Let’s see how Andrei produced his shows. He would select the most popular songs or latest hits of the well-known bands and would write his script for the Tuesday show…in English! He would later include songs his listeners in Romania requested in their letters. Then, together with the producer of the show, Adriana Melnic, he would translate the script into Romanian. There were no desktops or laptops at that time, so Andrei would handwrite the scripts – the old-fashioned way! His old friends in Romania can see Andrei was using sheets from his school notebooks, just like the paper his fans used to write their letters. Take a peek at the scan to the right!
In his room, Andrei would do his school work and would write the scripts for the Tuesday shows – his peers at that time would be able to relate to the mess on his desk!
Let’s see how Andrei produced his shows. He would select the most popular songs or latest hits of the well-known bands and would write his script for the Tuesday show…in English! He would later include songs his listeners in Romania requested in their letters. Then, together with the producer of the show, Adriana Melnic, he would translate the script into Romanian. There were no desktops or laptops at that time, so Andrei would handwrite the scripts – the old-fashioned way! His old friends in Romania can see Andrei was using sheets from his school notebooks, just like the paper his fans used to write their letters. Take a peek at the scan to the right!
In his room, Andrei would do his school work and would write the scripts for the Tuesday shows – his peers at that time would be able to relate to the mess on his desk!
The scans on the right are the pages of show #7, when Andrei broadcast the songs Costin and Carmen had requested in their letter mailed from Bucharest.
In 1988, when Andrei launched the show on the VOA, the Romanian scripts were written on the typewriter. Here is to the right, the June 2, 1988, script. Closing the show, Andrei was telling his listeners in Romania that he was “taking the records to walk out of the studio.” So, there were no CDs at that time, just vinyl!
In their letters, the young rockers and metalists thanked Andrei for the news and information about the concerts of their favorite bands. The July 21, 1989, show started on a personal note: Andrei had turned 18 on July 10 and told his radio friends he had received an invitation and backstage pass to the Bon Jovi/Skid Row on July 11.
You will find to the right the original script in English, covering several segments of Bon Jovi’s concert.
We managed to find in the archive the Romanian version of the show, as it was broadcast on July 21, 1989 [see the scan to the right].
You will find to the right the original script in English, covering several segments of Bon Jovi’s concert.
We managed to find in the archive the Romanian version of the show, as it was broadcast on July 21, 1989 [see the scan to the right].
The fans of Andrei’s rock & roll and heavy metal show learned about the successful Peace Festival in Moscow, August 12-13, 1989, from their DJ friend. Please click to the left to read the English version of the show when Andrei described in detail the event, sponsored by the Make a Difference Foundation Against Drugs and Alcohol. At the end of the show, Andrei said, “The driving force behind the whole idea of the Moscow Peace Festival was New Jersey’s Bon Jovi. When they hit the stage, it was obvious that, even in the Soviet Union, Jon Bon Jovi and Company were WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE.”
We found scattered in the archive boxes some of Andrei’s notes with the listeners’ requests. We don’t know, however, whether the pictures, posters, and banners ever reached their destination.
We found scattered in the archive boxes some of Andrei’s notes with the listeners’ requests. We don’t know, however, whether the pictures, posters, and banners ever reached their destination.
In her letter of June 2, 1990, Medana acknowledged she had received Andrei’s response from the VOA, “it was an unexpected and pleasant surprise; I couldn’t believe my eyes!”
Medana was one of the participants in the radio contest Andrei launched in his May 1, 1990, show. The rockers and medalists enthusiastically welcomed the contest, and Andrei did his best to include friendly questions. At the end of each stage of this contest, Andrei would broadcast the names of the winners. Please click below to listen to the audio with the August 21, 1990, show.
Medana was one of the participants in the radio contest Andrei launched in his May 1, 1990, show. The rockers and medalists enthusiastically welcomed the contest, and Andrei did his best to include friendly questions. At the end of each stage of this contest, Andrei would broadcast the names of the winners. Please click below to listen to the audio with the August 21, 1990, show.
The contest was very popular, and many of the show loyal listeners sent letters with their responses. To the left, you can see the letter of May 15, 1990, sent by Emil, a.k.a. Blackie, “an eternal and immortal metalist from Tîrgu Mureș”…
…and Medana’s answers from July 4, 1990, in a letter that included her picture with the dedication “in friendship.”
…and Medana’s answers from July 4, 1990, in a letter that included her picture with the dedication “in friendship.”
“On May 16, 1990 (11:00 am), Wednesday,” Dan and Iuli sent their responses for the May 15, 1990, show. “For us, party time is 8 o’clock, not seven o’clock. Last night, it was the third song of the contest; it’s WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE from the album APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION of the band GUNS’N ROSES.”
Gabriel from Bucharest sent his responses to the May 22, 1990, show and reminded Andrei he hadn’t received the cassettes from KAGE (letter to the right).
Gabriel from Bucharest sent his responses to the May 22, 1990, show and reminded Andrei he hadn’t received the cassettes from KAGE (letter to the right).
Ștefan, a.k.a. Johnie Steve Jovi, sent his responses with “a metallic scream from the confluence of the Bistrița and the Siret rivers, from the city of Bacău.”
After three decades, we couldn’t find an answer to a legitimate question: why didn’t all the contest winners receive their award cassettes? Nevertheless, it is obvious that the participants’ enthusiasm and the winners’ joy transformed the contest into a spectacular platform in 1990, fulfilling the young people’s desire to communicate and to have their voices heard. You will find here a selection of the letters with responses to the rock and heavy metal contest launched on May 1, 1990.
After three decades, we couldn’t find an answer to a legitimate question: why didn’t all the contest winners receive their award cassettes? Nevertheless, it is obvious that the participants’ enthusiasm and the winners’ joy transformed the contest into a spectacular platform in 1990, fulfilling the young people’s desire to communicate and to have their voices heard. You will find here a selection of the letters with responses to the rock and heavy metal contest launched on May 1, 1990.
It was difficult for Andrei to say good-bye to his friends in Romania. He selected the songs and recorded the last rock & roll and heavy metal show that, unfortunately, was never broadcast. Twenty-five years later, you may see to the right the script of the last show that should have been broadcast on June 15, 1994.
To learn more about the Romanian-American teenager who managed to stir the enthusiasm of hundreds of young listeners in Romania in the late 1980s and early 1990s, please click here.
To learn more about the Romanian-American teenager who managed to stir the enthusiasm of hundreds of young listeners in Romania in the late 1980s and early 1990s, please click here.
