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In search of Doris Day on the new iHeartRadio app

The iHeartRadio Doris Day channel

The iHeartRadio Doris Day channel

I’m listening to Clear Channel’s new updated version of iHeartRadio, which allows you to create Pandora-like music channels. iHeart is pretty easy to access via your Facebook account. And if you overlook the annoyance that it requires you to ‘like’ it to get started, it’s a limited but reasonable application.

Once you’re logged in, you can create your own channels by picking artists, genres, or bands. I picked Doris Day (yes; I’m a Doris Day song fan). And the system kicked in with Day doing her great version of “My Secret Love.”

Excellent choice. Alas—I was hoping for a few more Doris Day tunes. Instead I next got Dean Martin crooning “Ain’t that a kick in the head,” followed by Andy Williams singing “Moon River.”

I like the Martin song. As for Williams, that was an actual kick in the head, as far as I was concerned. To add insult to injury, the Clear Channel database followed that with Bing Crosby warbling “I’ll be home for Christmas.” That was it for me. I went back to the home page to try again.

Next I tried the app’s new classical channel. I got a performance of Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances for violin and piano, which was a great opening choice. I should note that iHeart’s sound is truly excellent. Really fine tone for everything I listened to. And the classical channel was commercial free (let’s see how long that lasts). The Bartok was followed by Schumann’s Fourth Symphony. Another fine pick.

But I really wanted to hear another Doris Day piece, so I went back to that channel. A good selection came up: June Christy singing “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” followed by an Eartha Kitt tune: “Ushaka Dara—A Old Turkish Tale.” But no Doris.

Anyway, your iHeartRadio channels come with three parameters: “Familiar artists,” “More discovery,” or a combination of the two. You can make Facebook comments about the songs; like them; dislike them; do all the various things that Pandora lets you do. There are a variety of preset channels: 80s & 90s; Classic Rock; Reggae; no big shockers here.

Will the new iHeart take off? The critics will doubtless cry too little, too late. But it isn’t a bad app. Comes in iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberry.

I’m wrapping up this review and still listening. In comes another Dean Martin tune: “Catch a falling star.” Nice, but couldn’t we get Day doing “Que Sera Sera”?

Nope. Instead it’s Rosemary Clooney singing “This ‘Ol House.” Ok. I’m outta here.

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