The buzz has been crazy ever since Starr FM announced its dawn with a crack line up of presenters representing the crème de la crème of Ghanaian radio personalities.
And the commencement of operation of the station on Monday was a big social event, marking the most anticipated radio station debut in our rich and illustrious media history.
Of all the big stars lining up for Starr FM, none was more eagerly anticipated than Bola Ray, with his Starr Drive show. Having built an impressive resume that rivals that of any radio host you can think of, there was a higher than normal interest in how Bola would kick off his show, and how he could make it unique to his new station, considering how long he had spent making Joy Fm’s drive show his own.
And so far the show has not disappointed, bringing carefully tailored content to ease the city’s drive time. With Bola Ray himself behind the wheel with his iconic voice, the three hour show simply blows you away. The combination of superb music, listener interaction, and those tiny little facts nonchalantly thrown your way by the host adds up to a deeply satisfying experience.
I know it didn’t feel like a three hour show to me, so fast did it pass by.
There are so many things about the Starr drive which makes me feel it would become the premiere Drive Time show within Accra. The strengths lie in the presentation (and the presenter), diversity of content, interactivity, and the music.
Oh God, the music. There was something in there for everyone, crossing genres and placed at great times too. The show kicks off with several cool numbers, designed as a soothing balm to get the listener into the mood for the incoming tornado that is the Starr Drive.
These great numbers were interspersed throughout the show at crucial junctures, sometimes punctuating the ongoing action in a way set to provide a balance between the talking and the music.
You cannot deny Bola Ray’s experience in setting the mood for his shows, and it was on full display during the Starr Drive we listened to on Monday and yesterday. The final hour sees local and continental tracks to see out the show.
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The meat of the show itself, the content, is tailor made for the drive time crowd. Considering the abundance of shows within the same time slot with the same purpose, the Starr Drive really must be unique to stand out. And they attempt to do that with segments such as the traffic report which from the response looked like a huge hit with the listeners.
Bola Ray kept on dropping these little known amazing facts throughout the show which really gave it an educational feel. I don’t know about you but I really enjoy hearing such trivia and enriching my sparse general knowledge library.
Also interspersed are the entertainment and sports segment, both presented by some of Starr Fm’s litany of stars. The big man showed off his versatility, engaging the hosts of both segments in challenging conversation, designed to make the segments much more interesting than just the delivery of news. Nothing new, but Bola Ray’s strong opinions livened up the segments and at times gave a different spin on the issues raised.