Deb Bartel

HR and Marketing Director, East Wisconsin Savings Bank

This week Deb Bartel, of East Wisconsin Savings Bank (an Avenue supporting partner and Listening Room sponsor), shares a peek at her playlist. Like most Avenue listeners, Deb’s music tastes are wide-ranging. Also like most Avenue listeners, her passion for music is obvious! Take a look.

“I love music. I love the stories and inspiration behind a song, love to learn about musicians, and I love to sing. As far as what I listen to – I split my time between several different genres of music based on where I am and who I'm with. 

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“I’ll start off with a music confession: Sunday mornings I love to listen to a polka show that’s on a local radio station close to where I live! It drives my husband nuts, but it’s just too much fun to listen to. Especially if we’re on our Harley! (I also make him listen to Patsy Cline on the bike, and reassure him that all bikers love Patsy).”
Patsy Cline Crazy https://youtu.be/6QEDb3xzdec

“Throughout the week, I will listen to hard alternative rock. I'm a little over 50, and grew up with hair bands, but I really like newer hard rock (as long as it’s melodic). I don’t get into that angry roaring sound, but give me a hard rock band that has a slight melodic bent to it, and I’m all over that. One band that I go back to again and again is Staind, with lead singer Aaron Lewis. “Mudshovel” is such an amazing song, so much passion. He can tear a song apart, but then he can sing something like “Black” by Pearl Jam. I was a big hair girl in the 80s, and I really did NOT like grunge. But I can still remember exactly where I was when I heard Aaron Lewis sing “Black” – and I finally understood that song, and those lyrics, and almost had to pull over in my car, I was crying so hard (and became a huge Pearl Jam fan, right then and there). Go figure, because now Aaron sings country music. Which is good!”

Aaron Lewis “Black” https://youtu.be/JC6_WgraOBA

“I tend to listen to country while I’m working. I love country music. Not bro-country, or that crossover chick-country crap they call country these days. Gary Allan is one of my favorites. This man has had a difficult life, and those struggles come through in his music – you can feel that pain in his voice and his lyrics. “It Ain’t the Whiskey” is one of my favorites. He didn’t write it, but the story and his delivery are what I love about country music. I can’t wait to see him in a smaller venue in a few weeks, doing an acoustic show where he gets to talk about what went into his songs, or why he chose them.”

Gary Allan “It Ain’t the Whiskey” https://youtu.be/m3Xr67jp1Fo

“And of course if you’re talking about country music, you have to pay homage to Chris Stapleton. That man could sing the phone book and I’d cry. “Fire Away” and “Parachute" are two of my favorites - especially since they’re on my list of karaoke songs to rip into."
Chris Stapleton “Fire Away” https://youtu.be/ZI-aPHeUDlk

“Finally, I love revisiting my youth by listening to 70s classics. The Eagles, Dave Mason, Journey, Boston, Pablo Cruise, Ambrosia, Elton John, Firefall, Gary Wright, Little River Band, Gerry Rafferty, Heart, Fleetwood Mac – Love them all! Brings back memories of sleepovers, staying out until the streetlights came on, baby oil suntans, and spraying Sun-In in our hair!

“I need to go listen to some music…"

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What are YOU listening to? We’d love to hear! All that’s required is your love for music! Send your current playlist and a few words about it to listeningroom@avenueradio.com – you could be featured in The Listening Room!