Casey Kasem and the Comfortably Creepy Side of Nostalgia

Every Saturday morning, my local radio station has been beaming me straight back to the 1980s by rebroadcasting Casey Kasem’s American Top 40.

At first, I thought: Fun! But by song three, I started wondering if I had accidentally stepped into a wormhole. Because here’s the thing: this isn’t just a throwback playlist. This is the actual countdown from, say, May 10 1984. And it sounds like Casey, who died in 2014, had just recorded it yesterday.

Explaining Casey Kasem to the Kids of Today

Before Spotify's Top 50, before TikTok virality, there was one man on the radio telling us what the hottest pop songs were. He dropped trivia about the songs and artists throughout the show, and made you care about the #1 song like it was breaking news.

The "Long Distance Dedication" was a hugely popular segment on the show, in which Casey read emotionally charged (and often tear-jerking) letters from listeners who needed a shout-out to someone they couldn't reach by landline.

(Fun fact: Casey was also the voice of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. So yes, that man announcing Elton John’s chart position was also saying, “Like, zoinks, Scoob!”)

Perfectly Preserved Time Capsule

The rebroadcasts don’t wink at you with nostalgia — they just play like it’s still happening right now. It’s like tuning into a parallel dimension where Prince is still climbing the charts, Ronald Reagan is still president, and your biggest problem is rewinding a cassette tape.

Listening to Casey say, “Here’s a brand new hit from Madonna!” feels surreal — because Madonna hasn’t been “brand new” since shoulder pads were in their first life cycle.

Casey’s Voice Is Comforting… and Slightly Ghostly

Casey Kasem’s sign-off — “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars” — still lands like a warm hug. But there’s a bittersweet edge knowing he’s no longer with us.

It’s like hearing a friendly ghost who shows up once a week just to make sure you’re okay — and to remind you that Hall & Oates are at #2 with “Out of Touch.”

Nostalgia That Feels a Little Too Real

The right song can teleport you back to your first Walkman, the mall food court, or that time you got sunburned at the water park. The countdown makes those memories so vivid it’s almost disorienting — like you just stepped into a time machine without meaning to.

You catch yourself thinking, Wait, did I do my algebra homework?

A Reminder of How Fast Time Moves

Hearing U2 introduced as “an exciting new band from Ireland” is the kind of thing that makes you glance at your own reflection and go, “Oh no. I am the target audience for moisturizer commercials now.”

It’s funny and jarring at the same time — like music history reminding you how quickly “up-and-coming artist” turns into “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.”

Imagining Casey Handling Today’s Top 40

I couldn't help but wondering: what if Casey Kasem, the most wholesome voice in radio, were still here, trying to count down today’s chart-toppers?

On Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion:
“Coming in at number three is… well, a song about hydration and confidence. Let’s leave it at that.”

On 75% of the other songs:
“At number seven, here’s a track where I can’t say the title — or the chorus — but the beat is so good, folks, you’ll be dancing before you even Google what those lyrics mean.”

On TikTok Hits:
“This one got big because people make sandwiches to it on TikTok. Sorry folks, I don’t make the rules.”

And those heartfelt long-distance dedications?

“This one comes from Amber in Miami. She writes: Dear Casey, please play Good Luck, Babe so my ex sees my Instagram story and knows I’m thriving. Also, tell her she still owes me $47 for gas money.”

The Fun of Being Gently Haunted

In the end, what makes these old countdowns so special is that they’re not just nostalgic playlists. They’re living, breathing pieces of pop culture history that let you time-travel for a few hours.

Yes, it’s a little creepy. But it’s also comforting — like the universe giving you a weekly reminder that your younger self is still in there somewhere, probably wearing jelly shoes and lip-syncing into a hairbrush.