Podcasts about music
Do you like music? How about podcasts? Well, allow me to introduce you to podcasts about music! *jazz hands* The only kind of podcast I listen to at normal, 1x speed… These episodes span a few years and a few genres, but all of them were fascinating enough to leave lasting impressions. Read on for an overview of the collection, and click here for the link to the Spotify playlist of all the episodes mentioned below. (Yep, it’s a multimedia operation here, folks!)
In terms of “podcasts about music,” it doesn’t get more straightforward than Song Exploder, where artists (and producers and musicians) break down the stories of how their songs came together.
Song Exploder: Vampire Weekend, “Harmony Hall”
If you needed more proof that Ezra Koenig is a musical genius, look no further. Just a delightful stroll through his magpie mind.
Song Exploder: HAIM, “Summer Girl”
A song I had heard many, many times, but never listened to. A wonderful transformation of something familiar into something known.
My favorite kind of podcast is the kind where smart people talk about something they know way more about than me. In this case it’s songwriting and musicology, and it’s Switched on Pop.
Switched on Pop: “The Puzzle of Ariana Grande’s ‘Into You’”
This was like watching someone open the hood of a car and know exactly what everything does. These guys decoded this seemingly simple song and proved its actual complexity. Blew my mind. Not unlike Ariana’s vocals. (Note: Weirdly not available on Spotify, but you’ll find it on Apple Podcasts and Overcast.)
Switched on Pop: “Carly Rae Jepsen (Meeting the Muse)”
The most adorable interview in which two middle-aged men turn into enormous fangirls. Carly Rae is a true songwriter, and hearing her talk shop with real fans is a delight.
Switched on Pop: THE 5TH mini series
BUH-BUH-BUH-BUUUHHHHH. Did you hear it in your head? The four most famous notes in all of music? This mini-series dove deep into why Beethoven’s 5th is so ubiquitous in our culture, analyzed it in full, and critiqued its place in classical (and popular!) music, past and present.
Switched on Pop: “Made in America (Toby Keith & Jay-Z)”
This was the episode that introduced me to this podcast. (Shout out to Taylor!) A fascinating examination of dueling visions of this country through these two songs, both released in 2011, both titled “Made in America.”
Single episodes about music from podcasts that aren’t exactly about music
Revisionist History: “Analysis, Parapraxis, Elvis”
Malcolm Gladwell tries to answer the question of why there was one song that Elvis Presley could never quite sing correctly… Special appearance by Jack White in this episode.
Still Processing: “We Get Bodied Talking Jay-Z and Beyoncé”
This podcast episode is over 4 years old, but it lives rent-free in my head. Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris at the New York Times examine Jay-Z’s then-brand-new album 4:44 through the lens of the then-year-old Beyoncé album Lemonade. An analysis of their marriage, their careers, and how symbolism and numerology play into their performances of both marriage and stardom.
1619 Project: “The Birth of American Music” (Ep. 3)
Another Wesley Lowery appearance in this amazing installment of the 1619 project (and you should really listen to the whole series!). And I don’t know if I can sum it up more succinctly than the tag line itself: “For centuries, black music has been an expression of artistic freedom. No wonder everybody is always stealing it.”
Las Culturistas: “Queers Together!” with Justin Tranter
Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, kings of culture that they are, knew exactly what questions to ask and deep-cut songs to bring up with Justin Tranter, who’s been on songwriting teams for so many pop hits… Such a fun interview with someone who’s been in the room (and the stage!) where it happens.
Las Culturistas: “TAYLOR/TAYLA”
And another Matt and Bowen appearance here, because no one had a better and more fun-to-listen-to review of folklore than the Las Cultch duo. (And I listened to several.) This is a hilarious track-by-track celebration of the album, plus some very astute analysis of the unfurling career of Taylor Swift. (Or “Tayla Swiff.” Depending on the year.) Bonus shout out to the follow-up episode they did for evermore a few months later. (“SWIFT/SWIFF.”)
Reply All: “The Case of the Missing Hit”
This spring’s RA/Gimlet reckoning notwithstanding, I will still tell anyone who will listen that this one hour of podcast audio was perhaps the most satisfying and pleasant thing I’ve ever heard… If you’ve ever had a song stuck in your head that you couldn’t quite identify, this one’s for you.
And now, an encore: click here for the Spotify playlist.