In the United States, the East Coast and West Coast have rivalries across food, sports, music and more. But there’s another rivalry that’s less well known, but just as important. This standoff created sounds that were unlike anything that had been heard before. It redefined what a musical instrument could be. And it changed the sound of pop music forever. Fe ... Show More
Jul 13
Eurovision Song Contest: Inside the Gimmicks & Glamour
For millions of people, Eurovision is a cultural institution, and one of the biggest live television events on Earth. But for many Americans, it remains a complete mystery. In this episode, producer Andrew Anderson takes Dallas and Grace on a joyful crash course through the histo ... Show More
33m 56s
Jun 15
John Williams: A Composer’s Legacy
In our last episode, we followed composer John Williams from his childhood to his 1970s run with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Now, we pick up the story as John enters an era of seemingly impossible success… from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Schindle ... Show More
38m 51s
Jun 1
John Williams: A Composer’s Life
John Williams has written some of the most famous film scores ever, from Star Wars to Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park. But before the blockbuster success, there was a kid growing up around jazz musicians in New York, and a young composer trying to find his voice. In this episode, ... Show More
35m 37s
Nov 2020
From "YMCA" to "Fortunate Son," Inside The Trump Era's Weird Musical Battles
Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield join host Brian Hiatt to discuss cultural battles over music over the last four years, plus the best and worst protest songs, the future of music under Biden, and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
42m 55s
May 2020
Remembering Tony Allen and Florian Schneider, Two Pillars of Rhythm
Thousands of miles apart, and with radically different tools, both musicians were innovating. Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles; and Joseph Patel. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2021
How to Understand(and Enjoy!) Atonal Music, Part 2: The Wars of the 1950s
The 1950s featured a musical battle, pitting composers like Boulez, Carter, and Babbit against Bernstein, Copland, and Messaien. But how did the Post World War II movement towards total serialism and the avant-garde came about? And how did even the most forward thinking of artist ... Show More
46m 9s
Nov 2023
Debating the Best Songs of 2023, Part Two
Puja Patel, Jeremy D. Larson, and Ryan Dombal battle it out over some of their favorite songs of the year in various genres. Matchups include Troye Sivan’s “Rush” vs. NewJeans’ “Super Shy,” Wednesday’s “Chosen to Deserve” vs. Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire,” and Tinashe’s “Needs” vs ... Show More
38m 35s