Yesterday

IV. Take It to the Bridge (ft. Tayla Parx)

Bridges open up the world of a song: they're a breath of fresh air and a point of contrast, typically delivered right before the final chorus. But sometimes they accomplish even more, changing the whole meaning of a song by introducing a note of doubt, or even defiance. This is w ... Show More

42m 16s

Jul 28

III. Preaching to the Chorus (ft. Cypress Hill and Trevor Horn)

The chorus was once the part of the song that brought us together, the place we gathered to sing. Now it's the most engineered thirty seconds in music. Legendary producer Trevor Horn and hip-hop icon B-Real of Cypress Hill help Charlie and Nate answer the question on their minds: ... Show More

50m 19s

Jul 21

II. Justice for the verse (ft. Audrey Hobert)

Everybody sings the chorus, but superfans quote the verse. On this episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate trace the verse from Shakespeare through opera to TikTok, and songwriter Audrey Hobert shares her philosophy of specific verses and anthemic choruses: you can't have th ... Show More

33m 44s

Nov 2022

Hugh Bonneville

<p>Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma - Melanie & Starman - David Bowie. Photo:Gavin Bond</p>

7m 9s

Nov 2016

The Star-Spangled Banner

America's national anthem was written by a lawyer, Francis Scott Key, after watching the British navy bombing Fort McHenry in 1814. It was set to an English social men's club song and recognized as the national anthem in 1889. Notoriously difficult to sing, and traditionally play ... Show More

27m 11s

Nov 2018

Rocky: the Music

Recorded in just three hours, this iconic score has been an inspiration to athletes all over the world for decades. We look at its creation, and how music is used to tell the story of a down-on-his luck athlete whose life changes forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m ... Show More

44m 45s

Feb 2025

All the Music News to Come Out of the Super Bowl

Nora and Nathan talk about everything music from the Super Bowl, including: Taylor Swift's time at the event and whether or not Travis Kelce might retire soon (1:21), Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance and how it compared to past halftime shows (30:00), and Lady Gaga's pre-gam ... Show More

56m 14s

Feb 2023

“Macarena”—Los del Rio

Rob looks back at the meteoric rise of “Macarena” and the song’s ability to get politicians to make a fool of themselves. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Leila Cobo Producers: Justin Sayles and Jonathan Kermah Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark Learn more about your ad choices. ... Show More

1h 14m

Dec 2024

Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Toby and Joe dive into Shaboozey's 2024 hit single, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," unpacking its clever interpolation of J-Kwon's "Tipsy" and its rise as a quintessential drinking anthem. They explore Shaboozey's evolution as an artist, his diverse music ... Show More

40m 51s

Mar 2022

The Sounds of Ukrainian Pop

A conversation about some of the country’s stars, the musical traditions they work within and how they have grappled with the war. Guest: Vogue's Liana Satenstein. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite p ... Show More

39m 59s

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

Jan 2019

America's Other Anthems

This week, we're uncovering the stories behind three American Anthems. First, we hear from two musical greats about their respective versions of "Fight the Power." Next, we learned about the transformation of the children's choir staple, "This Little Light of Mine." Finally, we t ... Show More

30m 32s

Mark Ronson: Funk Politics