Did you know the melody to the Star Spangled Banner was once a British drinking song? In preparation for the Super Bowl, we uncover how the national anthem has been co-opted and reinterpreted by mega pop-stars. Our understanding of how this song sounds has been shaped by sporting events and the spin pop artists put on it has altered our conception of the nat ... Show More
Apr 17
Maggie Rogers: going viral is a trap
Ten years ago, Maggie Rogers was a senior at NYU, scrambling to finish a song for a music production class she was close to failing. The guest critic that week happened to be Pharrell Williams. She played him "Alaska," a track she'd written in about fifteen minutes. It is a bit o ... Show More
37m 36s
Apr 14
Learning to Love Train: "Drops of Jupiter" is back in the atmosphere
Train is the kind of band that some people love to hate. Songs like "Meet Virginia" and "Hey Soul Sister" gave the band huge hits, and no small amount of snark. And then there's "Drops of Jupiter." Released in 2001, the song is almost impossible not to love, no matter how many ly ... Show More
47m 25s
Nov 2020
Afrobeats’ Global Takeover
Over the last several years, American listeners have grown more and more attuned to the sounds of West African pop music—also known as Afrobeats–whether it’s the swaggering Nigerian Afro-fusion of Burna Boy, the playfully genre-bending anthems of Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae, ... Show More
51m 9s
Mar 2021
March 10th - Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak's Silk Sonic Added to Grammy Line-Up, Beyoncé's Supportive Message to Meghan Markle & U.S. Congress' #FreeBritney Request
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak get their Grammy wish, the United States Congress attempts to intervene in the #FreeBritney movement and Beyoncé sends Meghan Markle a special message. This is Billboard News Now, rounding out the top music news for Wednesday, March 10th. Learn more ... Show More
3m 35s
May 2011
Country Music : World War II
Country Hits from the war years. Songs include: There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere, Roses in the Snow, Born to Lose, Banjo Pickin Girl and Night Train to Memphis. Performers include: Roy Acuff, Cindy Walker, Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, Cowboy Copas and the Coon Creek Gir ... Show More
42m 40s
Feb 2021
BIG ENCHILADA 152: Murder Hornet Melodies
It’s been almost a year since we were warned about the evil murder hornets about to invade, stinging us, murdering us and stealing our daughters. It never happened. … just as the evil hornet masters wanted. And now that nobody seems worried about the impending buzzing onslaught, ... Show More
1 h