Pop Culture Podcast
Music
Popspotting #218: “Coverspotting” (March 7, 2012)
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We’re long overdue for another music show. And it’s been over five months since we’ve shared some of our favorite cover songs. So for Wildcard Wednesday, we count down five more great examples of talented artists reinterpreting the work of their fellow musicmakers.
Jen’s Picks:
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Antony and the Johnsons (orig. Bob Dylan)
- “I Want You Back” by The Civil Wars (orig. Jackson Five)
- “Sea of Love” by Cat Power (orig. Phil Phillips)
- “Summer Breeze” by The Isley Brothers (orig. Seals and Crofts)
- “Rolling In the Deep” by Linkin Park (orig. Adele)
Ryan’s Picks:
- “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by David Byrne (orig. Whitney Houston)
- “Zoo Station” by Nine Inch Nails (orig. U2)
- “The Scientist” by Natasha Bedingfield (orig. Coldplay)
- “Simple Twist of Fate” by Concrete Blonde (orig. Bob Dylan)
- “Lovesong” by Adele (orig. The Cure)
Popspotting #193: “Songs of 1992″ (Jan. 11, 2012)
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A high school reunion invitation prompts us to recall where we were and what we were listening to twenty years ago. This Wildcard Wednesday features five favorite songs each from 1992. That year, NASA’s space shuttle Endeavor saw its first flight, Apple released the the Newton PDA, and Disney’s “Aladdin” was tops at the box office. Jen’s picks include tracks by U2, Sade, and the Black Crowes, and Ryan highlights songs from the Indigo Girls, Sublime, and The Cure.
Popspotting #188: “Best of 2011” (Jan. 4, 2012)
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Before charging into the new year, we take a look back at the year that was. A “year in review” show is, perhaps, cliche, but 2011 was a good year for pop culture, and most certainly a special year for Popspotting. We saw more movies, watched more TV, tried more new music than ever before, as a result of having the pleasure of putting out this podcast, and the benefit of many wonderful and thoughtful listeners.
Today we recount the best movies and new television shows of 2011 (and touch on the upcoming Golden Globes), as well as share our favorite music, book, and app picks. And we’d really like to hear what you would crown as the “Best of 2011″!
Popspotting #183: “Favorite Holiday Tunes” (Dec. 21, 2011)
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Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we? Yes, it’s the first Popspotting holiday special. While Jimmy in Georgia suggested we count down our favorite Christmas movies or TV specials, we decided to go down the musical route with five picks each of holiday songs that don’t drive us crazy. These aren’t our all-time favorites (and could very well be on your musical blacklist), but as we wrap presents and wrap up 2011, these ten songs are in high rotation in our household.
What Christmas songs make you jolly? And which ones make you want to run someone over with a reindeer?
Popspotting #168: “Favorite Musicals” (Nov. 23, 2011)
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Music is once again the focus of Wildcard Wednesday, but thanks to a suggestion from Daniel in Boston, there’s a twist: He challenges us to name our favorite Broadway shows. While we’re not experts in the world of musicals, we do love showtunes, and give the topic our best shot. A lot of obvious picks, perhaps, but with stories that illustrate why we feel a personal connection to each.
Do you know Broadway? Are you embarrassed for us, choosing such pedestrian fare? Well, we urge you to enlighten us! We probably won’t make it out to New York or London any time soon, but we’d still love to know what shows you think we need to know.
Popspotting #163: Songs of 1974 (Nov. 16, 2011)
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Turnabout is fair play. After celebrating Jen’s tenth 29th birthday in August with a countdown of her favorite songs of 1972, this week we both share five picks each for great songs of 1974.
Jen’s picks:
- “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight & The Pips
- “Killer Queen” by Queen. Album Sheer Heart Attack
- “Rock Your Baby” by George McRae
- “Return of the Grievous Angel” by Gram Parsons
- “Show and Tell” by Al Wilson
Ryan’s list:
- “The Air that I Breathe” by The Hollies
- “Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation
- “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan
- “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Roberta Flack
- “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield
Popspotting #143: “Favorite Covers” (Oct. 5, 2011)
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We return to music for this “Wildcard Wednesday” show. Taking inspiration from our friend and fellow old-school podcaster Brian Ibbott over at “Coverville” (included in our “top podcasts” show), we share five of our favorite cover songs.
Jen’s list:
- “Bizarre Love Triangle” by Frente (orig. New Order)
- “Wild Horses” by The Sundays (orig. Rolling Stones)
- “Hyperballad” by Twilight Singers (orig. Bjork)
- “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles (orig. The Top Notes)
- “I Feel For You” by Chaka Khan (orig. Prince)
Ryan’s list:
- “Baby Can I Hold You” by Ale’a (orig. Tracy Chapman)
- “Like Someone In Love” by Bjork (orig. Jimmy van Heusen)
- “Smooth Criminal” by Alien Ant Farm (orig. Michael Jackson)
- “Where is My Mind: by The Toadies (orig. Pixies)
- “Dear God” by Sarah McLachlan (orig. XTC)
These great takes on favorite songs by other favorite performers are just the tip of the iceberg, of course, and we’ll probably feature more great covers on a future music show. We’d love to hear about your favorite cover songs!
Popspotting #128: “Needledrop Soundtracks” (Sept. 14, 2011)
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We love movies. We love music. Why not combine the two? For Wildcard Wednesday, we start with your suggestion for a “favorite soundtracks” show, but with a slight twist. Instead of film scores (which we’re saving for later), today both of us share our “Top 5 Needledrop Soundtracks,” movie soundtracks that use popular music to set the scene.
We also covered a few runners-up that didn’t make the top five, but had to cut them from the podcast. They included “Romeo + Juliet,” “500 Days of Summer,” and “Forest Gump.” Of course, several other Tarantino films could have made the list, including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill.”
Popspotting #118: “Life-Changing Albums” (Aug. 31, 2011)
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If you weren’t quite sure, this week’s Wildcard Wednesday should definitively confirm that music countdowns are Jen’s favorite topic.
Though not quite ready to commit to naming her top five albums of all time (a followup to last week’s list on the book side), she shares the five albums that changed her life, and a little of the story behind each. And there’s a wide range of sounds, from classic crooner to hard rock to lush Hawaiian.
We’d love to hear what albums served as the soundtrack to the greatest moments and epiphanies in your life, and of course any embarrassing stories that go with them.
Jen’s picks are:
- “Starfish” by The Church
- “Appetite for Destruction” By Guns ‘N’ Roses
- “Hapa” by Hapa
- “The Doors” by The Doors
- “MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett” by Tony Bennett
Popspotting #108: “Songs of 1972″ (Aug. 17, 2011)
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You want more music shows? You’ll get more music shows! As Jen celebrates yet another 29th birthday, we arbitrarily choose the year 1972 to highlight with a top five list. Then, we share some music recommendations from our listeners. Here’s the playlist:
- Sylvia’s Mother (Dr. Hook)
- I Saw the Light (Todd Rundgren)
- Coconut (Harry Nilsson)
- School’s Out (Alice Cooper)
- Still In Love With You (Al Green)
Plus:
- Barton Hollow (The Civil Wars)
- John Prine (Illegal Smile)
- Dark Blue (Jack’s Mannequin)
We’d love to feature more picks from our listeners, so please don’t hesitate to share your favorite tunes and artists! Just keep sending them in… we’ll figure out a theme later.
Photo by Neokrisys.