Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs

On the surface, we're talking about "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones, but deep down, we're talking about our own fitful history as punks (or "punks.") Listen on for Sarah's concertgoing history and Mark's brief stint in a band called Violet Cycle. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Queers. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email...

We really earn our parental warning sticker with our discussion of Cee Lo's gleefully obscene hit "F##k You." We also discuss virtuosic singing, reality show cats, and the best music video Sinead O'Connor never made. Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by George Harrison. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com,...

We're ranking every song on Hole's grunge-grrrrl classic album "Live Through This," and we may never stop screaming about milk. Special guest John Ramos joins us on this rediscovery of songs we blasted nonstop 25 years ago. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Bettie Serveert. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com,...

Which songs are better because of how they're used in a TV show? Exhibit A is "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron featuring Phoebe Bridgers, which gets us talking about John Travolta, our favorite teachers, and the country's relationship to death during the Civil War. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is from the documentary Death and the Civil War. Want to leave us a voicemail? J...

A straightforward chat about Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" unexpectedly leads to cole slaw, The Amazing Race Canada, and how to paint on a grain of rice. But that's Joni Mitchell, right? She inspires all kinds of things! Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Prince. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us...

Thanks to Styx's low-key insane rock anthem "Come Sail Away," we're talking about benevolent aliens, the Monroe Doctrine, and the moistest balladry known to man. Plus, there's a birthday chart reading with an unexpected connection to horror films! Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Aimee Mann. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can...

When is a terrible musical a wonderful musical? When the musical is "Co-Op." We're talking about the original cast recording for the flawless episode of Documentary Now!, and we're geeking all the way out over it. We're also talking about Sondheim, the demands of good parody, and (of course) cocaine. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by George Benson. Want to leave us a voic...

We're ranking songs called "Jump," and that's got us talking about everything from Gerald Ford to childhood fights to the secret randiness of calypso music. Oh, and there's a sidebar about Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jenny Jump. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs...

What actually happens in "The Freshmen" by The Verve Pipe? What happens to us when we have to listen to it? Which result is more tragic? Listen on to find out! Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Barenaked Ladies. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas....

We decidedly disagree about Linda Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved," but don't worry! Our mutual love of other Ronstadt songs (and our mutual hatred of the goddamned Everly Brothers) saves our pod marriage in the end. Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Nerf Herder. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tw...

We love the song "Toxic," but do we love what the culture has done to Britney Spears? Join us as we shake our thangs, ponder the peculiar fates of early-aughts pop divas, and look at the bottom of Shonda Rhimes' resume. Plus, we answer a listener voicemail! Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Chuck Berry. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-076...

Have you ever been horny in a legendary way? Then listen to our discussion about Ashley McBryde's country music anthem "American Scandal." We're joined by special guest Allen E. Read to talk about lyrics that make you worry about your boyfriend, a moratorium on Marilyn Monroe references, and musicians who sing about being famous. Plus, we ponder the mystery of "PG Boo." Our int...

As we rank every song on 10,000 Maniacs' "In My Tribe," we embrace our love for buzzkill liberals who sing about our national shame. We also imagine life in Natalie Merchant's family, analyze the meaning of audible breathing in songs, and ponder what Collucci can't do. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Phoebe Bridgers. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767!...

It's the end of Pride Month, so you'd better believe we're talking about the gloriously gay "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" by Scissor Sisters. And we're Mark and Sarah, so you'd ALSO better believe this gets us talking about Apollo, Dionysus. secret sexy slang, and true crime books. Plus, we answer a listener's voicemail question about our favorite melancholy songs! Our intro is by Andrew B...

We could listen to Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" on a perpetual loop, and we're investigating why. Along the way, we stop at their hit "Something So Strong" and a couple of '80s-related tropes we're always happy to see. Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn, and Bic Runga. Want to leave us a voicemail? Call 646-389-0...

Will our friendship survive our intense disagreement about Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money"? Probably! For one thing, we're united in our general enthusiasm for RiRi. For another, we have to work together to enact our revenge fantasy against employers who don't pay their freelancers in a timely manner. Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Public Enemy. Want to l...

After a patron vote, we're talking about "Pink Houses," the somewhat muddled Americana anthem by John Cougar Mellencamp Watson Crick Donoghue IV. It makes us consider the value of good-enough rock and the importance of mastering your lyrical tone. Plus, we talk about sports a little! Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Neil Young. Want to leave us a voicemail? Call 646-389-...

Bobby Darin's version of "Mack The Knife" lets us cover our favorite nerdy bases, including theater history, true-crime history, and handsome men in white tuxedo jackets. We also ponder whether Darin was a proto-gangsta rapper, and we get pissed all over again about Kevin Spacey. Plus, we answer a listener voicemail! SHOW NOTES Stereogum's #1s series (https://www.stereogum.com/category/f...

Fergie's aggressively, deliciously stupid song "Fergalicious" gets us talking about intentional superficiality, women describing themselves as commodities, and all the reasons fifty year-olds don't have to give AF about anything. Plus, there's a listener-requested playlist about the best songs for preparing to go out! Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Fantastic Plastic Ma...

k.d. lang's just-right cover of "Hallelujah" gets us talking about underrated singers, misunderstood lyrical intentions, and concerts that made us cry. There's also an unexpected sidebar about funny website names, because why not? Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Tracy Chapman. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talk...

A listener request gets us talking about the tear-stained yet oddly belligerent nostalgia of Don Henley's "The End of the Innocence." We also talk about Michelle Pfeiffer, posturing ponytails, and (naturally) Viagra. Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Rufus Wainwright. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@...

A chat about "You Haven't Done Nothin'," Stevie Wonder's chart-topping protest anthem, leads to imaginary fights with the Jacksons, musical smackdowns we love, and the irritating necessity of a chore wheel. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Cornershop. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@...

We're feeling wry and symbolic, so we're ranking every song on the Magnolia soundtrack. The Aimee Mann songs get us especially fired up, whether we love them or (in one case) hate them forever. But which song will land at number one? Listen on! PLUS: We have a phone number now! Wanna leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767. (That's 646-389-0-POP). Meanwhile, our intro is by Laura Barger and J...

Lizzo's deee-licious R&B jams "Juice" and "Cuz I Love You" have us talking about songs that sound like multiple genres at once, women who rock body positivity, and artists who can balance the sincere and the ironic. Plus, sexy men cry, and we like it! Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Adore Delano. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or jus...

We return to regular episodes with "Rio," as performed by our #MarchMASTAS winners Duran Duran. The conversation quickly turns to Simon LeBon's little durannie, then veers to bands that have fun being famous, sweet drum fills, and rivers as metaphors. We also have a listener-requested playlist of songs that are ideal at high school reunions! Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our o...