Nevermind the Music

When is one note actually a bunch of notes? Here we listen closely to Green Day’s rock radio earworm “Waiting,” from 2000. Mark quite literally pulls apart some notes to figure out whether a chord is major or minor. And Nichole talks about why waiting is so hard in our modern age, and wonders if there is a better way. Also, does Nichole have perfect pitch?  Other music heard in this episode: Green...

Which one of us broke the most laws for the sake of seeing a great show? In this sidetrack, we reminisce about some of our favorite concerts, some from years ago and some much more recent. Check us out next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode - The Flaming Lips - “She Don’t Use Jelly”, The Rise Against - “Give it All”, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - “Teach Your Children”, Gin...

When we all fall asleep, where do we go? In this episode, we dig up Billie Eilish’s mysterious 2019 gem “Bury a Friend.” Mark shows how the song gets its creepy vibe in part by using some very simple and clever melodic tricks. Nichole talks about the monster under the bed and how nightmares can actually play a useful role in treatment. Also, why are lullabies so creepy? Other music heard in this e...

Hey, who ordered the nipple gong? In this sidetrack we celebrate the unusual instruments that grace us in pop music. From the hurdy-gurdy to the musical saw, underappreciated instruments, we salute you! Tune in next week for some normal instruments in a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Kate Bush - "The Dreaming", Earth, Wind & Fire - "Evil", The Beach Boys - "I Kn...

How do you do it? Here we meet in outer space with Incubus’ 2000 rock radio staple “Stellar.” Mark can’t get enough of how rhythmically confusing the song is, with different possible ways to count the beat. Nichole tries to figure out why that kind of thing tickles us so much, and how we change our attitudes and identity over time. Listen close and learn something about how stupid Mark was in high...

Who’s your favorite female trombone player? Male flautist? Here we talk about how some instruments are weirdly gendered, find out which girly instrument Mark tried to learn, and hear a bit from Nichole about the brain differences between the biological males and females. Is all this nature or nurture? See you next week for a full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertisin...

Did I hear a music major alert? Grab your college degree and geek out with us about Lizzo’s 2019 soul/hip-hop hybrid “Cuz I Love You.” Mark can’t stop crying thinking about the musical foreshadowing that occurs in this song’s bombastic hook, and how that fits perfectly with its genre blending stew. Nichole brings it all together through cognitive biases, especially that pesky hindsight bias. Other...

What do artists owe the audience? In this sidetrack, we talk about when fans only want to hear an artist’s old material, even when they keep making new great music. The hosts share some artists they think haven’t received enough attention of late, and ponder what it means to be a “real fan.” Lastly, when is it OK to be “that guy” at a concert? Music heard in this episode: Fiona Apple - “Criminal”,...

What’s a better introduction to an artist, a ballad or a bop? With all due respect to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” we’d rather overthink Cyndi Lauper’s 1983 hit “Time After Time.” Mark has something to say about the relationship between syncopated rhythms (big word alert!) and the song’s themes, while Nichole shares the psychological take on whether people’s personalities can change or stay the...

What are all these hashtags all over my sheet music? In our final music review session, Mark and Nichole talk sharps, flats, scales, and chords. Get your head on straight with all things pitch before the class withdrawal deadline! Another full episode next week! Music heard in this episode: Coolio - “Gangsta’s Paradise” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https:...

Which one of us was learned good? Nichole gushes about Mr. Joe Mulligan, her amazing high school music teacher, while Mark laments the sad story of <NAME REDACTED>, his below-average high school music teacher. See you next week for a full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/priv...

Did you learn your fractions? In this bonus episode, Mark and Nichole break down timing in music, including both rhythm and musical form (and key lime pie). The paper is due next week, so you’d better attend so the TA can review your outline before you fail this class and lose your football scholarship! Regularly-scheduled Sidetrack next week! Music heard in this episode: The Beatles - “And Your B...

Wait, was “Undone” really the most popular early Weezer song? In this epic episode we unravel Weezer’s 1994 hit (in some universes, at least), “Undone - The Sweater Song.” After discussing the hosts’ history with the band, Mark follows a thread of connection between some of the iconic elements of the song and older - much older - kinds of music. And Nichole finally gets Mark to understand what thi...

What’s with all the fancy terms? In this bonus episode, Mark and Nichole convene the study group just in time to help with your homework. In this meeting, the hosts talk through the terms and concepts associated with how music sounds, and be ready when big words like timbre, staccato, fortissimo, and polyphony show up on the final! Next week, back to a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Fl...

How is Taylor Swift Like Super Mario Bros. 3? Which Star Trek has the coolest theme music? This week, we dip back into the well of listener questions! Come back next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Stephen Schwartz - excerpt from Godspell, Great Grandpa - "English Garden", Kris Kross - "Jump", Russell Watson - "Where My Heart Will Take Me", Max Richter...

Won’t you stay? In this episode we get Kylie Minogue’s 2001 club standout “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”… stuck in our heads. Why? Because of some very simple but very effective melodic tricks: variation. Catchy hooks like this make Nichole think of intrusive thoughts, and all the hilarity and darkness that conversation leads to.  Other music heard in this episode: Kylie Minogue - "Locomotion&...

Did you see a rainbow yesterday? An outtake from our episode on “Baby-Baby-Baby,” Nichole dives deep about Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ struggles, passing, and genius, and pays homage to the resilience of the other members of the group. Tune in next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: TLC - “Baby-Baby-Baby” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https:/...

Is Mark going to flake it up? He can’t figure out what the heck key is TLC’s 1992 jam “Baby-Baby-Baby” in. The internet thinks it knows, but maybe we’re better off embracing the mystery.. Nichole certainly thinks she knows for sure who the best girl group of all time is, though, and shares some thoughts on the fascinating dynamics of the group. We end with one big question: what three 90s albums b...

Should artists always get a share of the songwriting credit? This week, we discuss songwriting and who exactly deserves the credit and profit from a successful song. Also, Mark looks back on how his view of authorship and his own songwriting priorities have changed over the years. Check us out next week for a new full episode! Music heard in this episode: Claude Debussy - “Prélude à l'après-mi...

Was this song written just for this podcast? Tears for Fears’ 1985 smash “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is so perfect that even the band name is a psychology reference. Oh, and the album title is a callout to dissociative identity disorder. Mark takes that and runs, connecting that to the unusual pace the chords of the song shift. Nichole also wonders: does everybody actually want to rule the...

Wait, we have ad music? In this sidetrack, Nichole hears the podcast theme music and ad music for the first time. She has her favorites and… um, what’s the opposite of favorite? See you next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Mark Popeney - Nevermind the Music Theme, The Slackademics - "This Dance", The Slackademics - "Outrageous Vibe" Send us your thoughts at Ne...

Why won’t someone help that poor man carry his piano? Here we sweat over Bruno Mars’ 2010 hit ‘Grenade.’ Mark thinks a lot of the heaviness of this song is due to the use of an interesting tweak on the minor key, while Nichole tries to get to the bottom of what might be going on in the head of the song’s sad protagonist. Other music heard in this episode: Kesha - “We R Who We R”, Bruno Mars - “The...

Can you sing like Michael McDonald? Probably not, but it’s fun to try! In this Sidetrack, Mark makes the case that the 1978 Doobie Brothers gem is the greatest song of all time. Well, it and all the other songs it shares that title with. Can he convince Nichole? See you next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: The Doobie Brothers - “What a Fool Believes”, Jimmy Fallon - “I Keep F...

What does that bling mean, Drake? Tell us! Here we’re picking apart Drake’s 2016 meme-factory “Hotline Bling.” Mark really wants to talk about how this song is built on a series of surprises and interruptions, and Nichole… well let’s just say Nichole wants to pick a fight. Ever since I left the city… Other music heard in this episode: ToonLink/Nosquist - "Wii Shop Bling", Timmy Thomas - &#...

How do you balance change and tradition? In this Sidetrack, we talk about either the geekiest cool thing, or the coolest geeky thing in the world: barbershop quartet music! Mark shares some music and stories, and brings up a confusing tension he has seen within the music. This one gets surprisingly “real.” Catch us next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Rockapella - “Where in t...