Nevermind the Music

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...

Without love, where would you be now? Join us as we inhale some of that 1973 classic “Long Train Runnin’” by The Doobie Brothers. Mark draws our attention to a chord that finds a powerful new meaning in this song, which reminds Nichole of how our strongest memories are very much dependent on the context. But seriously, everyone, Tom Johnston or Michael McDonald? Other music heard in this episode:...

Einstein on the what? Follow Mark and Nichole down the rabbit hole (or up to the loft apartment in Manhattan) as we talk about musical minimalism, a quirky and surprising style that still influences music today. Join us next week for another full episode! Music heard in this episode: Steve Reich - "Piano Phase", Steve Reich - "Electric Counterpoint", The Who - "Baba O'Reill...

What better excuse for a bonus episode than the great new SNL documentary? David from The Lorehounds joins Mark and Nichole for a deep dive on Questlove's documentary chronicling Saturday Night Live's extraordinary musical history. The hosts break down the documentary's remarkable opening medley, discuss how SNL transformed live television music performances, and explore the show's...

Are we shining just the way we are? Here we piece apart Dua Lipa’s 2020 dance-pop gem “Levitating” and see how much the writing process matters. Mark stacks up the idea that this song’s melody seems to be built of tiny lego bricks rearranged in an infectious pattern. Meanwhile, Nichole relates this way of looking at things to personality trait theory - can Mark accurately self-diagnose his persona...

Should we share our opinions with our students? Here we finally talk through those tricky and controversial conversations that sometimes come up in class - and our role in them. Join us 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/privacy

Why was anybody surprised that T-Pain was a great singer? We shouldn’t have been. In this episode we tune to T-Pain’s debut single, 2005’s “I’m Sprung.” We deep dive on auto-tune and how this song shows how much music culture underestimated T-Pain back when he first came on to the scene. Also: shawty! Other music heard in this episode: T-Pain - “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')”, Billie Holiday...

Is Taylor going to grab #5? In this sidetrack, we go deep on the eight records nominated for “Album of the Year” at the 2025 Grammys. Listen with us as Mark and Nichole choose their champions and guess which artists will come away with the top honors in this year’s music industry love-fest. Check us out next week for a normal episode! Music Heard in this episode: André 3000 - “BuyPoloDisorder'...