Todd Nathanson

Song Vs. Song

Music EN ↓ 203 episodes

Hosted by Todd (in the Shadows) Nathanson and Alina Morgan, Song vs. Song pits two similar songs of an era against each other with controversial outcomes.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: art19.com

Author

Todd Nathanson

Category

Music

Podcast website

art19.com

Latest episode

Oct 7, 2026

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Episodes

177: "Peg" vs. "What a Fool Believes" (ft. Altamira!) 07.10.2026

Song vs. Song enters the Michael McDonald-iverse! It's Yacht vs. Yacht as we take on two of the smoothest white-boy tracks of the '70s, but will the kings of snark Steely Dan win with "Peg," or will the Doobie Brothers take them down a peg with "What a Fool Believes"? And much thanks to super Dan fan Altamira to help us figure this one out, check out her music here ! Song vs. Song Patreon here ! P...

BONUS EPISODE: Please put the VMAs out of its misery 28.09.2026

The VMAs are now a zombie I.P. that only exists to give tribute to the old and dead, and has never felt more like an afterthought. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

176: "Shut Up and Dance" vs. "Cake by the Ocean" (w/Molly Mary O'Brien!) 23.09.2026

They were two of the biggest one-hit wonders of the mid-2010s, but do these vaguely throwback-y pop rock songs hold up, and which does it better? Pitchfork's Molly Mary O'Brien joins us to help us take sides between Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance" and DNCE's "Cake by the Ocean"! Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, pl...

175: "White Rabbit" vs. "White Room" (w/Steven Hyden!) 09.09.2026

We're back and we're taking a hit of the bad acid as we head back to the '60s and cover two towering hippie classics with suspiciously similar names! But which of the two tracks will get us to Wonderland, will we follow the "White Rabbit" with Jefferson Airplane or will we get locked in the "White Room" with Cream? Special thanks to the Ween of American Rock Critcs Steven Hyden, check out his new...

Bonus Episode: The Muppets (2011) with Dan Olson! 16.08.2026

While we are on break, a little taste of our bonus episodes on Patreon! And much thanks to Dan Olson for helping untangle the attempted, only partially successful Jim Henson reboot "The Muppets" from 2011! Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights: Tr...

174: "Hung Up" vs. "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (w/Jason Lipshutz!) 28.07.2026

Two of the biggest international pop stars of the '80s and '90s ascended into world-conquering dance divas in the '00s, but which will shall reign supreme, Madonna's "Hung Up" or Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head"? Billboard's Jason Lipshutz joins us to help get us less hung up. Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and money to s...

173: "Hungry Heart" vs. "Uptown Girl" 14.07.2026

Two guys from the suburbs of NYC loved old doo-wop and '60s girl groups! Which bridge-and-tunnel legend's catchiest song is the better classic pop song, Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" or Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl"? Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for tr...

172: "Lovefool" vs. "Kiss Me" 30.06.2026

Teen movies of the '90s needed a cute little twee song for teenagers to kiss to, but which was the most romantic of the two? Todd and Lina argue between "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer and "Lovefool" by the Cardigans! Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight f...

171: "Dreams" vs. "You're So Vain" (w/Andrew Unterberger!) 17.06.2026

Two of the finest and most devastating kiss-off tracks of the '70s, the songs that basically created the Main Pop Girl era five decades ahead of time, but which of these is the most heartbreakingly brutal burns of the '70s, "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac or "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon? Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and money to spare,...

170: "Say So" vs. "Levitating" (w/AJ Marks!) 26.05.2026

It's the pandemic and the dance floors are all closed but disco lives on! We invite Main Pod Girl's AJ Marks into the studio to help us debate which is the finest of the 2020 dance songs with the problematic optional guest rapper, Doja Cat's "Say So" (ft. Nicki Minaj) or Dua Lipa's "Levitating" (ft. DaBaby)! Song vs. Song Patreon here ! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the t...

169: "Shout" vs. "Relax" (w/Justin Lewis)! 13.05.2026

It's the mid-'80s and two bands have figured out that what people want is British guys giving commands in two-note chanting choruses. Which is the best more-chorus-than-song song of the mid-'80s, "Shout" by Tears for Fears or "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood? Thank you to special guest Justin Lewis, check out his great book "Into the Groove: The 1980s: The Ultimate Decade in Music History" whi...

168: "Best of You" vs. "Like a Stone" (w/Pat Finnerty!) 29.04.2026

If there's one thing we liked in rock in the 2000s, it was the '90s, and those who managed to survive it. But which band starring former members of grunge bands really made the '00s RAWK and feel emotions. Well we've got pod best friend and '00s rock expert Pat Finnerty to help us decode this mess and help us decide which is THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST between Foo Fighters' "Best of You" and Audios...

167: "Breaking the Law" vs. "Ace of Spades" 14.04.2026

What is the best metal song of 1980???? Is Lemmy God? Is he better than the Metal God Rob Halford? Is there a better song to wash your dog to??? Put on your studded metal because we're debating "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest vs. "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead! And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights: T...

166: "Party Rock Anthem" vs. "Give Me Everything" (w/Mic the Snare) 25.03.2026

Dale! Party rock is in the house tonight! The year is 2011 and nothing will ever feel bad ever again! But someone in the non-stop party has to be the party king so we're debating the best song about having a good time because we might not have tomorrow. Who will reign supreme, "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO or "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull? And as always — if you have the time and money to spare,...

165: "Lay Lady Lay" vs. "Sweet Jane" (w/Spencer Breslin!) 11.03.2026

Two of the greatest, mumbliest songwriters of the '60s decide to write sweet love songs! But only one can succeed between Dylan and Lou Reed, and we've brought star of "Disney's The Kid" and "The Santa Clause" 2 and 3 Spencer Breslin to help us decide which of the rambly hipsters makes the prettier tribute to love, Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" or the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane"? And as always...

BONUS EPISODE: "Wicked" (w/Sarah Z!) 24.02.2026

To make up for a minor scheduling snafu, we are unlocking the vault and releasing one of our bonus episodes! We invite Wicked megafan Sarah Z into the studio to talk about the two movies and whether they fix or worsen one of the most popular musicals of all time See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

164: "Grace Kelly" vs. "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" 11.02.2026

Let us pick the best neo-glam rock song of the mid-00s! Who shall win, the faux-Queen belting of Mika's "Grace Kelly" or the Elton John-approved disco of the Scissor Sisters' "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"? And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights: Transgender Law Center Trans Lifeline Destination Tomorrow G...

SPECIAL: The Grammys! Can they stay good?? (w/Mic the Snare!) 02.02.2026

2026! Not as good as last year's Grammys, but what could be? So how did everyone do, and can this trend keep up? Also: Fuck ICE? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

163: "Good Vibrations" vs. "A Day in the Life" 28.01.2026

In the mid-1960s, two bands thought, what if rock and roll could be ART?? And so we got two masterpieces, but only one can stand as the greatest of all time, so who made the greatest rock mini-symphony of all time, And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights: Transgender Law Center Trans Lifeline Destination...

162: "sports car" vs. "Fame is a Gun" (w/Andrew Unterberger!) 14.01.2026

It's 2026 and we're doing our real 2025 in review, with double the Rae. Which of the two dancing hot girl pop stars is gonna be the one to lead us into the new year, do you prefer Tate McRae's "sports car" or Addison Rae's "Fame is a Gun"? And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight fo...

161: "Beautiful Things" vs. "Lose Control" (ft. Kevin Anderson) 24.12.2025

They were the biggest songs of 2025 and unfortunately they were from 2024 but they just wouldn't go away, so much so that we had to use our 2025 in review year-end podcast to talk about them! Which overplayed song of the year AND the year before made you do backflips and/or lose control, Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things" or Teddy Swims's "Lose Control"? And if you have the time and money to spare,...

160: "Blue Christmas" vs. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (with Chris Dalla Riva!) 10.12.2025

Once upon a time there were no songs about being lonely at Christmas. And then, two early rock-and-roll legends, the King of Rock and Roll Elvis, and lifelong backup singer Darlene Love (overshadowed by megaproducer Phil Spector) released two songs to hit the hearts of people missing their baby on Christmas Day. But only one can rip open our hearts like so much discarded wrapping paper, so we must...

159: "Dancing on My Own" vs. "Run Away with Me" (with Josh from Target Audience) 25.11.2025

The two great "justice for" pop songs of the 2010s. The two songs that created the lane of popheads' cult heroes that dominates the forums. But only one can stand supreme so which one shall rule, Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" or Carly Rae Jepsen's "Run Away with Me"? And if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights: Transgende...

158: "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" vs. "Sunny Came Home" 12.11.2025

Did y'all see that Lilith Fair documentary on Hulu? We did, and we have thoughts about two of its biggest stars -- or at least, the two who will always be associated with Lilith Fair first and foremost. But who shall be the victor? Is it Paula Cole's sad-marriage lament "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?", or will it go to Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" with a vengeance? And if you have the time...

157: "Werewolves of London" vs. "Godzilla" 21.10.2025

Aooooooooo... there goes Godzilla? We're adding songs about monsters to the ol' Halloween party playlist and we need to know which of the late '70s weirdos is going on there first? Do we admire the perfect hair and tailoring of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" or do we go scream "My god!" as we get looked down upon by Blue Öyster Cult's "Godzilla"? And if you have the time and money to spare,...

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