This week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, we’re listening mostly to songs about men picking up, or trying to pick up, women—though there are two songs that reverse that pattern. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
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0:00
Sade, “Smooth Operator” (Diamond Life, 1984)
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5:20
Duran Duran, “Hungry Like the Wolf” (Rio, 1982)
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10:24
Grace Jones, “Love Is the Drug” (Warm Leatherette, 1980)
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18:16
Reading: Andrew Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”
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20:51
Billy Joel, “Only the Good Die Young” (The Stranger, 1977)
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24:30
Roy “Bald Head” Byrd, “Hey Little Girl” (single, 1951)
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27:30
Robert Westenberg and Danielle Ferland, “Hello, Little Girl” (Into the Woods OBCR, 1987)
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31:07
Melissa Manchester, “Hey Ricky (You’re a Low-Down Heel)” (Hey Ricky, 1982)
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35:19
Vigilantes of Love, “She Is Fading” (Summershine, 2001)
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39:33
Reading: John Donne, “The Flea”
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41:26
Prince, “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (Prince, 1979)
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44:15
Chaka Khan, “I Feel for You” (I Feel for You, 1984)
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49:54
Beck, “Debra” (Midnite Vultures, 1999)
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56:37
Free, “All Right Now” (Fire and Water, 1970)
