A Symposium of Popular Songs
This Trash Can Dream Come True: Songs About New York City
We’re listening to songs about America’s “city of record,” New York. I like it a lot more than Los Angeles! Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com.
More Episodes of A Symposium of Popular Songs
This Moment to Arise: Songs About Birds
We’re listening to songs about my favorite animal today, so maybe you’ll forgive me for getting a little self-indulgent. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
A Train to the Astral Plain: Songs About Angels
We’re listening to songs about angels today on A Symposium of Popular Songs, and trying to get to the bottom of how they became such sentimentalized beings. Completely accidentally, there are a…
What I Need Is a Good Defense: Songs About Crime
We’re listening to songs about crime this week, although I am saving songs about murder for a future episode. Along the way we’ll try to figure out why people commit crimes, though…
The Same Black Line That Was Drawn on You: Songs About Suffering
From loneliness to suffering—at the very least, you’ll have to admit that we’re covering winter themes. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
A Place to Go and Weep: Songs About Loneliness
In a sequel to last week’s episode on friendship, we’re listening to songs about loneliness this week. Note: I make a fairly big error by saying that I'm playing nothing but artists…
Winter Companions: Songs About Friendship
We’re starting the new year by talking about friendship, that most human of institutions. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
The Best Songs of 2025
I present to you my twenty favorite songs of the year! What did I miss? Email it to me at symposiumofsongs@gmail.com.
Do You Hear What I Hear?: Songs That Feel Like Christmas
In conjunction with my recent FPR article “What Does Christmas Feel Like?” A Symposium of Popular Songs is listening to songs that recall my halcyon Christmases—let’s say 1987-1994, though few of these…
Sons of No One: Songs About Young Adulthood
This week, we’re listening to songs about young adults (let’s say 18-35) on A Symposium of Popular Songs. Think of it as a companion piece to our very first episode, on middle…
That Special Kind of Sadness: Songs About Los Angeles
We’re spending some (virtual) time in Los Angeles, this week, as the weather starts to get cold most everywhere else.
Put a Candle in the Window: Songs About the Light
Just as the light becomes a little more precious and scarce this year, we’re going to listen to songs about it. Send me your song recommendations at symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
My Heart Has Been Outgrown: Songs About Change
This week, in lieu of a Thanksgiving episode, A Symposium of Popular Songs is listening to songs about change. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com.
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