A Symposium of Popular Songs
Writing from the Heart: Songs About Sincerity
Boy, I had very little idea what I wanted to say about sincerity when I started recording, so you’ll hear me sincerely try to figure it out as we listen through these…
More Episodes of A Symposium of Popular Songs
Calling All in Transit: Alternative Rock Songs
A friend of mine recently asked me for a Spotify playlist of alternative rock—but I don’t use Spotify, so I decided to make the playlist here. This week on A Symposium of…
Life Could Be So Very Fine: Songs About Happiness
We’re listening to songs about happiness this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, and trying to find a way to separate songs about happiness from songs about being in love. Send…
Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon: Songs of Laurel Canyon
In honor of my wife’s birthday, we’re listening to songs from her favorite musical scene: Laurel Canyon. Send your song suggestions to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
A Short Time Is Better Than No Time: Songs About Ephemerality
Continuing our examination of time from last week, this week we’re listening to songs about ephemerality and trying to figure out if transient things can have eternal value. Send your song suggestions…
Slow Trigger, Starting Line: Songs About Waiting
This week, we’re listening to songs about waiting, and I’ll tell you a story you might not know about Tom Petty and plagiarism. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
I Didn’t Sleep at All Last Night: Songs About Insomnia
I promised it in our very first episode, and now I’m finally delivering: here are some songs all about not being able to get to sleep. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
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.
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…
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