Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs

The Dolly 64 E09: Final 4

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

And you think about it, don't you? ...As much as we'd like every one of these Dolly Parton songs to get a participation tiara, we will forge ahead with choosing the championship pair. Along the way, we hear medleys of two of the finalists, contemplate the difference between a "bad" song and a "correct" one, and speculate on Mr. Jolene's double album.

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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The Dolly 64 E08: Elite 8

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Today we select our Final 4 in the Dolly 64, after struggling with self-imposed rules that don't serve us, identifying the Dolly songs that won't end up in a commercial for floor polish, and speculating on that waterboy's future coot prospects. Why did it take us this long to come up with the phrase "the Fortress of Dollitude"? Maybe because we inhaled too much pink Partonclave smoke...you'll have to listen to find out.

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

Where it all began with the Dolly 64

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The Dolly 64 E07: Sweet 16

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

It's the hardest round in every bracket season in some ways, and the Dolly 64's Sweet 16 ep is no different. How many different lists did Sarah have? Is Mark's "Dolly didn't write it" rule going to last? These questions and many more -- which one old coot shall rule them all; whether every "typical" Dolly is good; how to embody "kuntree" without making it a moral position -- as we rest our boobs on the points scale for our latest episode. Find out whether we ended up with an Elite Eleven and listen now!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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The Dolly 64 E06: Round Of 32

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The second half of our Dolly 64 Round Of 32 is still confronting the question of which Dolly Parton narrative voice is the most typical and/or dominant. It's also confronting hashtag coot songs, clarified Miracle Whip, the fine gradations of Tennessee mountain-home ownership, and identifying as kuntree without defensiveness. How many aprons does feminism wear? Listen and find out!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

Episode 18: Led Zeppelin/Dread Zeppelin/Dolly Parton, "Stairway To Heaven"

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The Dolly 64 E05: Round Of 32

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

"What a way to make a living," indeed -- the Dolly 64 Round Of 32 raises a lot of tough questions. Which Dolly are we talking about when we ask which song is the Dolliest? Which tracks unite the coffee shop, or go in a college syllabus? We've really got some feelings about pitiless Southern stories, meeting the old-coot brief, the importance of conveying tumescence in pop music, overrated crayons, and Barry Gibb's avant-garde prepositions, so listen now!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

America's Damp 40, Episode 04: The Roaring 20

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The Dolly 64 E04: Round Of 64

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We're wrapping up the Dolly 64 opening round this week with songs that work better in theory than in practice, the difference between "not for me" and "not good," countrymaxxing without slagging "coastal elites," and Vrbo text art in song form. Is it weird that this is the section in which a Dolly Parton song finally bats a thousand points-wise? Maybe...but not really. Whatever you came in here looking like, listen now!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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The Dolly 64 E03: Round Of 64

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The Dolly 64 season has reached perhaps the strongest bracket section in our third ep, with the joyful chaos of mis-alphabetizing, growers and showers in the holler, songs about things men don't want to hear, and multiple hauntings by Little Andy and the narrator of "The Bridge." Find out which Dolly Parton track got ranked "Richard Bachman," how to take control of a cover, and much more in our latest episode!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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The Dolly 64 E02: Round Of 64

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The Dolly 64 season continues with our second set of first-round contenders, including overplayed classics, underrated '80s gems, toothless platitudes, tempo no-man's lands, brand ambassadors to the Lord, and things Dolly Parton does well that might not make the first paragraph of her musicianship wiki. Here WE come again, and we hope you'll have a listen!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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The Dolly 64 E01: Round Of 64

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our Dolly 64 season -- in which we use a highly scientific*, legally binding* March Madness-style bracket to determine the most quintessential Dolly Parton track of all time! In our first episode, we make Final Four predictions, scheme in the style of Tammany Hall, wonder why Mark's parents aren't president, distinguish between country and kuntree, and honor the "old coot at the edge of town" Partonian subgenre. Daddy, come and get an all-new episode of MASTAS!

*...no

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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Madonna's Studio Albums, Ranked Episode 2 (1998-2019)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000

It's Part 2 of our ranking of Madonna's studio albums! When did Madonna stop dictating the culture and start chasing it? When should listeners write to their Congressional reps over our heatmaps, and when are heatmap "yellows" actually "reds" but they're too boring to skip? We're not sure we can answer these questions...but we're pretty sure we know when it's time for the endeavor of rapping to cease. Get psyched or eff off: it's an all-new MASTAS episode.

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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Madonna's Studio Albums, Ranked Episode 1 (1983-1994)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Part 1 of our ranking of all 15 of Madonna's studio albums! The Material Girl's woeful underrepresentation on our podcast continues, as we start with the eponymous Madonna and continue through Bedtime Stories. Along the way, we explain the ranking and heatmapping processes we used, and discuss MTV imprinting, the "dust bunnies" of otherwise-solid albums, how The Immaculate Collection shifted our perceptions of Madonna's '80s output, and that time the Good Lord Himself gave Mark permission to buy a record at WalMart. Limber up those skip-button fingers and join us!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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Billy Joel's "The Stranger," Ranked (with Dan Rogge!)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Dan Rogge is back (-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack) to help us discuss and rank William's 1979 breakthrough release, "The Stranger" -- complete with derogatory Lost In Translation references, mediocre parental reviews of jukebox musicals, coherent statements on alienation, Mrs. Dash sponcon, the sound of the Fortunoff elevator, and why Mark needed a looseleaf notebook at the gym. Grab some stale boardwalk popcorn, Virginia, because it's on!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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Billy Joel's "Glass Houses," Ranked (with Dan Rogge!)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 26 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Don't ask us why* we decided to hurl a rock at William Joel's 1980 release, "Glass Houses" -- but we're ranking that album with the help of Ambassador To Long Island Pop Culture Dan Rogge. Along the way, we met a shark named Leyna, contemplated essential Billy-ness and Blondie cosplay, added to the list of songs Mark can't retain, and went behind the scenes of an ill-advised French mash note. Grab a "Monsieur Massapequa" tee and get your karaoke picks in; it's time for another MASTAS ranker!

*it was not the terrible news about the tour cancellation; we'd recorded well before that -- and we hope he's better soon!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. Visit us on Patreon for more!

SHOW NOTES

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Grammys 2025: Underdogs and Roller Rinks

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

We end the Best New Artist season where it all began for the podcast: the Grammys. We're talking today about the 67th Grammy Awards' "big 4" categories, plus a couple of wildcards -- and along the way, the American need for underdogs, nominations of encouragement, Mark's "Folkmore" playlist, Uncanny George Valley nightmares, couples skate, and a purse dog named Aristotle. Grab an electric clarinet and join us! (Throw the clarinet in the garbage first. THEN join us.)

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 08: 2017-2024

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

It's the Best New Artist Breakdown season finale, featuring a MASTAS greatest-hits line-up, the return of sprung rhythm, grand unifying complaints about breakthrough categories, Elt Zeppelin, and how to evolve past Wolfman Jack in pop-music discovery. Do we agree with the Grammys' most recent BNA choices? Have we decided how to tackle the 2025 nominees? Should jerks win awards? Come spook the Recording Academy herd with us!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 07: 2009-2016

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Our penultimate Best New Artist Breakdown moves into the teens; we're talking about Amy Clonehouses, lost anthems of lady rage, gold-watch nominations, the Overton window of band-name ludicrosity, and much more. Grab those Kendrick Lamar seminar syllabi and have a listen!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 06: 2001-2008

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

As the Best New Artist Breakdown season rounds the millennium turn, we're talking about which band is playing when Jennifer Love Hewitt flees a serial killer, artists we should like on paper but fall asleep to in practice, the music of shampoo ads, and the basic room in each of our hearts. If Kanye West will make room, join us on the line between genius and madness for our latest episode!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 05: 1993-2000

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

We're closing out the twentieth century in our fifth episode, and there are fewer howling embarrassments among our Best New Artist winners this time...but just as much anal-retentive insanity in our prep, plus diversity of sound, nothingburger arrangements saved by a Braxton, convincing Patsy Cline drag, effortful album titles, and the memory-holing of a multi-platinum act. Your dinner-party table in hell is ready, so pull up a chair and listen!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 04: 1985-1992

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Confusing band names, the MTV aura, and what happens if the comedy/tragedy masks and a keyboard mate: it's the 4th episode of our Best New Artist season, which brings us great winners, indefensible losers, and tracks that are more branding exercise than song. Does Mariah tie a whole Reagan-era room together? Listen now and find out!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 03: 1977-1984

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Disco, NuRo, and not knowing where to look during "Afternoon Delight" -- it's all part of our third episode, when we're also talking about Starman's dinner party, the mayonnaise filter, the Michael McDonald industrial complex, and Mark's request to dump all the geography-named bands into one planetary supergroup. There's only one way to lift the Best New Artist curse, and that's to listen now.

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 02: 1969-1976

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

We're wading into the '70s in our second ep, which includes ruminations on inessential classic rock; how Karen Carpenter and Judy Garland can take you whenever they are; holding your nose and throwing your vote at the nomination dartboard; and more. We've only just beguuuuuun / to taaaaaaalk -- and to hear your comments! -- so listen now.

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Best New Artist Breakdown 01: 1960-1968

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

The Best New Artist Breakdown season has begun! Instead of pitting the 64 winners of the Grammys' Best New Artist category against each other, we're talking about each year's nominees and winner in the context of their time...and in today's sixties-spanning ep, we're trying to make sense of the 20th century's monocultures, how far in the past most votes had gotten stuck, the weird dominance of the ukelele in the Kennedy years, and the weird ambitions of Mr. Swingle. Ready to go Bach to the future? Listen now!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Pop Goes The Actor 5: Operation Enduring Pop Star

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 7 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Our finale finds us talking about actor/musicians with lasting pop careers: Oscar-winners (Jamie Foxx), Grammy-winners (Childish Gambino), former child stars (Hailee Steinfeld), and Jokers (Jared Leto). After discussing contemporary stank, the competent/memorable axis, music for coffee shops, and the R&B version of that Top Chef challenge where they have to elevate gas-station snacks, we talk about what we've learned about the drive to create art. Grab Ludacris and have a listen.

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Pop Goes The Actor 4: '80s Movie Gents

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000

This week's crop of actor-musician hyphenates got their thespian starts in films of the 1980s: Corey Feldman, Keanu Reeves (Dogstar), Kevin Bacon (the Bacon Brothers), and Kiefer Sutherland. Copyright-compliant Gin Blossoms tracks and workout-cooldown music prompted thoughts about perfectly good outdoor-restaurant entertainment, the artistic practice that capitalism tries to stifle, and whether pretty boys want to be told they're smart (and vice versa). Strange things are afoot at the Circle MASTAS, so grab one of Kiefer's hats and have a listen.

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Pop Goes The Actor 3: Comedians

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Do you love to laugh? Then fall down the ha-ha hole that is Pop Goes The Actor's third episode! This week, we're looking at comedians who tested the pop waters, including a Blues Brother, Eddie Murphy, Tracey Ullman, and Jack Black. Acting range, the cult of mid-'70s SNL, finding unexpected IQ points in a song you've heard a dozen times, and which instrument is the creme fraiche of blues tracks -- and much more. Someone here is from Jersey, so order your minimum two drinks and listen!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli; special thanks to Amanda, and to Terri. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Pop Goes The Actor 2: Ladies of the Small Screen

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Oh yes it's ladies' night on the second episode of Pop Goes The Actor...but IS the feeling right? Sometimes! We wend our way through copyright-compliant bugle boys of Company Wonder Woman, the adorkable Zooey Deschanel, Shelley Fabares's evident terror, Marla Gibbs's appealing blood-thinner ad, and a track from Cybill Shepherd that puts the "no" back in "bossa nova." Throw that sax in a dumpster and join us for legitimate fun vs. snarky fun, the sexual politics of Camelot-era pop, and the timeline where Rosemary Clooney is good.

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne, and special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Pop Goes The Actor 1: '70s Sitcoms

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Pop Goes The Actor: a mini-season about thespians who tried (and sometimes succeeded at!) being pop musicians. In our premiere episode, we're talking about Jeff Conaway (Taxi), Donny Most (Happy Days), Esther Rolle (Good Times), Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs (Welcome Back, Kotter) -- as well as smorgasbords of grunting, when a stew has all the right ingredients and yet no taste, how long vaudeville literacy persisted, perceptions of the primetime monoculture, and all the places pop songs think we should be boinking. Grab a Tab and rotary-dial into our latest ep!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne, and special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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'90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 04: Romeo + Juliet

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

1996's Romeo + Juliet seemed like a slam-dunk ending to our soundtrack mini-season...but we have regrets! Epcot industrial music, lazy versions of Shakespeare, the psychotic hormonal jangling of youth, Scandinavian cultural crimes, and the returns of Teddy Ruxpin AND No Middle Ground with Paul Quinn accompany our struggling to remember the Wallflowers, and to decide whether it's possible for a song to be disgusting. Sidle up to an aquarium and have a listen!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas!

SHOW NOTES

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'90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 03: Forrest Gump

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

This episode is, we suppose, like a box of chocolates, because technically you don't know what you're going to get, but we can tell you we're talking about the ubiquitous Forrest Gump soundtrack. Remembering top-loader VCRs, #justiceforJenn, powering through overplay, how long sixties soul acts gave themselves to get drawers on the floor, and songs Muppets sing at you. What does it sound like when the Beach Boys sing a New Yorker article about pirates? Find out with our latest episode!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; interstitial music by Classics IV. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas!

SHOW NOTES

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'90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 02: Pulp Fiction

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 8 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The '90s Soundtrack Flashback season is bustin' surfboards with Pulp Fiction, 1994's omnipresent Quentin Tarantino joint. After talking about how the movie itself holds up (spoiler: really well!), we move on to fights with the Ventures, QT's trademark alternate timelines, how epic moments are inevitably punctuated by frump, at-the-bank audio wallpaper, and Peanuts-apron guy's moment of glory. C'est la vie, say the rankings, so have a listen!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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'90s Soundtrack Flashback, Episode 01: Singles

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our '90s Soundtrack Flashback mini-season! We're ranking the soundtrack albums from four legendary 1990s movies, starting with grunge-adjacent rom-com Singles. We waded into the great plaid middle of this disc to talk about the insouciance of Cameron Crowe stories, when it's okay for grunge gods to laugh, the conversation between this genre and punk (and Zep), and "hard rock for the school bus." Grab a Crystal Pepsi and a flannel buttondown and join us!

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; interstitial music by Alice In Chains. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 23: "Word Crimes"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:07:11 +0000

"Blurred Lines," the sound of the summer of 2013, is compared (unfavorably) with a cold sore in today's episode, which pits Robin Thicke, TI, and Pharrell against Weird Al's screed against bad grammar and usage errors. Despairing of Shazam, continuing to die on the hill of "irregardless," and the tyranny of younger siblings over the #oldladywalk playlist...we're working through all of it, AND figuring out who's going to "win" the season. It would be a Class-Y felony to miss it, so listen now.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Aimee Mann. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 21: "Smells Like Nirvana"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Thirty years after the death of frontman Kurt Cobain, Nirvana and their music still feel very close. Does that have anything to do with Weird Al's equally "defining" parody, a track that let Al "sell out" again after the disastrous UHF experience...with a band at the bleeding edge of the sell-out conversation? The shroud of tragedy, the performance of self, rebellious chaos, and ballerina tutus: better get to the gym, y'all! It's an all-new MASTAS.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Hole. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 19: "Rye Or The Kaiser"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 8 Apr 2024 13:28:20 +0000

It's an all-time training-montage banger vs. Weird Al's vision for Rocky XIII in today's episode, as we drop Wiki factoids, contemplate an all-depressing-follow-up-hits season, digress at length on Live's legal battles, and wonder when in Reagan's presidency the Me Decade became sentient. Greetings from the Sly Stallone industrial complex; get that sammich to go and listen to an all-new episode!

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by the Waitresses. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 17: "Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Apr 2024 15:23:45 +0000

You can't always control what people do with your art once it's out in the world -- something Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits may have learned the hard way with both the original "Money For Nothing" AND Weird Al's re-imagining of the song via a dream sequence in UHF. Essential references versus essential songs, 20th-century TV's preoccupation with yokels, and resting Don Henley face...they're all in this episode, so finish up that microwave-oven install and listen.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by the Allman Brothers Band. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 15: "Lasagna"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 13:47:14 +0000

It's that Airbnb pasta-taxonomy poster in pop-song form: "Lasagna," Weird Al's take on Los Lobos's take on Ritchie Valens's take on the Mexican folk song Sarah and her classmates dutifully droned during first-period Spanish. Before we cast our votes (and yours!), we talk about the restaurant from Big, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Dr. Melfi's ex-husband, Sophia Petrillo, forgetting the word "benefit," and Polish jokes. Are we putting the "no" back in "buongiorno"? Listen and see!

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Giacomo Baldelli, and our outro is by Claudio Villa for the Big Night soundtrack. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 13: "Jurassic Park"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Late-sixties melodrama meets early-nineties blockbuster in today's episode, as we contemplate who left the Barney cake out in the rain while comparing Richard Harris's "MacArthur Park" and Weird Al's "Jurassic Park." Claymation, foiled cantatae, The Odyssey, Godspell, and songs for when the coffee's kickin' in, plus the YouTube-comments bingo card and an "un-preciation" of a popular novel, all factor into our discussion. Listen and enjoy unironically!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Association. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 11: "I Think I'm A Clone Now"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

The unique legacy of Tommy James and the Shondells adds another chapter today, as Weird Al contends with Tiffany's smash cover of "I Think We're Alone Now." We're discussing Jersey-girl aspirational fashion, budge sound that's a feature and not a bug, and that person you could know becoming that person everyone does know. Take a break from sewing patches on your jean jacket and have a listen!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Ramones. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 9: "I Lost On Jeopardy"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Can Weird Al inch ahead in the season standings with "I Lost On Jeopardy," his parody of the Greg Kihn Band's "Jeopardy"? We're talking early adopters, terrible album-title puns we admire, second careers, cheap-but-creepy videos, and how MB's personal Jeopardy! journey deepens his appreciation of this Yankovic joint. Tell 'em what they've won, Don Pardo! (It's either an all-new WAvE episode or some Rice-a-Roni.)

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by the Waitresses. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 7: "Gump"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

This week's match-up pits The Presidents of the United States of America's "Lump" against Weird Al's "Gump"...but is it really a face-off if the original is two thirds of the way towards being the parody? What is the age of Al-wakening? What's the difference between "unserious" and "unpretentious"? Are butt-adjacent references the Yankovic equivalent of a Hitchcock cameo? And did Al have any choice when it came to his subject matter back then? Watch out for those shifting matrices; it's an all-new ep of MASTAS.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Offspring. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 5: "Fat"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

"What if we just........didn't." That's one of the questions confronting us as WE confront an out-of-character entry in the Weird Al songbook: "Fat." The problems don't start there; there's the cheap-sounding and turgidly self-serious original, "Bad"; by problematic artist Michael Jackson; the risible video by MJ, and the shortcutsy cruelty from WA...there's even an ill-advised decision in a high-school talent show. Bass requests, Staying Alive references, and conscientious objections: it's an all-new MASTAS!

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by the Stone Roses. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 3: "Bedrock Anthem"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 5 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Grab a tube sock for your privates: it's time to pit the Red Hot Chili Peppers against Weird Al! Before Mark makes the pun that drives our listenership numbers off a cliff, we're discussing the omnipresent Chilis hits "Under The Bridge" and "Give It Away"; how many songs Weird Al might have tried to fit his Flintstones joke set into before settling on these; the five items '90s dorm rooms had to contain lest their occupants risk expulsion; and the difference between "sexy" and "just always naked all the time." Hashtag justice for the Bee Girl: it's an all-new episode of MASTAS!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Queens of the Stone Age. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

"What...is this thing?" Start at the beginning!
The "Under The Bridge" video
The "Give It Away" video
The "Bedrock Anthem" video
...and of course Blind Melon's "No Rain"
That Rolling Stone cover story, in which Anthony Kiedis talks about the birth of "Under The Bridge"
Flea's podcast, This Little Light

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Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 1: "Amish Paradise"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Weird Al vs. Everybody season of MASTAS! We're looking at a couple dozen Weird Al Yankovic songs and the originals that inspired him, and choosing a winner in each match-up -- starting with Coolio homage "Amish Paradise"! Before we get into self-serious videos for movies we think might be fake, cultural appropriation of pre-tech societies, and how Stevie Wonder feels about our swearing, we've got an important announcement about voting and future in-person events...but then we're back to discussing whether Weird Al-chemy turns "Gangsta's" into gold. Listen now, English!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne; the WAvE theme-let is a mash-up of Oingo Boingo, Elvis Costello, Black Box, and Michael Buffer; and our outro is by The Primitives. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 12: Answer Songs

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000

The competition is over, but the discussion of comeback songs isn't -- and today's is about comebacks in the answer/clapback sense. Seven "answer" songs come under the MASTAScope, as well as the frequency with which Neil Young is told to shut it, Bavaria's unexpected move to Ireland, the Judy Cycle opera we need to see, and pop songs that have become microplastics in their ubiquity. Vaseline those teeth and have a listen.

Our outro for today's episode is by Neil Young. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 11: The Championship

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

It's time to declare a winner -- the definitive pop-music comeback song -- but the road to the final result is a twisty one. "Believe" and "Walk This Way" each crystallize the concept of the comeback, but in different ways, so to help us choose, we're watching videos, discussing the synecdoche of Cher, rummaging through a bin of PhD-thesis topics, and resisting arithmetic. Is the outcome predictable, or precedent-setting? AutoTune a drum roll and listen!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is by the Strokes. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 10: The Final 4

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

The semifinal round is, while somewhat predictable, still full of ups and downs, including Spelling Bee's interest in our works and days, the way Adam Lambert takes and gives meaning, how far is far enough for a song we actively dislike, Latin-phrase drag names, scary puppets, and reader comments! Sorry about the sweaty-Reagan reference; distract yourself with our penultimate DCIAC episode.

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 9: The Elite 8

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

We're down to eight great comeback songs; which ones will join the Do Call It A Comeback season's Final Four? We're quoting Wayne's World, we're putting things in plaid place out of eight, we're remembering upsetting Beatles gifts, we're adding salt to temp tracks, and we're wondering why it so often seemed like nobody cared about Laura Branigan's reputation. Transmitting live-to-tape from the floor of the Utah legislature while on a date with Bonnie Raitt, it's Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is by Squeeze. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 8: The Sweet 16

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

The Sweet 16 is here, along with the return to numbered rankings...and the unkindest cuts of all, plus another Auto-Tune justice conversation, myriad matrices, Tracy Chapman's post-nineties Flintstones car, 92.5% of Cher's butt, unpleasant flashbacks to the sophomore dance, and the long wait for a muffin basket from Nick Rhodes. Quick, before another UHF quote-fight breaks out -- walk THIS way to hear our latest episode!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up; our interstitial music is by Beck, and our outro is by Joni Mitchell. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

We're taking a quick break before the emotional press of the Sweet 16 to talk about a handful of "off-label" comebacks: award-winners, kids' songs, comebacks only we noticed, and more. We wonder whether it's possible to have been too big to truly come all the way back; we contemplate a truly catastrophic remix of self-loathing; and we bemoan sad computers, unfortunate spiritual-title phrasing, and Jackwagon Wenner. Got some snitty advice for dead people? Us too! Get on board!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is the Stone Roses. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 6: Round Of 32 B

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Mark's spreadsheet of history has spoken: we're choosing the rest of the Do Call It A Comeback season's Sweet 16 this week! From the top of the pallet of improbable late-'80s comeback songs, we're surveying the joyful geeky dance of Robin Gibb, the 20 percent of our income we owe to Duran Duran, the most tiresomely groovy Ben & Jerry's flavors, Canadian spellings, and what's playing when we're drinking a Crystal Light at the hotel spa. What would The $1.98 Video Show have looked like? Find out in our latest episode!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is The Connells. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 5: Round Of 32 A

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The Round Of 32 is underway! After a brief chat about our head-vs.-heart processes in this round, we descend into the valley of the shadow of twos: struggling to come up with the word "metamorphosis," confronting the history of Auto-Tune, measuring levels of exposure to Britpop, and planning a community-college class on interpretive dance. Everybody's got their Limburger, we also learn -- what's yours? Grab a thesaurus and your most exhausting album title and have a listen.

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is Everything But The Girl. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 4: The Last 15

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The last 15 songs have entered the comeback fray, along with Nickelodeon dominance, stinky vocals in classic songs, what Clive Davis is drinking while he waits for artists at a crossroads, perfect blends of horniness and intelligence, and what happens when you drop John Belushi's Joe Cocker imitation in a vat of AI. Should Bob Dylan live in a saguaro in Joshua Tree and other questions for the ages, as we wrap up the first round of our definitive-comeback season!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is Sarah Vaughan. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 3: The NEXT Next 15

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It's the second half of the first round, and some of our toughest choices yet, as we struggle with how comebacks used to look in a monoculture; human Razzie Awards; the comeback-osity of an "X featuring Y" track; why J. Lo never seems to be having fun; weird H.W. Bush presidency detritus; returns from '70s banishment; and what exactly we have to do to get fake fade-outs in pop songs outlawed. Throw on a Nauset Warriors ringer tee; it's time for an all-new MASTAS.

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is the Bee Gees. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 2: The Next 15

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The next 15 songs in our definitive-comeback-song season storm the booth! Sometimes the song is coming back to the podcast from a previous season; sometimes our lunch is coming back on us thanks to cynical bongo glurge; and sometimes we're wondering if there's a portrait of Jeff Lynne in an attic somewhere? Execrable album-only tracks, the supergroup conundrum, market forces' inability to control a film soundtrack, how you score the montage during The Big Game, and our joint memoir, Morbid Tales Of Disgruntlement (To A Bossa Nova Beat). Throw on a gold lamé tunic and some fuzzy slippers, dunk those Russell Stovers in a vodka mart, and tell Alexa to crank this all-new MASTAS ep!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is Michelle Branch. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 1: The First 15

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

What is the most representative comeback song in pop history? Our Do Call It A Comeback season will find out...and we have been here for years, thinking about the philosophical definition of a comeback, great creative leaps forward, when B-plus vocals lead to A-plus artistry, the middle-school melodrama of '70s supergroups, savvy collaborations, and how MTV brought the '60s into the Reagan era. Put up a Successories poster and slap it out with a new MASTAS season!

Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is Luscious Jackson. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Single No. 2: Jock Jams

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It was a winding road from our #FirstNameBasis finale to our favorite jock jams, but we hope y'all ARE ready for this contemplation of sporty hype tracks -- as well as county fairs, Snuffy Smith, Yankee Stadium's unpredictable PA loyalties, which song is the ur-JJ, the apparent international exchange program at work in early JJ albums, early-'90s rappers who are both ignorant of and apathetic towards decent flow, NKOTB's "hard" period, and Gary Glitter in purgatory. Strike it up, Cotton-Eye Joes!

For more content and discussion, follow us on Patreon, Facebook, and/or Instagram!

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 7: The Top 10

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Whoooo's number ooooone? (BA BA BAAAAAA!) That's not a spoiler, by the way, so you'll have to listen to our First-Name Basis finale to find out which name song is the most iconic of all time -- and also what SDB's grandma called farts, differing sources of iconicity, listener testimony from an Eileen, which song has a reliable narrator, and when the "M" in "MILF" stands for "Monkee." Season picks crash and burn, we split babies and bemoan overalls...it's the usual chaos and kismet, and it's (sorry in advance) SO GOOD! SO GOOD!

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli; interstitial music provided by the Police; and our outro is by Dover.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 6: The Top 20

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The rankings only get more challenging as the First-Name Basis season confronts its Top 20 -- as well as iconic pop numbers, Jersey "law," unholy mash-ups of finalist songs, the cease-and-desist letter SDB should expect any moment now from Laura Branigan's estate, and your co-hosts ranking themselves 21st at remembering to play all the clips. Liza, Yoda, "Cocaine," and avant-garde math: beat back those man-eating Casio vines and join us!

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli, and our outro is Deee-Lite.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 5: Multi-Name Songs

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 3 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the intermission of our First-Name Basis season -- in which we're contemplating important songs with more than one name in them, and ranking them, too! And while this ep is dropping in the middle of the season, we actually recorded it first, so if it seems like we're working through our metrics for what's iconic when it comes to name songs...we are! Time is a flat pop chart! We're also talking about disco murder ballads, the underrepresentation of men's names in this season, why John Cougar is like Erica Kane, Gap khakis, song prequels, and justice for Cotton-Eye Joe. Before you write your congressperson a letter about banishing the word "dump" from pop songs, listen to our latest episode!

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli, and our outro is Billy Pilgrim. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 4: The Last 10

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

We're finishing out the Top 40 in our First-Name Basis season with an all-timer set of 10 songs: all three of the songs your co-hosts and their husbands picked to win the whole season, and the diabetic garbage that's been torturing SDB for decades. We're also discussing mall anchor restaurants, the peak period of cinema-storyline videos, enduring bobby-soxer cuteness, startlingly low chart performance, and whether "fap-fap-fap" is in fact an emotion. Tie down that swingset and join us for an all-new MASTAS!

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli, and our outro is Jim Croce. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 3: The Third 10

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

"Mark and Sarah: why ya buggin'?" Why aren't we buggin' in the third ep of our First-Name Basis season: the weird fade-out during Barry Manilow's "Mandy"-ending glory note, "Mary"-song vote-splitting, SEO retitling, cheerleader moxie, the all-killer-no-filler pop charts of 1984, and Reality Bites as a crystal ball into adulthood. We're also craving Girl Scout cookies and honoring Wilson Pickett's narrative restraint as we continue crafting the season's Top 20, so call up your Aunt Khaleesi and tell her there's an all-new MASTAS!

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli, and our outro is Weezer. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 2: The Next 10

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The second batch of 10 songs is raising tough questions for our First-Name Basis season, like: Does difficult subject matter preclude a song from moving on? How can you tell if a songwriter has never lived in NYC...and how drunk WERE the Kingsmen? Would Rick Springfield REALLY just pine for some lady? We also fondly remember You Can't Do That On Television, pay tribute to Weird Al Yankovic, and save you from Succession finale spoilers, so if you can't hear the drums, turn up the volume on Episode 2.

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli, and our outro is Sarah Vaughn. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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First-Name Basis, Episode 1: The First 10

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 5 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Our First-Name Basis season is underway! Our mission: to identify the most iconic song associated with a first name. But how? It starts right here, as we look at the first 10 in our FNB Top 40 and decide which songs/names move on to the next round. Along the way, we make predictions, remember Just One Of The Guys and American Crime Story, stand too close to you with Chardonnay breath, re-scan upstate towns to fit into country songs, and pay tribute to the car trips and roller rinks of our youths. Come on, Eileens: it's an all-new MASTAS season!

Our intro is [deep breath] Elliott Smith, Ben Folds, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli, and our outro is De La Soul. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 10: The Championship

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The Record Of The Year Showdown comes down to this...and there's not a ton of surprises here, probably, but there IS the wall of history, the wisdom of (drunk, stoned New York City) crowds, shared musical language, the "Somebody" multiverse, and Sarah's zombie mom. So, you know: Monday. Everyone's a winner in the battle of head vs. heart as we crown a ROTY champion in our season finale.

Our intro is by Whitrew Byrnston, and our outro is by the Pet Shop Boys. For more information/to become a patron of OUR show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 9: The Final 4

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Mark's shenanigans aside, we had an easier time ranking our semifinal group than we'd expected -- but we didn't necessarily expect to go on a sentimental journey with TLC, Sarah Palin's nephew LARP Jr., cutesy Aretha, braided beards, and an open invitation to Gotye to come on/edit the podcast. But a full moon and Sarah's all-covers clip choices put us on the emotional road to our season finale. Don't worry, we will still always love you (and have not gotten killed by John Ramos) in our penultimate ROTY episode.

Our intro is by Whitnaurack Bargellston, and our outro is by Deee-Lite. For more information/to become a patron of OUR show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 8: The Elite 8

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000

"This'll be cinchy! [cut to: sobbing]" We thought we'd have a more straightforward time of our quarterfinal rankings, but alas, no. We did have a Whitney-koan reader mail, a visit from Katharine Hepburn, the aural equivalent of a sped-up Bob Ross episode, and music-minister shout-outs before Julio got the stretch and carted off four more beloved songs. Grab a fine-tooth comb and join us for Episode 8 of the Record Of The Year Showdown.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne with an assist by Whitney Houston, and our outro is by the Sundays. For more information/to become a patron of OUR show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 7: The Sweet 16

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

More like the BITTER-sweet 16, the episode that forces hosts and listeners alike to make terrible choices, as well as rank things politically, salute album-cover pets of yore, choose which Adele hills to die on, pit Henry Mancini against Leonard Nimoy, mourn the consensus "blech," and dodge the ire of John Ramos whilst deploying Emilio Estevez fist-pumps. Is today a "Beat It" day, or is Sunny coming home to Mark Ronson's name on her mailbox? Lace up those skates, boo: it's Episode 7 of the Record Of The Year Showdown.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne with an assist by Whitney Houston, and our outro is by Officer Roseland. Dig Officer Roseland's chili on Bandcamp, and for more information/to become a patron of OUR show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 6: Round Of 32, '91-'22

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

The Round Of 32 is a plot-heavy affair: Coldplay premonitions, beautiful German cheese, learning to love advisedly off-putting pop, and songs that grab you by the nip. As the decisions get more agonizing, Aunt Doreen punches Grampy Blankenship in the face, and we discover that the ghost in the machine is -- and will continue to be -- Whitney. Get ready to scramble a goose egg; it's the second half of the ROTYS Sweet 16.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Whitn-- er, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 5: Round Of 32, '59-'90

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

The Round Of 32: where the choices get tougher and the cheeses get lonelier. We're writing Back To The Future/Babybel fan-fic, analyzing palimpsest layers, appreciating Bobby Darin's interpretive skills (and apologizing to Jerry Orbach), and wondering who's going to do a better job of seducing Sarah, Mrs. Robinson or Toto. What song is a red-wine drunk? Who burned off their eyelashes in seventh grade? We're looking for answers -- and half of the ROTYS Sweet 16.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Harry Styles. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 4: 2007-2022

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

It's the final section of our Record Of The Year Showdown Round Of 64! The Grammys get more of a clue, albeit seemingly by accident, here in the 21st century, and we're talking about that, plus the late Shows Of Note, editorial thrills in dinosaur/country-fiddle pairings, farts over a xylophone, our favorite generic bands, the schmaltz hinge point, songs that need their videos in order to work, and phannntommm-adjacent content. Who is this millennium's Anne Murray? Find out in the season's fourth episode!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Strokes. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 3: 1991-2006

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

We're heading -- somewhat angrily! -- into the 21st century in our third Record Of The Year Showdown episode. Spanning 1991-2006 at the Grammys, our discussion also looks at early-nineties quality control lapses, celebrations of the dusty past, nestling in the Swiss-y holes of pop cheese, seventh-grade-dance melodrama, special categories for Whitneying and Mariahing, "psyyyyych!" noms, and George Santos's first Grammy. Less math than last time, but more rage as MASTAS's ROTY Showdown season turns the corner in the Round Of 64.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by William Joel. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 2: 1975-1990

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

The Record Of The Year Showdown enters the second "bracket" section with winners from 1975-1990, which means a lot of flashbacks to our America's Damp 40 season; theories about Billy Joel and Rufus Wainwright; Eagles/color-blindness test metaphors; underappreciated dad-bod pop stars; how a cult implicated Steve Winwood; and the necessity of special categories to contain nuclear waste like "We Are The World." It all culminates in a FIVE-way tie amongst cheeses standing alone -- AND outtakes! We've got wind, we've got wings, YOU'VE got an all-new episode of MASTAS.

Our intro is Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is Aimee Mann and your hosts losing their damn minds. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 1: 1959-1974

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our Record Of The Year Showdown season! With listeners' help, we're going to find out which Grammy-winner for ROTY is the best of the 64 winners to date...or maybe just the least baffling and unconscionable. How are we doing this? It's sort of a bracket; we'll explain up top, and then we'll talk about cobwebby rocking chairs, how anyone managed to get laid during the Eisenhower presidency, rewarding artists who don't "take the pot," and songs we can't get all the way through. Grab a triple espresso for all those instrumentals: it's an all-new season of MASTAS!

Our intro is Andrew Byrne, and our outro is Weird Al Yankovic. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 07: Cringe-Hop Is Too Legit To Quit

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 5 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000

We're wrapping up our second "embarrassing radio hip-hop" ep with Marky Mark, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, and two by Young MC. Different Wahlbergs for different times in one's bunk, Myra Cormier truthering, rap conceived by dudes named Kev to sell plastic toys, the drums you find in the dumpster behind KMart, and cheekbones that could cut ham -- it's all here in the lucky (?) seventh episode of Beats Around The Bush.

Our intro is the "Straight Up" PSA, and our outro is Tribe Called Quest. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. To buy our Madonna A to Z book, click here.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 06: Cringe-Hop Wipes Out

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

We had so much to say about embarrassing radio hip-hop of the H.W. Bush era, we had to split our convo into two episodes! Here in the first one, we're confronting C+C Music Factory, the Fat/Beach Boys, Gerardo, Kris Kross, and the erstwhile Jesse Jaymes; we're wondering who's getting hit with a brick; we're asking who saw Disorderlies more times, and we're reminiscing about bosses who wear cycling tights to work. Justice for Arsenio, Gerardo's girlfriend's mom, and the corporate speaking circuit: it's time to talk cringe-hop on MASTAS.

Our intro is Brian Austin "David Silver" Green via Beverly Hills, 90210, and our outro is MC 900 Ft Jesus. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. To buy our Madonna A to Z book, click here.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 05: The Mystery Of Tone Loc

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Tone Loc was everywhere; then, he wasn't -- or so it seemed. Did Anthony Terrell Smith really disappear, or did the nineties just make him less visible? What exactly is in a Fuzzy Navel? Why does his work keep stumbling into trans panic? And will MC Hammer ever see chart justice? With a little help from Robert Stack and LL Cool J, we're contemplating the mystery of Tone Loc.

Our intro is Kris Kross for Sprite, and our outro is the Unsolved Mysteries Hammer remix. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. To buy our Madonna A to Z book, click here.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 04: May The JVC Force Be With You

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Sarah is obsessed with late-'80s Bronx/Central Islip outfit JVC Force! Mark...is also on this podcast! ...But seriously, folks: we're unpacking a handful of tracks from "Doin' Damage," peering into the 1990 divide, and pouring one out for our shortest episode. Wheel that seafood tower on over to our table and listen in.

Our intro is J.V.C. F.O.R.C.E., and our outro is the Commodores. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. To buy our book, click here.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 03: Salt-N-Pepa Six-Pack

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 7 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Salt-N-Pepa's here and they came to out-rap you -- but not in a mean way! Today we're talking about six Salt-N-Pepa hits across a handful of albums, the difference between '80s and '90s SNP, when #smarternotharder comes to hip-hop, and how talking "About Sex" sounded 30 years ago. Nobody's getting on OUR nerves in the third Beats Around The Bush ep of MASTAS...

Our intro is the Yo! MTV Raps credits break, and our outro is 702. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 02: Def Jef Jam

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000

In our second Beats Around The Bush-isode, we're (re-?)introducing the world to the joyous, winking, horny turn-of-the-nineties sound of Jeffrey Fortson, aka Def Jef. We're also remembering Def Leppard, early Law & Order: Mothership, regrettable t-shirts of freshman year, and Gowanus Bob. Grab a lemon-lime bev and prepare to have your vision corrected with an all-new episode of MASTAS!

Our intro is Messrs. Kid 'N Play, and our outro is Shaquille O'Neal featuring Def Jef. ("...Psych!!") (...jk, it is in fact Shaq.) To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Beats Around The Bush, Episode 01: Hippie Hop Hooray

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our Beats Around The Bush season, in which we investigate the rap and hip-hop that brought us joy during/near the first Bush presidency, 1988-1993ish. After we try to explain our construction of this framework, we dig into our first BATB topic: "hippie hop," the relaxed/baked grooves of the time from artists like De La Soul, PM Dawn, Us3, Digable Planets, and Arrested Development. Who has the sexiest flow? Which group's album sent Sarah tumbling off her dorm futon? Does Mark have middle-school poetry sins to atone for? How ya doin', Al(s): it's a brand-new season of MASTAS.

Our intro is the late George H.W. Bush, and our outro is Gramatik. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 08: The Final Ranking

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Who is the Lilith Fairest of them all? At last, our answer -- but first, we look at last-comers Heather Nova, Jewel, Paula Cole, Des'ree, and Natalie Merchant. And we ask a few more questions, like which sophomore year lyrics belong to, high school or college; whether we feel truly confident in our Lilithosity metrics; who's our favorite liberal scold; and when someone's going to form a lit-mag EIC union. All this, plus a surprise 40th-place finish, a Mark-rage epilogue, and a potato gun loaded with C-minus Dylan lyrics in the Lilith Fair 40 season finale.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Janis Joplin. Interstitial music provided by the Sundays. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 07: The Penultimate 35

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 5 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The second-to-last set of 5 songs joins the Lilith fray by zig-zagging all over the map: Ani DiFranco, India.Arie, Natalie Imbruglia, Aimee Mann, and Chantal Kreviazuk take us from a soggy subbasement of the Brill Building, to the desert, to the diner for a celery soda, to the valley of the shadow of WTF. That's where the doctors with butterfly nets found us; where did the Top 35 rankings find YOU? Grab a copy of the CanCon statute and a vegan crunch wrap, because we're almost done with the Lilith Fair 40.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Peggy Lee. Interstitial music provided by Cat Power. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 06: The Hurty 30

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The murderers' row of artists joining us for our Top 30 episode -- Joan Osborne, Tracy Chapman, Fiona Apple, Shawn Colvin, and Lisa Loeb & 9 Stories -- might actually literally kill us? Primitivism without authenticity, dorm-room BS, a plea to send all the puppies, and the unexpected pleasures of representative democracy all have a moment this week, so while we figure out how the Hooters got in here, grab a pair of tiresome spectacles and listen to our latest ep!

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Pat Benatar. Interstitial music provided by Agnes Obel. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 05: 25 Up Top

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

We're in the #LilithFair40 homestretch now with our top 25, joined by Bif Naked, The Juliana Hatfield 3, Jill Scott, Patty Griffin, and the Cardigans. Discovering Toni Morrison, the sophomore-pox that ravaged college radio, commercials for shampoo that contains absinthe, and Wednesday Addams's private moment with Christian Slater -- you won't want to miss this ep, so kick off one shoe and have a listen.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Bettie Serveert. Interstitial music provided by Holly & the Italians. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 04: The Fairing 20

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The Lilith Fair 40 reaches the halfway mark -- what better time to confront the contribution of festival founder Sarah McLachlan, along with Macy Gray, Dionne Farris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Dido? We also remember childhood soundtracks, acknowledge "listen boo-boo" energy, blank on Shiri Appleby's name (sorry, lady!), spread German mustard on car singing, and play hacky-sack at the center of the Lilith/WB Venn. Help us separate love and Lilithosity in our Top 20 episode!

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by I'm With Her. Interstitial music provided by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 03: 15 To Life

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 8 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Mark gets emotional, Sarah gets confused, and the Lilith/WB Venn gets unpacked: it's the third #LilithFair40 episode, with the Indigo Girls, Letters to Cleo, Alanis, Liz Phair, and Michelle Branch rounding out the top 15. Secular hymns, hidden fists, zines, cool girls, and Dawson Leery (...again!): the quest for the Lilith Fairest of them all continues.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Dolly Parton. Interstitial music provided by Etta James. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 02: The Next 5

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The rankings get exponentially tougher in our second episode, with k.d. lang, Tori Amos, Sheryl Crow, The Cranberries, and Melissa Etheridge joining the countdown. Raisin girls, genre-defying voices, The Hall Of B-Plus, and when a window is just a window as we introduce the 10 Lilith Fairest songs on our chart.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by The Ladybugs. Interstitial music provided by k.d. lang via Joni Mitchell. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 01: The First 5

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

It's the first "real" episode of the Lilith Fair 40: Dar Williams, Meredith Brooks, Frente!, Suzanne Vega, and The Corrs inaugurate our chart, with help from the MCSL "listies" mixtape, greasy-haired sad boys, how to sing about a building collapse, incomplete subversion of the male gaze, and sibling bands to fall asleep to. All this, and Mark may have identified his overall #1 song -- in the first five minutes! Put on an extra layer of crystal deodorant, because we're on a journey here, people.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Carly Simon. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 00: An Introduction

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to The Lilith Fair 40, in which we put on broomstick-pleated skirts and Pride jewelry, light some Nag Champa, and set off on a journey of discovery: what is the Lilith Fairest song of all time? This season, we're looking at the woman-forward festival of the late '90s; our own musical attitudes from that time; and misogyny in pop music -- and in THIS episode, we're revealing the 40 songs under discussion, and explaining the process. We're very XXcited to get started, so grab a peasant blouse and join us!

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Denise & Co. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Eleven #11 Hits, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

We decided NOT to write a book about all the pop songs that "only" (or..."somehow") hit #11 on the Billboard charts...but you wouldn't know it from our voluminous notes on the 11 Number 11s we did decide to contemplate, including Stevie Nicks, Stephen Bishop, Dead or Alive, Heart, Digital Underground, T. Swift, the Thompson Twins, the KLF (with Tammy Wynette), Gloria Estefan, Crystal Waters, and the Beatles. Surprisingly bad vocals, appealing audacity, Citizen Kane, confused NuRo image systems, hangover takes, and stage names on the birth certificate -- come with us on a journey that ends juuuuuust short of the chart's promised land.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by I'm With Her. Interstitial music provided by The Go! Team. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 08: The Final Ranking

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

It's the America's Damp 40 season finale! Dave Mason, Silver, Leo Sayer, Barbra Streisand, and Chicago file onto the big stage, and Shaddo and Peej discuss moist chord structures, running over cassettes in Grimsby parking lots, the return of the "DON'T TOUCH THAT!!" shriek, unmodulated Broadway belting, and the Jordan-almond schmaltz shell that is mid-'80s Peter Cetera. We talk about what we've learned; we share our top 10s, and yours; and we present the entire black-letter-law Damp 40 in all its frizzy glory. In WMST Moist FM station meetings, "perfect score" can mean a lot of things; find out what in Episode 08. (And for real, just...don't touch that.)

The Brothers Byrne share intro duties, and our outro is by Joe Jackson. Interstitial music provided by The Queers. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 07: The Penultimate 35

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

There was a "35 moisture-units per hour" joke here but Sarah just couldn't get it to go. YOU should go listen to the second-to-last episode of our America's Damp 40 countdown, as America, Dan Hill, Seals & Crofts, Kenny Loggins, and Foreigner all slosh onto the chart. How did George Martin get in here? Did one of the legion of Dans solve toxic masculinity -- from Canada? Why did the users disagree with us about the dampness of partnered sex on a hot day? And who won the battle for Kenny Loggins's soul, feelings and underpants or triumph and uniforms? Fill a 200-lb bag with tapioca and draw a Sharpie beard on the side of it: it's Episode 07.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Primitives. Interstitial music provided by Aimee Mann. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 06: The Dirty 30

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Three quarters of the way through the America's Damp 40 countdown! Wading into the swamp this week are Nicolette Larson, Bread, Barry Manilow, Jim Croce, and the Garden State's own Dr. Hook, and as Mark fondly remembers a bank vestibule and conjures a mating dance involving a drink with grenadine in it, Sarah wonders if the titular Mandy has called the police. Foundational texts of moisture, dramaturgical research on pay phones, the Beverly Hills, 90210 Spring Dance, and the many sins of Shel Silverstein all come up for discussion during the ongoing reign of Dan terror we're calling Episode 06.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Karen Carpenter. Interstitial music provided by Lola Rico LLC. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 05: 25 For Fighting

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

It's getting real -- real soggy, that is -- as we wrestle with the next five songs in the America's Damp 40 countdown. William Joel, Kenny Rogers, Randy Vanwarmer, Bertie Higgins, and yet another Dan (Fogelberg) have us talking about emotional-labor issues, when vulnerability is actually wimpiness, songs that sound like karaoke stock videos look, whether the poor man's Jimmy Buffett is in fact Jimmy Buffett, and how to get fired from Hallmark for dysfunctional metaphorizing. How did these songs change the landscape of our Top 10? And could someone please find Randy Vanwarmer's ex-girlfriend's cat? Hang a bag of DampRid: it's Episode 05.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Donovan. Interstitial music provided by John Sebastian and the Sweathogs. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 04: The Roaring 20

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

We've reached the halfway point in our America's Damp 40 countdown, and with Steely Dan, Ambrosia, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Olivia Newton-John, and 10cc entering the chart, it's getting dark AND damp in here. The condescension of older boyfriends, saying the quiet part out loud, sexual grift, calling the Seals family onto the (shag) carpet, vicarious embarrassment, and that time Sandy from Grease had too much tempranillo at the Christmas party and awked out big-time. We're chipping away at the layers of Casio that form an emotional carapace for Seventies Man, so grab an avocado-colored hard hat and join us: it's Episode 04.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Sir Elton John. Interstitial music provided by ONJ. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 03: The Sweet? 15

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

America's Damp 40 countdown "welcomes" another five songs to the fray, including selections from Orleans, Melissa Manchester, James Taylor, Lionel Richie, and Dolly Parton. Is Manchester the girl from "Chevy Van"? How do the paradigm challenges of drag relate to moisture levels? Was JT low-key hateful this whole time? And did Sarah crack the anti-moisture code of country music before the police arrived to arrest her for speculating on Mr. Richie's "alone time"? It's Episode 03, and it is NOT for kids.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Commodores. Interstitial music provided by Ol' Blue Eyes with an assist from Sarah's birthday-mate, Stephen Sondheim. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 02: The Next 5

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

The next 5 songs join the America's Damp 40 countdown, so buckle up for Gerry Rafferty, the Eagles, Todd Rundgren, Sammy Johns, and our old friend Paul Davis as we settle our first top 10. Penthouse letters gone feloniously awry, Glenn Frye-colepsy, predicting saxophone sales, the one time Sarah will let herself use the word "iconic," and a side of toasted nuts: it's Episode 02!

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Stealers Wheel. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 01: The First 5

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000

America's Damp 40 is now officially underway with our first 5 songs! Art Garfunkel, Juice Newton, Christopher Cross, Styx, and Player form the foundation of our moist pop-chart project. The mystery of Dudley Moore, Michael McDonald's mentholated support, the difference between longing and a boner, sonic butter, the Garfunkel/Midler Venn, and Ridge Forrester -- this episode's got something for everyone.

Our intro is by David G. Byrne, and our outro is by Thomas "Fats" Waller. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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America's Damp 40, Episode 00: An Introduction

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to America's Damp 40, our season dedicated to ranking the moistest soft rock hits of all time. In this episode, we explain the premise, discuss how our rankings will work, reveal the songs in contention, and talk about all the shag carpeting on which a person can make love.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Association. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

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Episode 250: Songs With "Song" In The Title, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000

In our most meta episode ever, we're ranking 13 songs with the word "song" in the title, which allows us to discuss everything from Weird Al to porpoises to the very best times to sound like Simon and Garfunkel.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli. (Truly!) Our outro is by Soykus Paynoot. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 249: Queen, "Don't Stop Me Now"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:32:40 +0000

The ostentatious awesomeness of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” gets us talking about songs you can’t possibly sing along to and the various reasons Freddie Mercury is eternal.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by PJ Harvey. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 248: The Rolling Stones and the Sundays, "Wild Horses"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 18:30:00 +0000

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne and our outro is by Patsy Cline. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 247: Julia Michaels, "All Your Exes"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 8 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Will this be Mark's favorite song of the year? And can he convert Sarah? The maturity ship sails with mentions of Alanis, Miranda Lambert, Hopkins (drink!), and the cool girl looming large.

Our intro is by David Byrne (not that one), and our outro is by Ivy. For more episodes and/or to buy our book, visit our website at markandsarahtalkaboutsongs.com, and get even more eps and discussion on our Patreon page, patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 246: Songs We Loved In 7th Grade

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Nov 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We both had taste in 7th grade. Was it good taste? Listen to us discuss our favorite songs from that long-ago time and then decide!

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by A.B. Logic. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 245: "It's Hard To Be Famous" Songs, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 12:39:33 +0000

There are MANY songs about how hard it is to be famous, but which one is the best? In this ranking episode, we anoint the most valuable tune in the "I hate my rockstar life" canon.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Ray Charles. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 244: Bon Jovi, "Runaway"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We're going all the way back to Bon Jovi's first hit single, "Runaway" -- and we're digging into Journey keyboards, bad daddies, and lyrical choices that hit differently today than they did back then.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Joe Jackson. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 243: Joey Lawrence, "The 'Whoa' Troika"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Joey Lawrence once released a teen pop album, and three of its songs demand attention. Join us for an investigation of white-boy rapping, smoove grooves, and the best way to hold your butt.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by The Archies. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 242: Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" gets us talking about no-good boyfriends, drums that arrive at just the right time, and structural choices that make a song more exciting.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli and our outro is by Lyn & The Invaders. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 241: Etta James, "Something's Got A Hold On Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Etta James is ready for love (and other things), and we're ready to listen to her sing about it in "Something's Got a Hold On Me." All that, plus Xtina, palimpsests, and songs that make you feel cute.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Sarah's true beloved, Def Jef. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 240: The "Clueless" Soundtrack, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking every song on the "Clueless" soundtrack, which means we're talking about '90s fashion, the essence of college rock, and the justice we want for No Doubt.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by DJ Tei Towa. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 239: The Replacements, "Alex Chilton"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We're discussing The Replacements' "Alex Chilton" with special guest Taylor Cole (The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show). The conversation covers everything from the pop music history of the mandolin to the changing nature of selling out.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by The Queers. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 238: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, "Tracks Of My Tears"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Have you noticed that "The Tracks of My Tears" is a perfect song? We dig into the excellence of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles' original version, the precision of the songcraft, and the narrative complexity of the background vocals. Plus, we've got a pop-chart astrology reading!

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by The Hollies. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 237: Peter Gabriel, "Digging in the Dirt" and Phil Collins, "Thru' These Walls"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

It's a battle of the Genesis frontmen as we consider Peter Gabriel's "Digging in the Dirt" and Phil Collins's "Thru' These Walls," two songs about dudes with serious issues. Only one, however, is about a grade-A creep. Can you guess which?

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli and our outro is, naturally, by Genesis. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 236: Lyle Lovett, "If I Had A Boat"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Aug 2021 12:30:00 +0000

Lyle Lovett's "If I Had a Boat" gets us talking about surreal lyrics, traditional country, and at least one great film starring Christina Ricci.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Band of Horses. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 235: "This Is Pop" on Netflix

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We're digging deep into Netflix's eight-part docuseries This Is Pop. Join us as we discuss women in country, the merits of AutoTune, and the value of taking silly songs quite seriously.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Kraftwerk. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 234: The Killers, "Lightning Fields" feat. k.d. lang and "My God" feat. Weyes Blood

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

A pair of songs from The Killers' latest album (and a k.d. lang guest vocal) get us on some of our favorite subjects: death as pop-music fodder, poetic strategies in lyrical storytelling, and the definition of "Marknip."

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Cat Power. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 233: George Benson, "On Broadway"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

As we talk about George Benson's cover of "On Broadway," Mark makes visceral sounds about the singing, Sarah makes a case about the lyrical storytelling, and we both make references to chair-dancing.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by The Candy Skins. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 232: Lenny Kravitz, "Are You Gonna Go My Way"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Is Lenny Kravitz undervalued? As we discuss "Are You Gonna Go My Way," we talk about his hot licks, his knack for controlling what consumes other artists, and his ability to make the phrase "rub-a-dub" sound sexy.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jimi Hendrix. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 231: Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris, "We Found Love"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Yes, Rihanna's "We Found Love" is joyous, but it's also aching, sophisticated, and Calvin Harris-y. We're talking about all that...and Hostess Cakes.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Soup Dragons. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 230: The Postal Service's "Give Up," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking every song on The Postal Service's album "Give Up," which means we're bleeping and blooping about grad school fan networks, lyrics with the right amount of self-consciousness, and intros that go on forever.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by The Knife. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 229: Bill Haley and His Comets, "Thirteen Women"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We're going back to the '50s with "Thirteen Women," Bill Haley's ditty about the ladies who will pleasure him during nuclear winter. Naturally, this makes us think about Greek tragedy, documentary films, and the subtle sexuality of jelly rolls.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by the Stills. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 228: Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 7 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000

A listener request has us discussing the (very long) (frequently inaccurate) history lesson in Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." We've also got a birthday chart reading about a massively popular novelty song.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Bob Dylan. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 227: Trisha Yearwood, "She's In Love With The Boy"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 31 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Tease up those bangs, because we're talking about Trisha Yearwood's 1991 country hit "She's in Love With the Boy." Why is Mark crying? Why is Sarah talking about subversive feminine narratives? Why are we using these accents? Listen and find out!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Steve Wariner. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 226: Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 17 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" gets us chair-dancing like unleashed beasts, and then it gets us talking about narrators we can relate to, hooks we can savor, and vocals we can love and hate at the same time.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Howard Jones. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 225: Songs Prince Wrote (But Didn't Perform), Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The esteemed John Ramos returns to help us rank Prince covers, which means we're discussing everyone from Cyndi Lauper to Chaka Khan to [checks notes] Tevin Campbell. We're also confronting strong feelings about Martika and parsing the fashions of Vanity 6.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Prince. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 224: Dua Lipa, "Levitating"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 3 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Dua Lipa's "Levitating" makes it look easy to fill a song with killer hooks, and she's got us talking about words invented by pop stars, the surprising depth of dance anthems, and the way, inevitably, that Madonna is always there.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Gramatik. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 223: Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock, "It Takes Two"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

We wanna rock right now, so naturally we're talking about "It Takes Two," the timeless jam by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock. We're also talking about the beauty of last-minute inspiration and who can or can't stand sex.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Run-DMC. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 222: Keane, "Somewhere Only We Know"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

As we talk about the power pop of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know," we also dig into American Idol, emotional British bands, and songs that are required to soundtrack a montage.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Everything But the Girl. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 221: The Monkees, "Pleasant Valley Sunday"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 5 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

As we talk about "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by The Monkees, we also talk about the long road to authenticity, the secret excellence of Micky Dolenz, and the various ways you could exist in the '60s.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Soup Dragons. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

Episode 16 on the Monkees' "Circle Sky"

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March MASTAS 2021: The Championship

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Our Teen Idol Tournament reaches its legally binding conclusion as we discuss the championship match-up between The Monkees and Britney Spears. This live episode features analysis, predictions, and our wistful thoughts on NKOTB. Go vote at patreon.com/mastas. (You just need a free Patreon account to vote.)

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Barenaked Ladies. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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March MASTAS 2021: Final 4 Live Discussion

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

It's getting REAL as we reach the Final Four in our March MASTAS tournament to choose the all-time best teen idol. This live episode features analysis, predictions, Intro to Max Martin Theory, and the Monkees. Go vote at patreon.com/mastas. (You just need a free Patreon account to vote.)

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Katy Perry. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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March MASTAS 2021: Elite 8 Live Discussion

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

It's the Elite 8 in our March MASTAS tournament to choose the all-time best teen idol. This live episode features analysis, predictions, and various ways to root for Boston bands. Go vote at patreon.com/mastas. (You just need a free Patreon account to vote.)

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Britney Spears. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March MASTAS 2021: Sweet 16 Live Discussion

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 8 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

It's the Sweet 16 in our March MASTAS tournament to choose the all-time best teen idol. This live episode features analysis, predictions, and dancing to New Edition. Go vote at patreon.com/mastas. (You only need a free Patreon account to vote.)

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Partridge Family. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March MASTAS 2021: Round of 32 Live Discussion

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

It's the Round of 32 in our March MASTAS tournament to determine the all-time best teen idol. This live episode features our analysis and predictions for every match-up, plus impassioned comments from our patrons. Go vote at patreon.com/mastas. (You just need a free Patreon account to vote.)

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by the Spice Girls. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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March MASTAS 2021: Welcome to the Ultimate Teen Idol Bracket!

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

It's the Round of 64 in our March MASTAS tournament to determine the all-time best teen idol! Listen for our analysis and predictions for every match-up, and then go vote at patreon.com/mastas. (You can vote even if you aren't a patron!)

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Rick Springfield. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 220B: Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

In Part 2 of our two-part ranking of Simon and Garfunkel's album "Bridge Over Troubled Water," we're discussing the mysteries of "The Boxer," tidal waves of tears, and the great relief of the occasional uptempo song.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Simon & Garfunkel. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 220A: Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

In Part 1 of our two-part ranking of Simon and Garfunkel's album "Bridge Over Troubled Water," we're discussing songs of friendship, tales of traveling salesmen, and the music you can make at a Staples.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Paul Simon. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 219: Alicia Keys, "No One"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 8 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Alicia Keys' mega-hit "No One" has us talking about distracting beauty, essential hype men, and the music you need when you're at an outdoor party.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Dusty Springfield. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 218: Charley Pride, "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000

The aggressive "okay-ness" of Charley Pride's "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" sends us down weird byways involving Twitty City, the Apple Music algorithm, and the way bland hits obscure better songs.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Elton John. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 217: Fiona Apple, "Heavy Balloon"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Mark and Sarah don't agree about Fiona Apple's "Heavy Balloon," but the reasons they disagree may delight you! Stick around for talk of overabundant metaphors, wild musical experiments, and the sweaters worn by phantoms.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by The Sundays. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 216: The Cult, "She Sells Sanctuary"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

We aren't IN a cult -- that's another Mark and Sarah -- but we are LISTENING to The Cult! Their song "She Sells Sanctuary" has us talking about glam rockers in alt-rock drag, good songs we struggle to remember, and the preponderance of Jennifers.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Verve. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 215: Songs In The Key Of Self-Love

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

We're ranking songs of self-pleasure, which means that along with making terrible onanism puns, we're (ahem) giving a hand to songs by Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, the Divinyls, and more.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by De La Soul. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Single 21: The #1 Videos from TRL's First Year

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000

We're celebrating 2021 by sharing the Patreon-only Single of the same number! Back in October of 2018, we talked about and ranked the #1 videos from Total Request Live's first year, 1998 -- "the first year the show was on the air. This means we are professionally obligated to describe *NSYNC's Christmas video to you in exacting detail." Enjoy our thoughts on JT, Carson, and geometric facial hair...and for more exclusive content, join us at patreon.com/mastas!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 214: Metallica, "Enter Sandman"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Thanks to a listener request, we're talking about "Enter Sandman," Metallica's hard rock hall-of-famer. And because it's RIGHT THERE in the song, we're also talking about Snow White, Tori Amos, and the wendigo.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Queens of the Stone Age. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 213: Fun Home, "Ring Of Keys"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Mark has finally selected a song from a musical -- "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home -- and it's got us talking about child actors, the adults we want to become, and the reason Sarah's books are color-coded.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Booker T. To contact us or buy our pop music books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 212: Leonard Nimoy, "Proud Mary"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 7 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

We're confronting the fact that Leonard Nimoy covered "Proud Mary," and it's got us talking about blithe confidence, celebrity side projects, and the profound confusion caused by terrible art.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking. To contact us or buy our pop music books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Single 45: Our Dream Madonna-Covers Album

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

In this MASTAS Single, we’re riffing on the K chapter of our Madonna book and picking the artists we think should cover Madonna’s hits, misses, and overlooked gems. We draft Alison Krauss, of course, and we also make room for Beyoncé, Dolly, and Harry Styles!

For more Madge, you can read our new book, Madonna: A to Z. It’s available at MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 211: Madonna, "Everybody" and "Medellín"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Because we wrote a Madonna book (available now!), we're talking about Madonna's first single ("Everybody") and one of her most recent ("Medellin"). Get ready for a wild ride through almost 40 years of dance music!

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Madonna. To contact us or buy our pop music books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 210: Prince's "Purple Rain," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

We're thrilled 4 the opportunity 2 rank the songs on Purple Rain. As we choose our favorites from the album, we talk about everything from instrumental breaks to terrible movies we love to the best way to pleasure oneself with a magazine.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne (with an assist from The Purple One), and our outro is by Luscious Jackson. You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To access bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 209: a-ha, "Take On Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Those high notes and those cheekbones clearly mean we're discussing "Take On Me," the swoon-inducer by a-ha. We're also talking about perfect riffs, the value of just doing your job, and the songs that Sarah thought were by Simple Minds.

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Simple Minds (we double-checked). Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 208: Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" gets us to consider the right time to holler, the best time to have a musical personality, and the perfect time to reference Project Runway.

Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Etta James. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 207: Ollie & Jerry, "Breakin' There's No Stopping Us"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Special guest Clinton Sparks joins us to talk about "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us," an all-time breakdance classic. We also get around to stories about Michael Jackson, VHS tapes, and things that should be more dope.

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Clinton (the band, not our guest!) Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

Get Familiar with Clinton Sparks at ClintonSparks.com!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 206: Dave Matthews Band, "Crash Into Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Listening to "Crash Into Me" by Dave Matthews Band gets us worked up, okay? And maybe we shout and curse and talk about Ted Hughes and reminisce about the mall. But it's the process we need to face these feelings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 205: All-Listener-Request Special!

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000

It's an all listener-request special! We're talking about seven songs that our listeners crave, so get ready for Missy Elliott, Sheila E, Weird Al, The Mountain Goats, The Pretenders, Bowie and Queen, and the Tootsie love theme.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 204: Living Colour, "Glamour Boys"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Special guest Kevin Smokler joins us to discuss Living Colour's bouncy rocker "Glamour Boys," which gets us talking about joyful political protest, Black artists who make hard rock, and the real meaning of TCBY.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by Rick Springfield. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Kevin Smokler.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 203: Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We love Lady Gaga's song "Bad Romance," and we want to tell you why. Hint: Our reasons include dope beats, the French language, the dismantling of social armor, and the legacy of Freddie Mercury. Meanwhile, a listener request has us talking about a classic B-52s video!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Queen. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 202: Parliament, "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Sarah's dream of a graduate degree in funk may have to wait, but at least we can talk about "Give Up The Funk" by Parliament! That also gets us talking about musical languages we may not speak, grooves we cannot deny, and Russian gossip we can't resist.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by James Brown. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 201: Belinda Carlisle, "Heaven Is A Place On Earth"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +0000

What starts as a simple discussion of Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a Place on Earth" evolves into a deeper (and weirder) chat about girl groups, terrible French, and the perfect time to be perfectly adequate.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Motels. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 200: Cher's 10 Most Popular Songs, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +0000

To celebrate our 200th episode (!!), we're ranking Cher's 10 most popular songs. That means we get to talk about everything from her dark-and-stormy story songs to her trendsetting dance classics to the fur-vest-wearing fellow who used to stand beside her.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Dubstar. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 199: U2, "One"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We have a jones for U2's "One," a deeply moving song that helps us get past some of the things we find exhausting about Bono. After talking about the song's history and its ability to sustain multiple interpretations, we also talk about why Mary J. Blige is a genius.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Stone Roses. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 198: Dean Martin, "Ain't That A Kick In The Head"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We feel like VERY cool cats as we discuss Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in Head.. We also feel like discussing masculine archetypes, cummerbunds, and whoever the hell Peter Lawford might be.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Sarah Vaughn. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Mark And Sarah Quiz About Songs 01: Hits Of 1991

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 3 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of our new music game show, Mark and Sarah Quiz About Songs! Play along with three of our listeners as they try to guess the hits of 1991. We also save plenty of time to talk about chart facts, musical obsessions, and the pins you should wear on a jean jacket.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 197: Patty Griffin, "Making Pies"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Look, we're not saying that Patty Griffin makes the perfect music for your tailgating party, but we ARE saying that her song "Making Pies" epitomizes her gift for condensing an entire life into four minutes. Come cry with us, sigh with us, and talk about potato salad that makes you die with us.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Sam Cooke. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 196: Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love, "Ladies First"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The legendary "Ladies First" gets us talking about how Queen Latifah can apparently do everything, and how both she and co-star Monie Love were fully formed artists from the jump. We also discuss duet partners who balance each other, lyrics that footnote themselves, and the appropriate moment to punch somebody in the face.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Def Jef. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 195: Dolly Parton's Underrated Hits

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Because we believe in angels, we're talking about Dolly Parton. More specifically, we're talking about seven of her less-remembered songs that deserve more attention, including a startling ballad from the '60s, a zippy kiss-off from the 2000s, and a late-'80s ode to cowboys with fine asses.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Patsy Cline. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.
Show Notes
Learn more about Black Rock Coalition (http://blackrockcoalition.org/)!
Check out the Story Song podcast (https://www.storysongpodcast.com/)!

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Episode 194: Luna, "This Time Around"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Jul 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Thanks to "This Time Around," the jangly jam by '90s alt-rockers Luna, we're digging into bands worth loving for 25 years, our grandmothers' strangest advice, and our favorite concert memories.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by The Stills. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 193: Nelly, "Ride Wit Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0000

While talking about "Ride Wit Me," we realize that Nelly can basically do everything. From poetic flourishes to inspiring biography to exceptional celebrity connections, we're discussing it all! 'Round about minute 17, we're also losing our fool minds.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Duran Duran. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 192: Marvin Gaye, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Talking about Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" means talking about how covers can redefine songs, and how Gaye himself can always make us feel things. We also navigate Mark's disdain for the movie Practical Magic and once again let ourselves revel in Pip shade.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Marvin Gaye. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 191: South Pacific, "Some Enchanted Evening"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We're joined by special guest Chris Barron (of Spin Doctors) to talk about "Some Enchanted Evening," a perfect song tucked inside the musical South Pacific. Get ready for talk of the Muppets, surprising chord progressions, and the ukulele.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Sly and the Family Stone. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Chris Barron.

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Episode 190: Sinéad O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 1 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We've both had Sinead O'Connor's album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" stuck in our heads for 30 years, but ranking it proved challenging. How do we choose among so many evocations of pain, love, and three babies? Our path includes political rage, feelings you can't understand until you're older, and, of course, and the William Tell overture.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, as heard on the Brassed Off soundtrack. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 189: Yola, "Faraway Look"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 May 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The passionate throwback pop that Yola delivers on "Faraway Look" gets us talking about how stories dictate performances, how to sneak stupid stuff into serious moments, and how to suffer with toast. And thanks to a patron's request, we're also talking about Annie Lennox's "Little Bird" video and the many costumes therein.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Dusty Springfield. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 188: An "Always On My Mind" Hat Trick

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 11 May 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We go deep with "Always On My Mind," discussing versions by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and Pet Shop Boys. In the midst of discussing storytelling structure, vocal choices, and the magic of an extra chord, we also take a break to deliver a listener-requested playlist of stay-at-home dance songs.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Patsy Cline. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 187: Björk, "Big Time Sensuality"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 May 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We're talking about Bjork's "Big Time Sensuality," which means we're talking about blue raspberry ice cream, people with flowers for heads, and throwing up on rollercoasters. Because Bjork is surreal, see?!?! We're also talking about our preferred musical balance between experimentation and discipline, among other musical things.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Everything But the Girl. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 186: Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like A Bird"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We may not agree on Nelly Furtado and her big hits, but we DO agree about Paul Rudd and the peak years of Entertainment Weekly. We're talking about all that and more!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Dover. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas

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Episode 185: Songs With Dubious Heroes, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking songs with dubious heroes -- meaning tunes about people who are quite possibly jerks. We're also talking about the legacy of Kenny Rogers, the reason not to discuss babies in an Arby's, and the worst approximations of calypso music.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jude. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 184: INXS, "New Sensation"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

A listener request for INXS gets us talking about "New Sensation," grade-grubbing, and the need for artists who are very good...but not quite revolutionary.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Karen Carpenter. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 183: Songs We Like By Artists We Don't

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We're talking about songs we like by artists we don't, which means we're venting our spleens about Rod Stewart, pondering the blandness of Five For Fighting, considering the alleged history of Kenny Chesney, and breathing heavily about Scotty McCreery.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Chris Carmack (as Will, on Nashville). Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas

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Episode 182: The Stills, "Changes Are No Good"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We get our indie feelings out with a song from Canadian rock band The Stills. Meanwhile, Mark surprises Sarah on his journey with this week's tune, and Sarah makes Mark realize he misunderstood something she said like 100 episodes ago.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Boards of Canada. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 181: Weezer, "My Name Is Jonas"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Talking about Weezer's "My Name Is Jonas" gets us deep into Sarah's family tree, the limits of irony as a pop-music strategy, and the reasons Weezer probably developed it super-intense fan base to begin with.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Jonas Brothers. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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The Lost Madonna Hits

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:00:00 +0000

Madonna is such a BOSS that she has 13 top-20 hits that don't appear on The Immaculate Collection or GHV2. 13! For most artists, that would be a career. For Madge, it's table scraps.

But of course, these songs aren't scraps at all. They deserve to be ranked, and so we're ranking them, along with your help! Please enjoy our whoops of joy, hollers of dissent, and gasps of surprise as we learn how we feel about "Causing a Commotion," "Rain," and more!

[This Single first appeared on our Patreon (http://patreon.com/mastas) page in January of 2018.]

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Episode 180: Argumentative Duets, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking "argumentative duets" from the Human League, Brandy & Monica, and more. We're also talking about Scandinavian animators, the music in bubble tea places, and the various meanings of the term "booty basement."
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Etta James. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 179: Donna Summer, "She Works Hard For The Money"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Mar 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Talking about Donna Summer's '80s hit has us pondering artists who can outlast backlashes, enjoying music to spite someone, and the unheralded legacy of a restroom attendant named Onetta.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Q-Feel. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 178: The Village People, "Macho Man"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Mar 2020 14:00:00 +0000

A dance-floor masterpiece is our topic today, but in addition to the Village People's hot hot disco hit, we're also talking about stuffed animals, allies in getting loud, and that time Sarah set a world Macarena record. Come for the disco, stay for Uncle Popper's Playhouse!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Queen. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 177: Rufus Wainwright, "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Talking about Rufus Wainwright's "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" gets us thinking about turning big emotions into digestible songs, the dramatic impact of opera, and the times parents are allowed to read their kids' diaries. (Answer: Almost never!)
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne and our outro is by Ben Folds. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 176: Pharrell Williams, "Happy"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:00:00 +0000

There are so many ways to be happy, and Pharrell Williams' song "Happy" pretty much covers them all. We're also talking about songs that sound confident, honeymoon rituals, and important hats of 2014.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by Katrina and the Waves. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 175: Three Oscar-Anniversary Songs

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 3 Feb 2020 14:00:00 +0000

It's our third annual Oscar-themed episode with our good pal Joe Reid! This year, we're talking about Oscar-winning songs having major anniversaries -- from The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, and Crazy Heart -- and making an unexpected turn into our grandmother's favorite tunes.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Cox Family. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Joe Reid.

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Episode 174: The Pharcyde, "Passin' Me By"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:00:00 +0000

We bow before the incredible rhymes in "Passin' Me By" by the Pharcyde, and we also talk about the pleasure of parsing lyrical references, the "collegiate" rap of the early '90s, and the best time to call someone a nincompoop.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by De La Soul. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 173: Murray Head, "One Night In Bangkok"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 14:00:00 +0000

It's a crazy miracle that "One Night In Bangkok" was a top-three single, but here we are. As we talk about Murray Head's hit song -- written by the guys from ABBA (!) and Tim Rice (!!) -- we also talk about the special weirdness of the early '80s, the least likely musicals, and George Michael's little white shorts.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Taco. (OF COURSE IT IS.) Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 172: Nina Simone, "Wild Is The Wind"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:00:00 +0000

[Content advisory: This episode touches on family separation, American slavery, and cultural trauma.]
We welcome back Eli Oberman (a great musician and our resident wind expert) to discuss Nina Simone's "Wild Is The Wind." We cover the upbeat moments in sad songs, singers who make you glad to feel wistful, and the perfect time to call a skiffle band.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Johnny Mathis. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Eli Oberman.

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Episode 171: Hall & Oates, "Private Eyes"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 6 Jan 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Our roller skating dreams are fueled by Hall & Oates, "Private Eyes," and the simple pleasures of an effortless groove. Then we think about the fate of being the second most-famous member of a duo. Shut up, And!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Huey Lewis and The News. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 170: Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 14:00:00 +0000

The time has come for us to rank every song on Alanis Morissette's decade-defining album. Which songs sound different to our middle-aged ears? Which songs have unexpectedly become favorites? Why is Judith Light involved?
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne and our outro is by Michelle Branch. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 169: Heidi Klum, "Wonderland"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Yes, Heidi Klum recorded a Christmas song, and no, we can't believe it either. Her Teutonic hubris has us talking about frightened children, Seal's domestic coping strategies, and those rare cultural artifacts that deserve both an F and an A.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Fountains of Wayne. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 168: Reba McEntire, "Fancy"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 9 Dec 2019 14:00:00 +0000

We celebrate Mark's birthday with the campy masterpiece that is Reba McEntire's "Fancy." Take a shot of moonshine every time we mention fake fingernails, celebrate sex positivity, or slip into southern accents!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by Reba's daughter-in-law. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 167: Julian Lennon, "Too Late For Goodbyes"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 2 Dec 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Can Julian Lennon's '80s hits escape the gravitational pull of his dad's legacy? Can ANY musical child of a rock star do that? And why are talking about novelty items that look like a uterus? Listen on to find out!
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is, naturally, by The Beatles. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 166: Taylor Swift ft. The Dixie Chicks, "Soon You'll Get Better"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:00:00 +0000

A subtly profound Taylor Swift song creates a mid-episode conversion, then inspires talk of shower singing, passive aggressive emails, and the finest ditches in New Jersey.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Haden Triplets featuring Ry Cooder. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 165: Ranking Songs Called "Hold On" (LIVE)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 14:00:00 +0000

In our first live episode, we're ranking seven songs called "Hold On." Get ready for talk of Wilson Phillips, calculus class, and the reasons Sarah will sing a high note. And get extra-ready for the amazing interjections from our live audience at the Van Brunt Stillhouse!
Our intro and outro are medleys featuring Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, and Jack Baldelli. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 164: Milli Vanilli, "Blame It On The Rain"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 7 Nov 2019 14:00:00 +0000

We promise we're using our real voices to talk about "Blame It on the Rain" by Milli Vanilli. We're also talking about the controversy, the insane cultural anger, and the Perfect Strangers episode that eventually resulted FROM Milli Vanilli.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 163: Concrete Blonde, "Joey"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Multiple requests for Concrete Blonde's "Joey" got us talking about this alt-rock hit from the '90s. We may not LOVE the song, but it does get us talking about the moments when "perfectly fine" can be good enough and when it can be unbearable.
Tickets for the live show here (http://mastas.eventbrite.com)!
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Soul Asylum. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 162: The Ramones, "I Wanna Be Sedated"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

On the surface, we're talking about "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones, but deep down, we're talking about our own fitful history as punks (or "punks.") Listen on for Sarah's concertgoing history and Mark's brief stint in a band called Violet Cycle.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Queers. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.
Visit the Van Brunt Stillhouse (https://www.vanbruntstillhouse.com/)!

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Episode 161: Cee Lo Green, "F**k You"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We really earn our parental warning sticker with our discussion of Cee Lo's gleefully obscene hit "F##k You." We also discuss virtuosic singing, reality show cats, and the best music video Sinead O'Connor never made.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by George Harrison. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 160: Hole's "Live Through This," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 3 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking every song on Hole's grunge-grrrrl classic album "Live Through This," and we may never stop screaming about milk. Special guest John Ramos joins us on this rediscovery of songs we blasted nonstop 25 years ago.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Bettie Serveert. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: John Ramos.

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Episode 159: Lord Huron feat. Phoebe Bridgers, "The Night We Met"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Which songs are better because of how they're used in a TV show? Exhibit A is "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron featuring Phoebe Bridgers, which gets us talking about John Travolta, our favorite teachers, and the country's relationship to death during the Civil War.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is from the documentary Death and the Civil War. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 158: Joni Mitchell, "Help Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

A straightforward chat about Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" unexpectedly leads to cole slaw, The Amazing Race Canada, and how to paint on a grain of rice. But that's Joni Mitchell, right? She inspires all kinds of things!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Prince. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 157: Styx, "Come Sail Away"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Styx's low-key insane rock anthem "Come Sail Away," we're talking about benevolent aliens, the Monroe Doctrine, and the moistest balladry known to man. Plus, there's a birthday chart reading with an unexpected connection to horror films!
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Aimee Mann. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 156: Documentary Now!, "Co-Op"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 5 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0000

When is a terrible musical a wonderful musical? When the musical is "Co-Op." We're talking about the original cast recording for the flawless episode of Documentary Now!, and we're geeking all the way out over it. We're also talking about Sondheim, the demands of good parody, and (of course) cocaine.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by George Benson. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 155: Ranking Songs Called "Jump"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking songs called "Jump," and that's got us talking about everything from Gerald Ford to childhood fights to the secret randiness of calypso music. Oh, and there's a sidebar about Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jenny Jump. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 154: The Verve Pipe, "The Freshmen"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:00:00 +0000

What actually happens in "The Freshmen" by The Verve Pipe? What happens to us when we have to listen to it? Which result is more tragic? Listen on to find out!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Barenaked Ladies. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 153: Linda Ronstadt, "When Will I Be Loved"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 8 Aug 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We decidedly disagree about Linda Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved," but don't worry! Our mutual love of other Ronstadt songs (and our mutual hatred of the goddamned Everly Brothers) saves our pod marriage in the end.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Nerf Herder. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode 152: Britney Spears, "Toxic"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 1 Aug 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We love the song "Toxic," but do we love what the culture has done to Britney Spears? Join us as we shake our thangs, ponder the peculiar fates of early-aughts pop divas, and look at the bottom of Shonda Rhimes' resume. Plus, we answer a listener voicemail!
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Chuck Berry. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 151: Ashley McBryde, "American Scandal"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Have you ever been horny in a legendary way? Then listen to our discussion about Ashley McBryde's country music anthem "American Scandal." We're joined by special guest Allen E. Read to talk about lyrics that make you worry about your boyfriend, a moratorium on Marilyn Monroe references, and musicians who sing about being famous. Plus, we ponder the mystery of "PG Boo."
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Allen E. Read.

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Episode 150: 10,000 Maniacs' "In My Tribe," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:00:00 +0000

As we rank every song on 10,000 Maniacs' "In My Tribe," we embrace our love for buzzkill liberals who sing about our national shame. We also imagine life in Natalie Merchant's family, analyze the meaning of audible breathing in songs, and ponder what Collucci can't do.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Phoebe Bridgers. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 149: Scissor Sisters, "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 13:00:00 +0000

It's the end of Pride Month, so you'd better believe we're talking about the gloriously gay "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" by Scissor Sisters. And we're Mark and Sarah, so you'd ALSO better believe this gets us talking about Apollo, Dionysus. secret sexy slang, and true crime books. Plus, we answer a listener's voicemail question about our favorite melancholy songs!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Clinton. Want to leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767! You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas

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Episode 148: Crowded House, "Don't Dream It's Over"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We could listen to Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" on a perpetual loop, and we're investigating why. Along the way, we stop at their hit "Something So Strong" and a couple of '80s-related tropes we're always happy to see.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn, and Bic Runga. Want to leave us a voicemail? Call 646-389-0767. You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), join us at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 147: Rihanna, "Bitch Better Have My Money"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Will our friendship survive our intense disagreement about Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money"? Probably! For one thing, we're united in our general enthusiasm for RiRi. For another, we have to work together to enact our revenge fantasy against employers who don't pay their freelancers in a timely manner.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Public Enemy. Want to leave us a voicemail? Call 646-389-0767. You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), join us at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 146: John Cougar, "Pink Houses"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 6 Jun 2019 13:00:00 +0000

After a patron vote, we're talking about "Pink Houses," the somewhat muddled Americana anthem by John Cougar Mellencamp Watson Crick Donoghue IV. It makes us consider the value of good-enough rock and the importance of mastering your lyrical tone. Plus, we talk about sports a little!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Neil Young. Want to leave us a voicemail? Call 646-389-0767. You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), join us at patreon.com/mastas
SHOW NOTES
Find Angela Predhomme's music right here: http://www.angelapredhomme.com/

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Episode 145: Bobby Darin, "Mack The Knife"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 30 May 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Bobby Darin's version of "Mack The Knife" lets us cover our favorite nerdy bases, including theater history, true-crime history, and handsome men in white tuxedo jackets. We also ponder whether Darin was a proto-gangsta rapper, and we get pissed all over again about Kevin Spacey. Plus, we answer a listener voicemail!
SHOW NOTES
Stereogum's #1s series (https://www.stereogum.com/category/franchises/the-number-ones/)
Our intro is by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger, and our outro is by Cake. Want to leave us a voicemail? Call 646-389-0767. You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To get access to bonus content (and vote in ranking episodes), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 144: Fergie, "Fergalicious"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 23 May 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Fergie's aggressively, deliciously stupid song "Fergalicious" gets us talking about intentional superficiality, women describing themselves as commodities, and all the reasons fifty year-olds don't have to give AF about anything. Plus, there's a listener-requested playlist about the best songs for preparing to go out!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Fantastic Plastic Machine. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.
Buy a shirt (https://mastas.fireside.fm/articles/mastasshirts)!
Attend The Blankenship Chair's first "episode"! (https://signup.theblankenshipchair.com/events)

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Episode 143: k.d. lang, "Hallelujah"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 16 May 2019 13:00:00 +0000

k.d. lang's just-right cover of "Hallelujah" gets us talking about underrated singers, misunderstood lyrical intentions, and concerts that made us cry. There's also an unexpected sidebar about funny website names, because why not?
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Tracy Chapman. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 142: Don Henley, "The End Of The Innocence"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 9 May 2019 13:00:00 +0000

A listener request gets us talking about the tear-stained yet oddly belligerent nostalgia of Don Henley's "The End of the Innocence." We also talk about Michelle Pfeiffer, posturing ponytails, and (naturally) Viagra.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Rufus Wainwright. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast), or call us! 646 389 zero POP. Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 141: Stevie Wonder, "You Haven't Done Nothin'"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 2 May 2019 13:00:00 +0000

A chat about "You Haven't Done Nothin'," Stevie Wonder's chart-topping protest anthem, leads to imaginary fights with the Jacksons, musical smackdowns we love, and the irritating necessity of a chore wheel.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Cornershop. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 140: The Magnolia Soundtrack, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We're feeling wry and symbolic, so we're ranking every song on the Magnolia soundtrack. The Aimee Mann songs get us especially fired up, whether we love them or (in one case) hate them forever. But which song will land at number one? Listen on!
PLUS: We have a phone number now! Wanna leave us a voicemail? Just call 646-389-0767. (That's 646-389-0-POP).
Meanwhile, our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Aimee Mann, post-Magnolia. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 139: Lizzo, "Juice" and "Cuz I Love You"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Lizzo's deee-licious R&B jams "Juice" and "Cuz I Love You" have us talking about songs that sound like multiple genres at once, women who rock body positivity, and artists who can balance the sincere and the ironic. Plus, sexy men cry, and we like it!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Adore Delano. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 138: Duran Duran, "Rio"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We return to regular episodes with "Rio," as performed by our #MarchMASTAS winners Duran Duran. The conversation quickly turns to Simon LeBon's little durannie, then veers to bands that have fun being famous, sweet drum fills, and rivers as metaphors. We also have a listener-requested playlist of songs that are ideal at high school reunions!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is a deep cut from Duran Duran. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 11: The Championship Round

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

The final challenge begins! The #MarchMASTAS tournament ends with Duran Duran facing Tears for Fears, and in this single, we talk about why that makes spiritual sense, which of our listeners equates Tears for Fears with childhood adventures, and what the hell a "union of the snake" actually is.
The updated bracket is here (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)!
Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com; tweet us at @TalkSongs; and vote vote vote at facebook.com/mastas.podcast and/or patreon.com/mastas!

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March MASTAS Single 10: Final Four

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Only four BritBands remain! We've reached the penultimate round of #MarchMASTAS, and it's got us talking about what we really mean by "80s band," which Duran Duran member is the most kissable, and why U2 might be more British than we thought. Plus, there are more fantastic listener stories and song stylings from Eurythmics and Tears for Fears.
The updated bracket is here (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)!
Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com; tweet us at @TalkSongs; and vote vote vote at facebook.com/mastas.podcast and/or patreon.com/mastas!

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March MASTAS Single 09: Elite 8

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

The #MarchMASTAS Elite 8 has been chosen, and now it's time for the prospective regional champions to fight it out...after several hair's-breadth wins, one walloping, and even more wonderful stories from the listeners about 1986 summers, hiding in the drama room with The Cure, and the can-still-get-it-est front man left in the competish. Come for the predictions, stay for the not-for-kids throuple with the Eurythmics!
The updated bracket is here (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)!
Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com; tweet us at @TalkSongs; and vote vote vote at facebook.com/mastas.podcast and/or patreon.com/mastas!

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March MASTAS Single 08: Sweet 16

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Some of the Sweet 16 match-ups are anything but, as #MarchMASTAS leads to beloved bands meeting each other in what we think will be close contests. Our overview episode contemplates head versus heart, legendary videos, anthems of pride, and the best Latvian-hockey soundtrack ever.
The updated bracket is here (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)!
Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com; tweet us at @TalkSongs; and vote vote vote at facebook.com/mastas.podcast and/or patreon.com/mastas!

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March MASTAS Single 07: Round Of 32, Right Side Of The Bracket

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

It's the #MarchMASTAS Round of 32! As we talk about the first-round winners from Sophistication Station and Rock This Island, we ponder the limitations of Asia (the band, not the continent) and lose our minds reading a listener's terrifying fanfic about the dude from Simply Red.
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 06: Round Of 32, Left Side Of The Bracket

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

We're continuing #MarchMASTAS with the Round of 32. In this single, we discuss the contenders from Moody-Broody and Florid & Fabulous who made it to the second round. We also read some of the amazing listener comments from last week and get detailed about the spiritual differences between Eurythmics and Depeche Mode.
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 05: Rock This Island Region

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 7 Mar 2019 14:00:00 +0000

And so we wrap up the #MarchMASTAS Round Of 64 with the Rock This Island region, and it's a one-hit wonderland of lost gems, milk on snare drums, and Sarah riding hard for "Der Kommissar." Which top seed do we predict heads to our Britpop Final Four? Listen and see -- and then go vote on our Facebook and/or Patreon pages.
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 04: Sophistication Station Region

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 6 Mar 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Get your Billy Porter on, people: #MarchMASTAS has stepped into the righthand side of the bracket, the Sophistication Station region! Tuxes, opera gloves, the Duran Duran side project that DIDN'T make the cut, and a sidebar about fights over Joey McIntyre. Predicted upsets ahoy! Go on and vote on our Facebook and/or Patreon pages.
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 03: Florid And Fabulous Region

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Tue, 5 Mar 2019 14:00:00 +0000

MarchMASTAS continues with the bottom left portion of the bracket, the Florid And Fabulous region! All the extra-est moments of '80s British music, plus our predicted upsets...and Mark threatens pod divorce over Sarah's 6/11 matchup pick. Don't forget to vote on our Facebook and/or Patreon pages!
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 02: Moody/Broody Region

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 4 Mar 2019 14:00:00 +0000

MarchMASTAS gets underway in earnest at the top left of your tournament bracket: the Moody Broody region! We discuss the match-ups, make predictions, sing you some forgotten songs of the '80s, and choke on hairspray and longing. Don't forget to vote on our Facebook and/or Patreon pages!
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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March MASTAS Single 01: Welcome To The '80s British Band Bracket!

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our version of March Madness: #MarchMASTAS, a tournament bracket designed to determine which '80s Britpop band will reign supreme! We're devoting the entire month of March to this project, and in this Single, we'll be talking about our selection process, reviewing the regions and match-ups in the first round, and reminding you to vote early and often!
Best British Bands Of The '80s: The Bracket (http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=471198)
Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 137: Barbra's "Evergreen" vs. Gaga's "Shallow"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 14:00:00 +0000

It's the Oscars episode, and this year -- with an assist once again from Joe Reid -- we're contemplating one Oscar-winning A Star Is Born song, and one presumptive winner: "Evergreen," from the Streisand ASIB; and Gaga and Cooper's "Shallow," from the 2018 ASIB. What is the sound of one lavender ribbon flapping? Where is Diane Warren's parade? And should actors win awards on the basis of a single scene? All those answers and fewer in Episode 137.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Joe Reid.

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Episode 136: The Cranberries, "Ridiculous Thoughts"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:00:00 +0000

A discussion of the Cranberries' "Ridiculous Thoughts" gets us talking about the bands we loved in private, our ongoing feelings for My So-Called Life, and the preponderance of tank tops in 90s rock videos. Plus, Joe Reid is our special guest!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is a crucial TV theme from the 90s. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Joe Reid.

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Episode 135: Shakira, "She Wolf"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 7 Feb 2019 14:00:00 +0000

At first we thought Shakira's "She Wolf" was a confusing mess, but then we realized it's a plea from an office temp whose co-workers are forest predators. Listen on to learn how we made this thrilling discovery.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Mike Post. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 134: The Gin Blossoms, "Hey Jealousy"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Let's get happy as we get sad! We're talking about "Hey Jealousy," the Gin Blossoms classic that makes us think about bad breakups, unfortunate pain, and the type of joy a great song can provide.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by the Sundays. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 133: Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, "Islands In The Stream"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Dolly Parton flies in on angel wings to sing with Kenny Rogers as we discuss "Islands in the Stream." We also talk about sensual grooming, Christmas hook-ups, and song parodies that may not realize they're parodies.
Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by the Bee Gees. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 132: Michael Penn, "No Myth"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0000

What if we were Romeo in podcast jeans? That's just one question in our look at Michael Penn's alt-rock classic "No Myth." We also deliver conspiracy theories about the VMAs, diverging ideas about what makes a good lyric, and fan fiction about Aimee Mann and Robin Wright.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Aimee Mann (with Michael Penn). Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 131: The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0000

At long last, we discuss the Beatles, with a ranking of every song on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Which track does Sarah consider an all-time top 10? Which one makes Mark froth with rage? Listen on to find out!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Monkees. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 130: Instant Funk, "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 3 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Can you guess how our discussion of Instant Funk's semi-classic "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" leads to visions of an Ikea orgy and a comparison of our most disgruntled-sounding Southern accents? If you guess correctly, then please explain it to us, because we're still not sure!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by The Clash. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 129: Sad Christmas With Emmet Otter And The Carpenters

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Sad Christmas can be fun! We're talking about a pair of heartrending holiday tunes, and it's got us thinking about everything from the cosmic mystery of death to adorable otters in hats.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Bing Crosby. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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MASTAS Presents: Money Can't Buy You Podcast 04, "Real Close (Tortured Lullaby)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:00:00 +0000

In Episode 4 of our MASTAS spin-off, Dan and Tracie and Sarah dig into the past, present and future of The Real Housewives of New Jersey's most polarizing personality. Scared to be around Danielle Staub? Turns out she real scared to be close to you, too.
SHOW NOTES
Bandcamp page: moneycantbuyyoupodcast.bandcamp.com
The RAICES compilation: https://rilullaby.bandcamp.com/
"Prostitution whore!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXCet3ekQ0E
Staub and LSLM perform on WWHL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbKgZ1lVAe4

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Episode 128: Brandi Carlile, "The Joke"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 14:00:00 +0000

If you think we have nothing to say about Brandi Carlile's soaring ode to the strength of the downtrodden, then the joke's on you! Also, the song is called "The Joke," and it's got us digging deeply into what makes us believe in a songwriter's message.
Did you get excited when we mentioned MASTAS t-shirts? Buy one here (https://www.facebook.com/mastas.podcast/photos/a.1054610307995033/1430212323768161/?type=3&theater)! And if you want to be in touch, we're at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, facebook.com/mastas.podcast, and @TalkSongs. Lastly, our theme is by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger, and our outro is by The Connells.

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Episode 127: Bon Jovi, "Wanted Dead Or Alive"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 6 Dec 2018 14:00:00 +0000

We've seen a million podcasts, and we've rocked them all! The big hair and bigger chords of Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" have us talking about New Jersey's identity crisis, the history of MTV Unplugged, and the appeal of uncool rock stars.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Association. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 126: LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Don't call it a podcast! We've been here for years! Okay, it IS a podcast, and this time it's about LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out." This leads to conversation about good-time hip-hop, LL's weird career, anthems for badasses, and (naturally) Shakespeare's Coriolanus.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by JVC Force. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 125: ABBA-sode!

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:00:00 +0000

At long last, ABBA. Adam Grosswirth joins us to discuss three of the group's classic songs, plus unlikely Swedish museums and the naughtiest things you can scream out a window.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Madonna. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Special Guest: Adam Grosswirth.

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Episode 124: Erasure, "Oh L'Amour"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 8 Nov 2018 14:00:00 +0000

When does sad music make us happy? When we're talking about Erasure's "Oh L'Amour"! We're also covering the hierarchy of '80s Brit bands, MASTAS bingo, and songs that protect you like armor.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne and our outro is by Duran Duran. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 123: Three By '60s Girl Groups

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 1 Nov 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Don't listen to your parents, kids! Love that bad boy, or he'll DIE! These and other valuable lessons are learned as we discuss "Leader of the Pack" by the Shangri-Las and "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals, with Lyn and the Invaders' underground cut "Boy Is Gone" thrown in for good measure.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by the Beatle-ettes. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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MASTAS Presents: Money Can't Buy You Podcast 03, "Painkillr"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0000

In Episode 3 of MCBYP, Dan and Tracie and Sarah examine the bona fides of RHOBH's own Erika Jayne, the second-most legit musician in the Housewives stable. Is "Painkillr," her 2014 "chart" "topper," a sweaty club banger or a subversive study of a woman on the edge? It depends how quickly you listen to the lyrics.
SHOW NOTES
Bandcamp page: moneycantbuyyoupodcast.bandcamp.com
How Many F**cks? video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXCLDj9tBBM
XXPEN$IVE video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hL99eTKil8
Painkillr video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4F4K7BT04

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Episode 122: Ke$ha, "Praying"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Sometimes a great song is the best revenge. We're talking about Kesha's "Praying" and all the ways it underlines how music can help us, both individually and collectively, kick some butt.
Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Dubstar. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 121: Travis Tritt, "Foolish Pride"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0000

When is a generic country song actually the best country song? As they discuss Travis Tritt's weepy "Foolish Pride," Mark and Sarah realize they don't entirely agree on the answer. However, they both HAVE an answer, which leads to extended metaphors about living rooms and a return to the idea of male emotion in popular song.
Our theme is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Steve Wariner. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 120: The Footloose Soundtrack, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Kick off your Sunday shoes, because we're ranking every song on the Footloose soundtrack! This sparks debate about Kenny Loggins's place in the world, Shalamar's sexy talk, and the value of fringe on a football uniform.
Our theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Tommy Keene. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 119: 1992-dome! Tom Cochrane's "Life Is A Highway" vs. Jon Secada's "Just Another Day"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 4 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0000

What's worse: A song you've grown to hate, or a song you've always hated? That's the quandary in our discussion of Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway" and Jon Secada's "Just Another Day." As we consider our rage, we also touch on party etiquette, ill-fitted shirts, and how to fail at McDonald's.
Our theme is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Red Rider. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 118: Carly Rae Jepsen, "Cut To The Feeling"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 13:00:00 +0000

In what might be the most MASTAS conversation ever, a discussion of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Cut to the Feeling" leads us to '80s movies, conversational French, gazpacho recipes, and the punishing constraints of Western masculinity. All that, plus a pop chart reading for a 10-year-old!
Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Hole. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 117: Paul Davis, "Cool Night" and "'65 Love Affair"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Paul Davis may have been the crappiest boyfriend on 80s lite FM, but damn if his tunes aren't catchy! As we recall the moist sounds of "Cool Night" and "'65 Love Affair," we reflect on long-haired hunks, melodic sexual harassment, and raising a toast to your own nuts.
Our theme is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Polly Jean Harvey. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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MASTAS Presents: Money Can't Buy You Podcast 02, "Love Me First"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000

In Episode 2 of our MASTAS spin-off, Dan and Tracie and Sarah go deep into the catalogue of the original Real Housewives vanity singer extraordinaire: Kim Zolciak. After orienting ourselves with “Tardy for the Party” (music with a message!) and a clip from Kim’s legendary on-camera vocal lesson, we discuss our decision to cover “Love Me First,” a song that was not only not featured on the show, but has never been heard by anyone other than us. You’re welcome! Also: listener tribute cover, and a JT LeRoy-esque conspiracy theory!
SHOW NOTES
Bandcamp page: moneycantbuyyoupodcast.bandcamp.com
Original YouTube demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDBNadjZbHI
Kim Zolciak version of song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sceau4DgYiU
Cardboard Ox website: http://www.cardboardoxmusic.com
Slim Williams's "Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar": https://soundcloud.com/acorn-slim/dan-smith-will-teach-you-guitar?in=acorn-slim/sets/acorn-slim-demos-march-jun

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Episode 116: Maroon 5, "Moves Like Jagger"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Is "Moves Like Jagger" a good song? Is Maroon 5 a good band? And who's the Jag of Project Runway contestants? All these questions are explored as we investigate the surprisingly durable career of a Voice coach and his buddies.
Our theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Rolling Stones. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 115: Aretha Franklin, "Think"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 13:00:00 +0000

We've got to think! Think about why we love Aretha Franklin! Our discussion of "Think" lets us honor the dearly departed diva as both a musician and an eccentric auntie. Listen for Aretha's drunk-driving PSA, and our fantasia about fur coats and sacks of cash. Our theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Cat Power. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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MASTAS Presents: Money Can't Buy You Podcast 01, "Money Can't Buy You Class"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 16:00:00 +0000

On Episode 1 of the new MASTAS spin-off, Dan and Tracie and Mark and Sarah dig into the vanity singles of the Real Housewives, beginning with New York City and the first song from the great Countess Luann. Considering it first appeared on the show in 2010, the song is also a testament to Luann's ability to keep it (and her) in the cultural conversation, because, as they say: elegance is learned, relevance is earned. Then we break down the song construction of this classic single, and debut Dan and Tracie's melancholy re-interpretation of "Money Can't Buy You Class." SHOW NOTES Bandcamp page: moneycantbuyyoupodcast.bandcamp.com Original YouTube demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXj2ObSZy7Q Luann version of song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEDvlSAMhQU Cardboard Ox website: http://www.cardboardoxmusic.com

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Episode 114: Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0000

We are a part of a MASTAS Nation! By which we mean we're ranking every song on Janet Jackson's classic album "Rhythm Nation 1814." Along the way, Sarah startles herself by loving a slow jam, Mark chair-dances so hard he almost hurts himself, and we both have some strong advice for pop stars who make political statements. Plus, we welcome our first-ever return customer for a pop chart astrology reading! Our theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Janet Jackson. This episode was recorded at King Killer Studios in Brooklyn. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 113: The Bangles, "Eternal Flame"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Is this burning an eternal podcast? We'd like to think so! A discussion of the Bangles' classic ballad gets us to some of the '80s' best songwriters, the unusual harmony of the "circle of fifth," and (most importantly) a powerful musical about STDs that we'll be writing soon. Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Aimee Mann. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 112: The Lovin' Spoonful, "Darling Be Home Soon"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 9 Aug 2018 13:00:00 +0000

The sweet sound of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Darling Be Home Soon" gets us talking about relationships that give us space, lyrical phrasing that gives us chills, and YouTube comments that make us believe in humanity. Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Cake. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 111: Bruce Willis And Don Johnson (with special guests Dan and Tracie!)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 2 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0000

There was a time when both Bruce Willis and Don Johnson had hit songs, and we're talking about both "Respect Yourself" AND "Heartbeat." This week, "we" means Mark, Sarah, and our very special guests Dan Rogge and Tracie Potochnik. Listen on for info about the exciting MASTAS spin-off, along with talk about TV stars with pop music dreams, the value of the Pointer Sisters, and how Don J. made a proto-Lemonade. Our theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jack Wagner. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Dan and Tracie's Monica!: The Podcast The full-length Heartbeat Sarah fumes in Heartbeat's direction on Tomato Nation

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Episode 110: Episode 110: Miranda Lambert, "Bathroom Sink"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

What starts as a simple discussion of Miranda Lambert's "Bathroom Sink" quickly evolves to include Dolly Parton's song about a dead dog, the best way to destroy your ex-boyfriend's car, and yet another potential side project for Allison Krauss. So here's to country-music superstars: You never know which dirt road they'll lead you down next! Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Ms. Dolly Parton. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 109: Def Leppard, "Pour Some Sugar On Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

We don't believe in metaphor, so for us "Pour Some Sugar On Me" is a song about dessert. Okay, not really. Talking about Def Leppard's hard-rock classic gets us surprisingly amped, even if we do have to draw some very delicate lines around what's problematic and what's cockular. Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Talking Heads. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. And don't miss that word from our sponsor, Silver Legacy Resort & Casino, about the Cyndi Lauper/Rod Stewart shows next month!

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Episode 108: Elvis Costello and Duran Duran, "Watching The Detectives"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Noir and nastiness and...nerds? That's what you get with "Watching the Detectives," Elvis Costello's archly clever jam. Special guest Kevin Flynn joins us to discuss mysterious lyrics and peppy songs about dark deeds. We also discuss Duran Duran's cover of this joint and what makes a cover work in the first place. Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Police. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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MASTarot Reading!

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 5 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Go beyond the veil as Sarah tells your future with the help of Jimi Hendrix -- then learn more about our July promotion for new Patreon patrons!

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Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 13:00:00 +0000

MASTAS is for your ears only as we rank 7 Bond themes that reached the top 10. Will the sky fall as we discuss everything from Duran Duran's sex appeal to Sheena Easton's Oscar misadventures? Will we live and let die after Mark's shocking revelation about his dessert preferences? Listen and find out! Our theme this week is the Bond theme. Obvs. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 106: Turnerdome! (Two #2 Hits By Tina)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Tina Turner had a pair of weird (but wonderful) #2 hits in the '80s, but which one is the WEIRDEST? We're sussing it out as we discuss "We Don't Need Another Hero" and "Typical Male." Naturally, we also discuss thunderdomes, children's choirs, and men who still wear spats. Listen closely for a cameo by a Finnish metal supergroup! Our intro is by Andrew Byrne. Our outro is by Sting. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 105: Miley Cyrus, "See You Again"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:00:00 +0000

[NOTE: MB's sound is tinny; that's all SDB's fault. Our apologies! We're working on it.] ...Turns out we're both big Miley Cyrus fans, and proud of it! A discussion of her breakthrough hit "See You Again" leads to a defense of her buttcheeks, an aside about power pop choruses, and a contest that could win you a MASTAS t-shirt. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Lennon & Maisy. Want to request a song, buy a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Email us (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), tweet us (@TalkSongs), or Facebook us (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Want to get bonus content and vote in ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 104: Smashing Pumpkins, "Today"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 7 Jun 2018 13:00:00 +0000

If it makes us happy, does it matter what Billy Corgan says "Today" is about? That question drives our conversation about the Smashing Pumpkins classic, though there are sidebars about poetry, MTV, and (yet again) Candlebox. Our theme is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Hole. Talk to us on Twitter (@TalkSongs), Facebook (facebook.com/mastas.podcast), and email (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), where you can also request songs or arrange for birthday chart readings. Get extra content and join our ranking polls at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 103: Meat Loaf, "Paradise By The Dashboard Light"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Who'd have guessed we'd disagree this much about Meat Loaf? For one of us, "Paradise By the Dashboard Light" is just the tonic, and for the other, it's a dram of poison. That disagreement leads to reflections on excess, mid-air motorcycles, and the existential reckoning that comes with a really long song. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by William Joel. You can reach us via email (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), Twitter (@TalkSongs), or Facebook (facebook.com/mastas.podcast). Hear bonus content and participate in ranking episodes by becoming a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 102: Olivia Newton-John, "Magic"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 24 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000

One of us loves Olivia Newton-John's "Magic" and the other can't remember it, even after hearing it. But which is which? Listen to find out, and you'll also hear about Olivia's enduring legacy, an unexpected covers album of her greatest hits, and the glory of musicals on roller skates. Our theme is by Andrew Byrne. Our outro is from Starlight Express (yessir!). Want to request a song, a pop chart astrology reading, or similar? Tweet us at @TalkSongs, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. Want to hear bonus content and vote in polls? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 101: Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B, "Finesse"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 17 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Can anyone look good in an olive cotton suit? Bruno Mars can! We talk about his mastery of '90s style and New Jack Swing on his new song "Finesse" featuring Cardi B, and that gets us thinking about the glory of good nostalgia, the reasons beats sound cheap, and our varying tolerances for eating concentrated orange juice straight from the can. Our theme song is by David Gregory Byrne, and you'd better believe that our outro is by Bobby Brown. Want to request a song, a birthday reading, or a specialized playlist on the subject of your choice? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. Want bonus content? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.podcast!

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Episode 100: Surprise Party

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 10 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000

It's our hundredth episode! To celebrate, Sarah and Mark surprise each other on-air with their song choices, and their esteemed colleague Tara Ariano delivers a surprise listener request. Will they like the unexpected choices? Will they occasionally squeal with delight? Will Teddy Ruxpin have an opinion? Listen to find out! The intro for this episode is by everyone who's ever written a MASTAS theme. The outro is by Chemical Brothers. To support our next 100 episodes -- and get bonus content -- join us at patreon.com/mastas. To make a request, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @TalkSongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 99: Prince, "Little Red Corvette"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 3 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Can a song make you pregnant? Listen to "Little Red Corvette" and call us in nine months. Our appreciation of Prince involves the two-way street of sexual objectification, guitar riffs that double as orgasms, and the varying fortunes of the Purple One's proteges. Our intro is by Laura Berger and Jack Baldelli. The outro is by Sheila E. Wanna vote in ranking episodes and get bonus content? Join us at patreon.com/mastas. Wanna request a song, ask for a birthday horoscope, or just say hello? Email us at talkaboutsongs [at] gmail [dot] com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And that Deadspin piece is right here.

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Episode 98: Two "Moon River"s

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 13:00:00 +0000

What takes "Moon River" from "great song" to "timeless classic"? We have several theories to discuss, and only one of them involves the essential bleakness of the Finnish. We also touch on lyrics that make space for interpretation, Judy Garland's inspirational pain, and Henry Mancini's spot-on conducting. Plus: Teddy Ruxpin gets pissed! Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jason Castro (yes, of American Idol). Want to request a song, ask for a birthday chart reading, or just say hi? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook,com/mastas.podcast. Want access to bonus content and polls? Join us at patreon.com/mastas.

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Single No. 13: Ranking Whitney Houston's 'Bodyguard' Songs

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Mark journeys through Whitney Houston's songs on the 'Bodyguard' soundtrack, ranking each one alongside the Patreon patrons. This leads to chart facts, appreciations of sass, and a sidebar about your friend's dad who wanted you to call him by his first name. Want to discuss the NON-Whitney songs on this soundtrack? Join us at patreon.com/mastas for even more 'Bodyguard' action. Want to make a request or just say hello? Email us at talkaboutsongs[at]gmail[dot]com, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or tweet us at @TalkSongs.

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Episode 97: Hit-Single TV Themes Of The '90s

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 13:00:00 +0000

We don't wanna wait...to get on with this ranking! If you need a podcast that discusses '90s TV themes which were also chart hits, then we'll be there for you. We're also searching our souls to explain our feelings about Dawson, strong margaritas, and Bryn Mawr. All that, plus a super-funky birthday chart reading! (More on Jamie Walters from Mark right here.) This week's intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and the outro is by Crowded House. Wanna get closer to free...ing up our ability to make this podcast? Become a sponsor at patreon.com/mastas. Wanna make a request, get a birthday chart reading, or just say hello? Tweet us at @talksongs, email us at talkaboutsongs[at]gmail[dot]com, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 96: Paul Simon, "You Can Call Me Al"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 5 Apr 2018 13:00:00 +0000

The huge Paul Simon hit from the huge Graceland album is our topic today, along with the redemption of Chevy Chase; relationship realism in pop music; AND a playlist about earworms that goes in a very unexpected direction. Grab a piccolo and join us!

Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is also by Paul Simon. Wanna make a request or just say hello? Tweet us at TalkSongs, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com. Join us at patreon.com/mastas for special content, polls, and the chance to vote on our ranking episodes!

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Episode 95: Outkast, "Hey Ya"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 13:00:00 +0000

The massive Grammy-winner from Andre 3000 and Big Boi left Sarah cold...at first, but soon enough she and Mark were hip-deep in an exploration of Elvis, Queen Bey, jukebox America, and how much Beatles-adjacent content Mark can tolerate. (Answer: some!) And don't miss a novelty-song birthday reading that reveals one listener's Rick Dees-tiny!

Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Mr. James Brown. Wanna make a request or just say hello? Tweet us at @talksongs, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com. Join us at patreon.com/mastas for special content, polls, and the chance to vote on our ranking episodes!

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Episode 94: The Police, "Don't Stand So Close To Me"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Oh Sting, you old button-pusher! We're digging into the moral and sexual politics of The Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me," which leads us to hit songs about unexpected subjects, literary references, and (naturally) tantric intercourse. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Sting. Wanna make a request or just say hello? Tweet us at @talksongs, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com. Want to vote in ranking episodes and get special content? Join us at patreon.com/mastas!

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Episode 93: Ace Of Base, "The Sign"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Who needs fluent English when you've got dope Scandinavian beats? Mark and Sarah succumb to the joy of Ace of Base's "The Sign," meaning they write their own vaguely grammatical lyrics, have specific memories about nerding out to this music in a friend's pickup truck, and figure out the exact number of times you can hear this track before it drives you crazy. Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Stereo MCs. We'd love to hear from you! So send us a request at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com or tweet us at @TalkSongs or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. If you want to cast votes for our ranking episodes, join us at Patreon at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 92: Heart, "What About Love"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 8 Mar 2018 14:00:00 +0000

When we get drunk and discuss listener requests, we land on Heart's "What About Love" and the journey the band's sound took between the '70s and the '80s. Along the way, we discuss guitar solos, weird subjects for hit songs, and (somewhat unexpectedly) why King Lear is a frustrating play. Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, our outro is by the Haden Triplets, and our interest in your requests in strong. Send them to us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, @talksongs (on Twitter), or facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And if you want to participate in polls and hear bonus content, become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 91: 2018 Oscars Best Song Nominees, Ranked (With Joe Reid!)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Look out, 'cuz here we come! Joined again by the delightful Joe Reid, we're unraveling the mysteries of this year's Oscar-nominated songs, and we're ranking our favorites to determine a winner. We stand up for some of these tracks, and we pray some of them to get washed away by a mighty river. And of course, we remember to go deep with Oscar facts, Broadway shade, and pre-exhaustion for meaningful performance numbers. (NB: Still some sound issues for Mark in this episode; we should have it solved by next time! Thanks for your patience.) Our intro is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Aimee Mann. Want to request a song or get a birthday song reading? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com; tweet as at @TalkSongs; or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. Want bonus content and a chance to vote on future ranking episodes? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. To buy a MASTAS shirt, visit our FB page for purchase info.

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Episode 90: Madonna's GHV2, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Madonna from the '90s is not Madonna from the '80s, and we really need to parse what that means. (Yes. Need!) That's why we're ranking every song on GHV2, her second greatest hits album. Get ready for tales of late-night drives, thoughts about "transitional pop," and a whole thing about the sexiness of restraint. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Clinton. Want to request a song or be in touch? You can email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @TalkSongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And if you want some sweet bonus content, join us at patreon.com/mastas! (Editor's Note: Technical issues mean you may experience some clicking and tinniness at times during the episode. We apologize for the inconvenience; we're working on fixing the root cause! - SDB)

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Episode 89: The Carpenters, "We've Only Just Begun"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Things get experimental as we discuss "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters. We not only talk about this song's unusual history and the variety of mixed emotions that any Carpenters tune evokes, but ALSO take an improvised dip into Karen's solo work. As in, Sarah loads it into the sound board mid-discussion, and we just go wild! Our theme song is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Paul Simon. Wanna request a song? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To become a patron and hear exclusive content, visit patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 88: Four Journeys With Walker Hayes

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 8 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, Mark discovered the remarkable songwriting of Walker Hayes and told Sarah about it. Inside his songs, Sarah discovered some stirring similarities to her own life. This led to our current episode, where we dig into four Hayes tunes, geek out over their structural ingenuity, and remember yet again that great music can show you back to yourself. Our theme song is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Lou Reed. Wanna be a patron and get special content? Join us at patreon.com/mastas. Want to commission a birthday reading or make a request? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, and tweet us at @talksongs.

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Episode 87: Mariah Carey, "Emotions"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 1 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Oh, Mariah! You want tea, and we're spilling it. More to the point, we're talking about "Emotions," a perfect example of why Mimi got famous in the first place. As we think about where she was then and where she is now, we discuss the sound of actual joy, the power of tall women, and the ability of some divas to go crazy on their own terms. Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, our outro is by Booker T and the MGs, and our Patreon page is at patreon.com/mastas. So why not join us there for special content? And why not email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast?

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Episode 86: The Smiths, Morrissey, And Marr

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:00:00 +0000

We're not miserable people, but we still love The Smiths. Go figure! Sarah tees up one tune each from the Smiths, Morrissey, and Johnny Marr, which leads to jaunty lyrical analysis, MANY disagreements about the band's best work, and a reminder that Mark's husband once mowed the lawn in all black, because his soul insisted he should. Mark's husband (Andrew Byrne) also delivers our intro, and the outro comes from Teenage Fanclub. Share your Smiths musings via email (talkaboutsongs@gmail.com), Facebook (facebook.com/mastas.podcast), or Twitter (@talksongs). And for bonus content, become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 85: Why Aren't These Songs Super-Famous, With Pam Ribon

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:00:00 +0000

It's time for musical justice! Joined by the glorious Pam Ribon, we discuss three songs that should be famous, but somehow aren't. Come for Beyonce, Annie Lennox, and Bic Runga, but stay for Billy Joel stripteases, unusual uses for cream soda, and the cockney rage of Teddy Ruxpin III. ALSO: Pre-order Pam's rom-com graphic novel, MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR. And go enjoy WRECK-RALPH 2 this fall, which she wrote! Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, our outro is by Weezer, and our contact info remains the same. Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, and get special content as a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 84: The Cars, "Magic"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 14:00:00 +0000

We kick off 2018 with a truly magical episode, in the sense that "Magic" by the Cars is a fantastic song. Joined by special guest Kevin Smokler, we discuss making rock look easy, polishing your production juuuust enough, and getting over yourself to enjoy a bouncy hook. Plus, we explore the many ways to pronounce "Ocasek" and the secret history of our patron saint, Soikus Paynoot. Speaking of...Soikus delivers our theme song this week, and our outro is by Fountains of Wayne. Stay in touch via email (talkaboutsongs [at] gmail [dot] com), Facebook (facebook.com/mastas.podcast), or Twitter (@talksongs). And if you want access to special content, then become a patron at Patreon (patreon.com/mastas).

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Episode 83: Our Top 10 Hits Of 2017 -- And 1967 (1-5)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000

As we finish our countdown of our favorite songs of 2017 and 1967, we're startled to discover that a horn line has made us pregnant, a bouncy New Wave groove has masked our rage, and a gentle country song has essentially reminded us to love. And speaking of love: We love YOU, our listeners, for being such wonderful companions on our weekly wanders. See you next year! Our theme song is by David Gregory Byrne, our outro is by Cat Power, and the best ways to reach us are @TalkSongs (Twitter), patreon.com/mastas (to become a Patron), talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, or facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 82: Our Top 10 Hits Of 2017 -- And 1967 (6-10)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000

We're counting down our 10 favorite songs of 2017 AND ALSO 1967. Because that's how we roll, y'all! In this episode, we look at #s 10-6 on both lists, which lets us cover everything from sultry R&B piano to #MeToo anthems to the surprising excellence of One Direction's solo efforts. Join us next week for our top 5 in both years! Our theme song is by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger, and our outro is by Van Morrison. This episode also contains a birthday chart reading, and if you'd like your own, just email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com. You can also tweet us at @talksongs or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To become a patron and get access to special content, just head over to patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 81: The Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin, "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000

MASTAS is doin' it for ourselves! And by "it," we mean "discussing a classic cut by Eurythmics and Annie Lennox." Diverging opinions on the song lead to lively chat about Aretha's eras, the good and bad of '80s pop, and the reason we need so many different kinds of feminist art. Plus, there are references to semiotics, Swann's Way, and coffee shops! Our theme song is by Andrew Byrne, our outro is by that blue-eyed soulster Huey Lewis. If you want to join the fun, become a Patreon sponsor at patreon.com/mastas to get bonus content and voting privileges in ranking episodes! Tweet us at @talksongs, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, and email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com.

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Episode 80: Pat Benatar's Greatest Hits, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 7 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0000

MASTAS is a battlefield! As we rank the songs on Pat Benatar's "Best Shots" album, Sarah briefly quits the podcast, parts of Mark are predicted to explode, and "The Legend Of Billie Jean" is revealed as the film that unites the planets. Special thanks to our patrons, whose votes directly impacted the rankings. To become a patron, join us at patreon.com/mastas. Meanwhile, our theme music is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Karla Bonoff. Lastly, you can tweet us at @talksongs, email us at talkaboutsongs[at]gmail[dot]com, and facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 79: TLC, "No Scrubs"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 14:00:00 +0000

We get very crazy and somewhat less sexy and cool as we discuss TLC's "No Scrubs," covering everything from the personae of girl group members to the sassy fun of response songs. Plus, we acknowledge the ongoing cultural contributions of Meadow Soprano. Our outro is from Salt 'n Pepa, and the intro is by Andrew Byrne. To reach us, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @TalkSongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To support MASTAS (and get bonus content!) become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 78: The Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:00:00 +0000

At long last, the Rolling Stones get MASTAS-ized. We're talking about the folksy wisdom and iconic backing vocals of "You Can't Always Get What You Want," not to mention the value of community music, the ways that chart peaks don't always reflect quality, and the hope that America can chill out for a second. Our theme song is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Gary Jules. Wanna be part of the fun? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, and tweet us at @talksongs. And if you want to help us keep the lights on (AND get access to bonus content), become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 77: Halsey, "Bad At Love"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 9 Nov 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Screw daylight savings: It's always sunny at MASTAS! We're in an especially good mood this week, since we're talking about the bisexual badassery of Halsey's song "Bad at Love." We also create a playlist of musical theater songs that make us happy. We're chorus kids at heart! Wanna sponsor your own playlist? Make a request? Email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, FB us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or tweet us at @TalkSongs. Wanna hear bonus content? Become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. Digging our theme music? Our intro is by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger, and our outro is from Broadway's own "Guys and Dolls," heard here via Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely.

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Episode 76: George Michael, Elton John, and George Michael and Elton John

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 2 Nov 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Your podcast hosts may actually be European gay men. We both find parts of ourselves in solo tracks by George Michael and Elton John, and then we have a blast trying to decipher the slurry vocals on their duet of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me." Meanwhile, there's a sidebar about the necessity of small acts of kindness. Wanna hear a bonus ep about a new George Michael documentary? Become a Patreon patron at patreon.com/mastas! Plus, you can email us at talkaboutsongs [at] gmail [dot] com, tweet us at @talksongs, and Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And finally: Our theme song is by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger, and our outro is by Sinead O'Connor, for reasons that will become clear as you listen.

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Single No. 6: New Songs You Need, Vol. 2

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:00:00 +0000

While Sarah's away on assignment, Mark suggests four new songs (and one forgotten '80s hit) that you need to hear right now. What'd you think of his choices? Let us know on Twitter at @talksongs, on Facebook at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or on email at talkaboutsongs [at] gmail [dot] com. And don't forget to become a MASTAS patron at patreon.com/mastas, which will give you access to all sorts of bonus content.

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Episode 75: 10 Songs In 20 Minutes

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to flavor country, people. In precisely 20 minutes, we're discussing 10 songs. Yes, 10! Together, they create a heady mixture of listener requests, personal faves, and patron-selected cuts, and good LORD, does does it get wild up in here. Come for the Rod Stewart fury and stay for the truly insane impersonations of MC Skat Kat. Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is...cut for time! Wanna join the patron-sponsored fun? Go to patreon.com/mastas. Tweet us at @talksongs. Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. Email us at talkaboutsongs [at] gmail. And of course, download all the songs you hear legally!

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Episode 74: Four By Pink

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Can our friendship survive our disagreement about Pink's pop songs? Well, yes. But it's still surprising to discover where we diverge about this particular star's approach to rebellion, politics, romance, and self-laceration. Plus, there's a long, juicy analogy about a dorky girl in your high school who goes wild. Our theme song is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by (wait for it) Danity Kane. If you want special MASTAS content, become a patron at Patreon.com/mastas. If you want to ask us questions, make a request, or ask for a birthday song reading, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or FB us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 73: Jamie Foxx feat. Guru & Common, "Any Given Sunday"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:00:00 +0000

What is the sound of hip-hop apathy? It might just be the theme song for "Any Given Sunday"! We're talking about how Jamie Foxx, Common, and Guru ever got into this mess, not to mention our varying levels of enthusiasm for football metaphors in song. Oh, and the Super Bowl Shuffle gets in there, too! David Gregory Byrne delivers our theme song, and Notorious B.I.G. handles the outro. If you wanna talk gridiron songs, just email us at talksongs@gmail.com, Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast, or tweet us @TalkSongs. If you want to be a patron and get exclusive content, then join us at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 72: Fountains Of Wayne, "Stacy's Mom" and "Red Dragon Tattoo"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Stacy's mom. Thinks MASTAS is the bo-omb. ...While we talk about that hit by Fountains Of Wayne (plus their lesser-known cut "Red Dragon Tattoo"), we also get real about ironic pop songs, female characters who deserve justice, and that time Mark thought he was smarter than G.B. Shaw. This week's theme is by Andrew Byrne, and the outro is by Ivy, which will make particular sense once you've heard the episode. To reach us, just shoot us a message on Facebook (facebook.com/mastas), Twitter (@talksongs), or email (talkaboutsongs [at] gmail). To become a patron and get access to exclusive special content, join us at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 71: Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:00:00 +0000

We're grappling with the mad genius of Kanye West and his towering single "Jesus Walks." Along the way, we touch on Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, and the ability to separate artists' tragedies from their work. Oh, and ass. We also talk about ass. This week's theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by MC 900 Ft. Jesus. (Praise be!) Email us at talkaboutsongs [at] gmail [dot] com. Tweet us at @talksongs. Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And if you want to support this podcast AND get access to special content, become a patron at patreon.com/mastas.

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Single No. 5: The Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits, 1971-1975," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 8 Sep 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Sarah goes solo in this Single -- but not entirely, as you listeners helped decide which vintage Eagles track had "Lyin' Eyes" and which should be "Already Gone." (Your votes did nothing to improve Sarah's puns, however.) See how these classics stacked up!

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/mastas.podcast; give us a holler on Twitter at TalkSongs; and support MASTAS (and the next Eagles ranking Single) at our Patreon page, patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 70: REM's "Out Of Time," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

We're ranking every song on REM's sad-boy rock milestone "Out of Time." Will we lose our religion at the sight of all these shiny happy people? Which songs will we decide truly belong, and which songs will we wish were half a world away? Join us and see...and get ready for some startling upsets when we add in votes from our Patreon subscribers! We want to add your vote to our next ranking episode, so become a patron at patreon.com/mastas. We'd also love to hear from you, so email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or find us on Facebook at face book.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 69: Bryan Adams, "Summer Of '69" (with guest Danny MacEachern!)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

It's the sexiest MASTAS yet as we celebrate Episode 69 with "Summer Of '69." Our special guest Danny MacEachern gets us talking about Bryan Adams, Can-Con and the ongoing mystery of the videos from the "Reckless" album. Plus, we have a special playlist of songs we specifically remember hearing for the first time! Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Soikus Peynoot. To become a MASTAS sponsor, join us on Patreon at patreon.com/mastas. To send us song requests or general inquiries, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at twitter.com/talksongs, or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 68: "Stay" Title Bout

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Which "Stay" can stay? That's the question in this very special episode, where we rank six hits -- all called "Stay" -- and determine which one gets to keep its title. The rest get renamed (in our hearts, at least), and we all walk away wearing cat-eye glasses, berating our married lovers, and dancing dirty. Our theme this week is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys. We'd love to have you vote in rankings like this one, so become a Patreon sponsor at patreon.com/mastas. We'd also love to hear from you, so email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com, tweet us at @talksongs, or Facebook us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. More on those teeny songs that fit on the end of your mixtapes' Side A right here: http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/the-end-of-side-a-the-end-of-an-era/

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Episode 67: Richard Marx, "Satisfied"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

It's Mark and Sarah Talk About Mullets! And specifically, the tonsorial glory of Richard Marx. We also discuss his song "Satisfied," the rare ability to write commercial songs that don't suck, and an abundance of David Coles. Our theme is by David Gregory Byrne, our outro is by Dolly Parton, and if you want access to top-secret MASTAS episodes, then become a Patreon sponsor at patreon.com/mastas. We'd also love to hear your requests and comments, so hit us up at twitter.com/talksongs or facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 66: Stevie Nicks, "Stand Back"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 3 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

By the pricking of our thumbs, something MASTAS this way comes! Yes, that's a reference to famous witches, because we're talking about Stevie Nicks. A discussion of "Stand Back" leads to thoughts on her general awesomeness, the price she's paid for it in certain circles, and the value of lyrics that make emotional (not literal) sense. There's also a sidebar about "American Horror Story"! This week's theme is by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli, and our outro is by Donovan. To contact us with song requests or other observations, just tweet us at @TalkSongs, email us at talkabout songs [at] gmail [dot] com, or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. To become a patron and get access to special content, join us at patreon.com/mastas.

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Single No. 3: New Songs You Need, Vol. 1

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Bonus episode! In this MASTAS Single, Mark goes solo to recommend four new songs that you need right now, including cuts from Haim, New Politics, Sara Evans, and Delta Rae. Let us know if you dig them!

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Episode 65: West Side Story, "Somewhere"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

There's a plaaaace for uuuuus...to wonder if the songs of West Side Story don't work better separately than as a show; to rag the soppier selections from the Sondheim catalog; to lament the film's brownface; and to discuss...Rick Springfield? Send in the clowns for an all-new MASTAS!

Today's theme song is by Andrew Byrne. Our outro is The Chairman Of The Board, Mr. Frank Sinatra. Send those song requests, ad buys, and flowers for Poor Jud to talkaboutsongs at gmail dot com, and visit our Patreon page for exclusive content!

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Episode 64: Three By '80s Starship

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Selling out never sounded so good! With a soldier's bravery, we investigate Starship's three number-one hits of the '80s: "We Built This City," "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," and "Sara." And you'd better believe that OUR Sarah is still crying foul about that last one. Plus, Mark has a whole Starship story that involves high-top Converse! Our theme song is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro music is by Jefferson Airplane. Which is kinda-sorta the same band as Starship! If you want to tell us something or request a song, then tweet at @TalkSongs or email us at talkaboutsongs[at]gmail[dot]com. Or hit us up on Facebook at facebook.com/mastas.podcast.

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Episode 63: Ben Folds, "The Luckiest"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

The tears flow freely as we discuss "The Luckiest," Ben Folds's perfect gem of a love song. We also talk about each other's weddings, the Jason Isbell concert where Mark almost left his drink at the bar, and Sarah's enduring connection to a speech in "The Opposite of Sex." Our theme is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Jason Isbell. Follow us on Twitter at @TalkSongs, and for access to top-secret bonus content, become a MASTAS sponsor at patreon.com/mastas!

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Episode 62: "Ode To Billie Joe" And "Harper Valley PTA"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Have we got a story for YOU! Well, okay, these SONGS have stories, and they are doozies. As we chat about "Ode To Billie Joe" and "Harper Valley PTA," we swoon for the power of a narrative country hits and the film adaptations they inspire. Speaking of the films, please enjoy Sarah's meltdown about the stars of the "Billie Joe" opus. Our outro is by Waylon Jennings (because...what else could we choose?), and our theme is by Andrew Byrne. Get access to special MASTAS content at patreon.com/mastas. Send us song requests or buy an ad at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com. Tweet us at twitter.com/talksongs and FB us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And finally, remember to legally download the music you hear on our show!

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Episode 61: Train, "Hey Soul Sister"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Sometimes comprehending evil means looking it in the face, so we're voluntarily talking about the lyrical and sonic crimes of Train's "Hey, Soul Sister." Along the way, we also defend the comparative integrity of Mr. Mister and Everclear. Weird! (To skip the song clip and just hear our ranting, avoid 2:01-2:47.) This week's theme is by Andrew Byrne. Our outro music is the closing-credits music from Big. Get access to top secret content by becoming a MASTAS producer at patreon.com/mastas.

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Episode 60: Tori Amos's "Little Earthquakes," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:00:00 +0000

Turns out we haven't been silent all these years: We've been podcasting, which is rather noisy. Today, we're making noise about Tori Amos and ranking every song on her album "Little Earthquakes." This leads to some surprising disagreements, an Andrew Lloyd Webber reference, and a story about Mark, his dad, and the Divinyls. Today's outro is by Joni Mitchell, and our theme is by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger. And here's some great news: You can become a MASTAS producer! Support us at Patreon to unlock special content, interact with us in fresh ways, and help us keep the lights on!

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Episode 59: Michael Jackson, "Black Or White"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 8 Jun 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Can a person even like Michael Jackson anymore? We're wondering as we discuss his maybe-not-classic "Black or White." After we ask the tough questions, we also get into overlooked talents, a young Tyra Banks, and controversial crotches. After you've listened, go Sarah's MJ obituary: http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/the-bitter-end/ Our outro song is Jermaine Jackson's "Do What You Do." This episode's theme is by David Gregory Byrne. And oh yeah: If you like the podcast, please leave us a positive review on iTunes!

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Episode 58: The Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 1 Jun 2017 13:00:00 +0000

We are. Your MAS-TAS. Your true. Pod-cas-tass. Backstreet Boys infuse our spirits with "I Want It That Way," and we talk about the best way to get over one's self and just enjoy a pop song. Vin Diesel and Megan Fox sneak in there somehow, and so does a BSB documentary from a few years ago. Plus, listen past the credits for an outtake of Mark losing his mind! On the subject of boy bands, this week's outro is "New Kid (On The Block)" by Barenaked Ladies, and our theme is by future boy-band impresario Andrew Byrne. Remember: legally download this week's songs, and if you want to buy an ad or request a song, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com.

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Episode 57: En Vogue, "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 25 May 2017 13:00:00 +0000

And now it's time for a podcast! Thanks to multiple requests, we're talking about En Vogue's "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)", and we are grateful for the funkiness. We're also brimming with theories about the song's major characters, facts about its important place in 90s pop, and sidebars about Paula Abdul. Speaking of: Paula provides "Opposites Attract," which is this week's outro. Our theme is by David Byrne. As always, please legally download them music you hear on MASTAS, and if you'd like to buy an ad or request a song, email us at talkaboutsongs@gmail.com.

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Episode 56: Single Moms In Pop

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 11 May 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Just in time for Mother's Day, we're talking about pop songs featuring single moms. As a chorus of birds chatters outside Sarah's house, we consider how society's shifting attitudes about motherhood are reflected in a variety of dope hits. We also consider roller skating, Motown writer's rooms, and beats that make any subject enjoyable. MASTAS is Mark Blankenship and Sarah D. Bunting, This week's theme song is by Andrew Byrne. The outro is "Mama" by Spice Girls. Tweet us at @TalkSongs. And please download all the songs we discuss legally.

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Episode 55: Four By Phair

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 4 May 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Sarah wanted to talk about a Liz Phair song, and then it became FOUR Liz Phair songs. And even that seems a little scant, actually, as we dive into the far-reaching excellence of her music, the weird demands of her fans, and the unlikely heartbreak of the cast of 24. MASTAS is Mark Blankenship and Sarah D. Bunting. Theme song by Jack Baldelli and Laura Barger. Outro by Liz Phair. Visit us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast. And don't forget to legally download the music you enjoyed in this episode.

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Episode 54: Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:00:00 +0000

We have theories about grunge! MANY THEORIES! A discussion of "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots leads to everything from the band's unexpected evolution to the possibility that true-crime shows inspired the whole genre. Listen closely for Mark's special grunge vocals and Sarah's explanation of our whole Candlebox thing. MASTAS is Mark Blankenship and Sarah D. Bunting. Theme song is by David Gregory Byrne. Outro by Foo Fighters. Please visit us at facebook.com/mastas.podcast and don't forget to download everything you hear legally.

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Episode 53: Roxette, "Listen To Your Heart"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Roxette uses "Listen To Your Heart" to blast us with power-ballad glory. That gets us talking about the value of being earnest, the glory of not-quite-English lyrics, and the exciting (for Mark, at least) chart facts surrounding Sweden's most popular bands. Bonus drinking game: Take a shot every time we say "Scandi"!

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Episode 52: Todrick Hall feat. RuPaul, "Low"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 15:00:00 +0000

Our booties may never stop shaking! We are gagging over "Low" by Todrick Hall and RuPaul, which gets us talking about the joy of hot beats, the magic of witty lyrics, and the necessity of unapologetic sexuality in queer anthems.

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Episode 51: Billy Joel, "Sleeping With The Television On"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 6 Apr 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Billy Joel's mama named him William, so we will call him William! A chat about his early-'80s album track "Sleeping With the Television On" leads us to consider the best and worst Joel-isms, that strange era when TV stopped showing things for the evening, and the mysterious identity of this Leyna woman.

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Episode 50: The Indigo Girls' "Indigo Girls," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:00:00 +0000

We're so old! To celebrate our 50th episode, we rank every song on the Indigo Girls' self-titled album, and you'd better believe there are tears. There are also roughly 500 important high-school memories, an analysis of the spiritual in popular song, and a few terrible lyrics that we just can't forgive.

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Episode 49: Bette Midler, "The Rose"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Some say love it is a podcast and MASTAS its only...pod? Strained metaphors aside, we're talking about Bette Midler's "The Rose," and we're pleasantly confused by our affection for this treacly ditty. Plus, we make an urgent request for a very particular cover version. Who will make our dreams come true?

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Episode 48: Duran Duran, "Hungry Like The Wolf"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Why yes we ARE tastefully sweaty! That's because we're rocking out to Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf." Why is this song still so alluring? So forbidding? So weird? We discuss all this and more, including a whole sidebar about songs you can't listen to around your friend's parents. Plus, there's a new pop chart astrology reading!

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Episode 47: Yaz, "Only You"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 9 Mar 2017 15:00:00 +0000

Don't get sad; get MASTAS! We're savoring the danceable ache of Yaz's "Only You," which several listeners asked us cry about together. We're also discussing our respect for frontwomen, a time that Sarah used to drive around acting crazy, and Mark's ludicrous British accent.

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Episode 46: Best (And Worst) Oscar-Winning Songs

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

MASTAS would like to thank the Academy for...some of these Oscar-winning songs. But for some of them, we'll never forgive them! As we talk about Oscar highs and lows, we also reflect on Celine Dion's teeth, Sarah's time at Talbot's, and Mark's unforgettable trip to China.

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Episode 45: Gladys Knight And The Pips, "Midnight Train To Georgia"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Gladys Knight is basically Sophocles, y'all. Or at least, we find a way to link "Midnight Train to Georgia" to classic Greek drama. There are also stops at Mark's college years, Sarah's sympathies for '70s ladies trying to lean in, and the allure of hot backing vocals.

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Episode 44: The 59th Grammy Awards

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 9 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

And the award for Sassiest Podcast goes to...MASTAS! Unless Adele wins, that is. Either way, we're talking truth about this year's Grammy nominees for Record and Song of the Year. Listen for Bieber shade, Rihanna praise, and the origin story for Mark and Sarah's entire deal.

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Episode 43: The "Saturday Night Fever" Soundtrack, Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 2 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

We got the night fever, and we never recovered! Join us as we rank every song on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and gasp along as we discover that we radically disagree on certain disco classics. Stick around for a little feminist/queer theory, a little praise for Yvonne Elliman, and a LOT of lust for '70s-era Travolta and Andy Gibb.

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Episode 42: Tim McGraw, "I Got Friends That Do"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:30:00 +0000

Mark and Sarah aren't particularly religious, but when Tim McGraw compares himself to God, they still get up in arms. His insidiously "sensitive" song "I've Got Friends That Do" provokes rage about everything from arrogance to disrespecting Dolly Parton to halfheartedly suggesting the existence of parallel universes.

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Episode 41: Another Bad Creation, "Iesha" (with guest Nick Rheinwald-Jones!)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 19:00:00 +0000

Turn your overalls around for MASTAS 41! Special guest Nick Rheinwald-Jones brings us Another Bad Creation's "Iesha," which naturally leads us to their boy-band battle with Kris Kross, the Svengali dreams of Michael Bivins, and the endless ocean of tweens who scored R&B hits in the early '90s. Plus, we find some MASTAS fanfic in a dark corner of the internet!

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Episode 40: Three By Jason Isbell

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 17:00:00 +0000

It's country-folk heartbreak, served three ways! The piercing songs of Jason Isbell get us talking about less-is-more lyrics, the fallacy of closure, and phony-baloney country artists who are not like Jason Isbell at all. Plus, there's a thing about J-Izzy sending you a kitten. HE JUST MIGHT DO IT.

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Episode 39: Fiona Apple, "Criminal"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 5 Jan 2017 15:30:00 +0000

This world might be bulls**t, but this podcast sure isn't! MASTAS rings in 2017 with the funky self-loathing of Fiona Apple's "Criminal," which gets us talking about women who resist the mold, hit songs that lead to weird experiments, and the things we'd do to honor S. Epatha Merkerson.

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Episode 38: R.E.M., "Stand"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Can listening to R.E.M. make you cool? It sure used to seem that way! A discussion of their classic hit "Stand" leads to thoughts on college radio, weird shower dancing, and the way stupid lyrics can be totally awesome sometimes. Also: This is our last episode of 2016! Thanks for spending time with us this year.

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Episode 37: Naughty And Nice Christmas Songs

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Well ho, ho, ho there! We've each chosen two Christmas songs we like and two Christmas songs that make our eggnog curdle. If you think that causes emotional moments of reflection, a tirade about mommy kissing Santa Claus, and a whole thing about buying presents at the mall, then you're right!

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Episode 36: Madonna's "Immaculate Collection," Ranked

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 8 Dec 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Mark and Sarah have basically been preparing for 26 years to rank every song on "The Immaculate Collection." Now that day has come. Get ready for personal memories, passionate stances, and several gasps of surprise. Get ready, too, for a ton of song clips, because how can you choose just one? (Editor's note: you may experience some echoing in parts of the recording. We apologize for any inconvenience.)

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Episode 35: Enya-lanche! "Orinoco Flow," "Ebudae," "Storms In Africa II"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 1 Dec 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Why are we so freaking relaxed? Because we're talking about Enya! Join us as we ponder her unlikely career, the reason straight boys think she's cool, and all the fictional languages she uses to lull us into a beautiful state of peace.

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Episode 34: Chicago, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 19:00:00 +0000

MASTAS loves dad-rock! In particular, Sarah's dad loves Chicago, which gets us talking about the brassy horns of "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" Then Mark uses his "skeezy lounge lizard" voice, Sarah goes deep with road trip memories, and John Fogerty gets confused with J. Geils. Mark's dad won't be happy about that last one.

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Episode 33: Beyoncé, "Countdown"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 19:00:00 +0000

We don't quite join the Beyhive, but we certainly buzz around it as we discuss Beyonce's "Countdown." We also ponder what it means to be perfect onstage, when a cheap chorus is just the tonic, and how Rihanna fits into the picture. Special thanks to John Ramos and Tara Ariano for pitching in last week -- and to all of you for tolerating Sarah's Aeneid references.

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JASTAS: Til Tuesday, "Voices Carry"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 4 Nov 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Mark's not feeling well, so special guest John Ramos sat down with Sarah for a discussion of Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry," including the secret history of the song's cast of characters, swearily relatable feminist icons, and Sarah's cassette-klepto situation. Theme song by Tara Ariano!

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Episode 32: Beck: "E-Pro"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Beck's sick groove gets us talking about hits that don't reflect their artists, songs that work best when they open an album, and, of all things, Radiohead.

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Episode 31: The Beach Boys, "Kokomo"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Kokomo's not a real island, but MASTAS is a real podcast! A request for the Beach Boys' comeback hit gets us discussing chant-songs, celebrity bartending, and (of course) John Stamos.

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Episode 30: Robyn, "Call Your Girlfriend"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Swedish diva alert! MASTAS goes electro with Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend," which gets Mark all tongue-tied with enthusiasm and gets Sarah wondering if the beat and the subject matter are such a good fit. Plus, there's important discussion of Old Lady Walks (tm).

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Episode 29: Dan Bern, "Marilyn"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 6 Oct 2016 20:00:00 +0000

It's twisted history as MASTAS considers Dan Bern's "Marilyn" and his sassy rewrite of Monroe's life. That leads to us to Hollywood iconography, the value of having fun with an acoustic guitar, and at least one too many versions of "Candle In The Damn Wind."

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Episode 28: Lefty Folk Songs We Love (...To Hate?)

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +0000

When is a lefty folk song terrible and when is it wonderful? Mark and Sarah make arguments on both sides, getting their social consciousness going with Indigo Girls, Simon and Garfunkel, Dar Williams, and at least one mention of Corazon Aquino.

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Episode 27: Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser, "She's Like The Wind"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:00:00 +0000

With our special guests The Shondes, we get all up in our feelings and talk about Patrick Swayze's "She's Like the Wind." Naturally, this leads to talk of Dirty Dancing, freeze-frame peen, implied blazers on jazz singers, and the mysterious life of Wendy Fraser. Special Guest: Eli Oberman.

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Episode 26: Salt-n-Pepa, "I'll Take Your Man" and Meshell Ndegeocello, "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:00:00 +0000

MASTAS isn't single, but we WILL take your man! Classic cuts from Salt-n-Pepa and Meshell Ndegeocello get our attitudes up to eleven. We also reflect on smiling in hip-hop, being grateful to lose your lover, and double-dutch as a metaphor.

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Episode 25: American Anthems / Bruce Springsteen, "Born In The USA" and the Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready To Make Nice"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 9 Sep 2016 11:00:00 +0000

We're rocking the vote (or something) with Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" and Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice," which may be the most politicized pop songs of the last 35 years. In between the punditry, Sarah does her best Bruce impression, Mark invents a rap about big booties, and nobody cuts Billy Joel any slack.

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Episode 24: Britpop Battle! Blur's "Song 2" vs. Oasis's "Wonderwall"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 1 Sep 2016 21:00:00 +0000

A '90s feud lives on! This week, we pit Blur's "Song 2" against Oasis's "Wonderwall," and along the way, we make up tons of fake facts about Damon Albarn. We also fall deep into a memory well of hangovers, high-school friends, and dubious fashion.

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Episode 23: Scandal feat. Patty Smyth, "The Warrior"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Shootin' at the walls of MASTAS! Kevin Smokler's listener request, '80s classic "The Warrior," gets Mark talking about his childhood dance parties, Sarah discussing her Patti Smith/Patty Smyth confusion, and both of us praising the women of Reagan-era rock. Now pardon us while we fist-pump to a killer (Homeric?) chorus.

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Episode 22: Tinie Tempah, "Written In The Stars"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 17:15:00 +0000

Mark and Sarah Disagree About Songs! Opinions are divided on Tinie Tempah's hit featuring Eric Turner, which leads to lively debate about rap-rock, the numbing power of sports promotion, and a shuddering remembrance of Limp Bizkit.

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Episode 21: Olympics Songs feat. Mancini Houston Smith Estefan Perry LLC

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 15:00:00 +0000

And the participation ribbon goes to...MASTAS! As Olympians compete in Rio, we rank five songs with various ties to the Olympic games. As medals are awarded, there's also talk of Whitney Houston's glory, unexpected uses for cotton, Sarah's memories of the Fresh Prince, and Mark's favorite babysitter, plus Bebel Gilberto sings us home!

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Episode 20: Color Me Badd, "I Wanna Sex You Up"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 3 Aug 2016 16:00:00 +0000

We wanna sex you up, and we PROMISE we know how to do it! Special guest Tara Ariano joins us to stare into the abyss of Color Me Badd's sex-clumsiest hit, which makes us ponder terrible backing tracks, surreal lyrics, and the power of the duffel coat. Bonus points if you spot the cameo from MASTAS Associate VP of feline outreach, Mabel!

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Episode 19: George Michael, "Freedom '90"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Guest 'caster Tara Ariano gets our church arms swaying when she brings us George Michael's "Freedom 90," a perfect slice of funky fame-hating. Talk of Michael's legacy leads us to supermodel shout-outs, analysis of the singalong chorus, and a whole thing about sweaters.

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Episode 18: Led Zeppelin/Dread Zeppelin/Dolly Parton, "Stairway To Heaven"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Mark can't remember ever hearing "Stairway to Heaven," so Sarah (and special guest Olivia) take him on an educational journey through the Led Zep original and notable covers by Dread Zeppelin and Dolly Parton. This leads to detours through the power of guitar solos, the band T-shirts New Yorkers love most, and art you can make with potatoes.

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Episode 17: Sia, "Reaper"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:00:00 +0000

This podcast is just like Sia: You can't see our faces, but you CAN hear our voices! This week, we're talking about "Reaper," Sia's bouncy ode to cheating death. Along the way, Sarah writes the world's weirdest fanfic, Mark wonders what kind of lemonade you bring to a morbid pep rally, and we both get fired up about how female artists are treated. Use the comments to share your favorite Sia song, Six Feet Under memory, or story about convincing death to chill for a minute!

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Episode 16: The Monkees, "Circle Sky"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 1 Jul 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Hey hey, we're the MASTAS! ...Ahem. The point is, we're digging this killer '60s jam from the Monkees, and we're talking about how the band members went from TV show jokes to venerated rock icons. That doesn't mean we account for the Monkees movie, though. Meanwhile, Mark tries to remember the name of Linda Ronstadt's band and Sarah wonders how many times Mike Nesmith's songwriting has gotten him laid. (Let us know, Mike!)

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Episode 15: Guns N' Roses, "November Rain"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 14:00:00 +0000

It's a sad day for wedding cake as we discuss Guns N' Roses big hairy spectacle of a big hair ballad. Get ready to learn about Mark's weird habits from middle school, Sarah's deep research on this killer music video, and the ways Smashing Pumpkins might have had more fun if they had just been around in the '80s. (Note: Mark forgot to mention it in the episode, but he'd like you to know this is the longest song ever to reach the Top 10.)

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Episode 14: Bastille, "Pompeii"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Somehow, talking about Bastille's big hit from last year sends Sarah to her college English papers, Mark to his lifelong obsession with Suzanne Vega, and both of us to a surprisingly emotional reflection on the role of the human body in making music. Plus we pinpoint the exact moment that Coldplay became a bunch of jerkwads!

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Episode 13: Supremes Covers

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 9 Jun 2016 16:00:00 +0000

We asked for Supremes covers, and you really went to (Mo-)town! Based on your suggestions, we discuss everything from lounge lizards to dance divas, all doing their best Diana Ross. We also ponder what makes a cover awesome (or terrible) and why the Motown sound works so well in other genres. While we bleach that La Toya Jackson vocal out of our ears, amuse yourselves with joints from Kim Wilde, Reba, Tim Curry, the Stray Cats, and the high priest of girls' bikes.

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Episode 12: Young MC's "Principal's Office" And DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 26 May 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Mark and Sarah get funky fresh with Young MC's "Principal's Office" and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand." In between dope late-'80s beats, we discuss the sneaky wit of party rap, the power of your drive-thru order, and the difference between charming confidence and sheer jackassery.

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Episode 11: Chic's "Le Freak" and R. Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Mark's friend Erin requests "Le Freak," which takes us to Mark's birthday pop chart reading and funky dances you can't do at home. Then a listener requests R. Kelly's "Ignition (remix)", and we try to process the gross things America avoided when the song became a hit. Tweet us at TalkSongs to tell us how to dance the freak or how to bleach R. Kelly from our minds.

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Episode 10: John Parr, "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 12 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Joe Reid returns to request "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)", which gets us ALL up in the business of '80s movie songs and their inspirational key changes. Plus, Sarah remembers horrifying high-school traditions and Mark recalls that time he invented a stupid dance. Tweet at us @TalkSongs with our favorite "watch the video instead of the movie" songs.

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Episode 9: Joplin Carlile LLC, "Get It While You Can" And "That Year"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Wed, 4 May 2016 13:00:00 +0000

It's wailin' ladies this week, with Janis Joplin's immortal "Get It While You Can" sharing the docket with "That Year," a cathartically sad song by Brandi Carlile. That leads us to Janis's enduring awesomeness, cover versions that trump the originals, and that time Mark thought he was reincarnated. Tweet us at talksongs to tell us about your Janis memories, your Brandi Carlile favorites, and the songs that make you feel it all.

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Episode 8: Jewel-erdome! "You Were Meant For Me" vs. "Hands"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Jewel-erdome, where two awful Jewel songs enter and only one leaves. As we decide which single commits the greater crime, we discover Mark's rage for terrible lyrics, Sarah's dark past with a cappella groups, and yet another way that Dawson's Creek is relevant. Tweet us at talksongs to tell us who dies in YOUR Jewel-erdome! (Note: It's acceptable to say that your hopes are what die in Jewel-erdome.)

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Episode 7: Mazzy Star, "Fade Into You"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Special guest Joe Reid joins us as we open the listener mailbag and pluck out Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You," our most-requested song. This sad '90s classic leads us everywhere from emotional trends in pop music to those short songs you put on mix tapes. Oh, and Sarah and Mark continue their ongoing discussion of Candlebox. Tweet us at TalkSongs with your requests, mixtape preferences, and ideal soundtrack cut from My So-Called Life. Special Guest: Joe Reid.

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Episode 6: Jesus Christ Superstar, "I Don't Know How To Love Him"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:00:00 +0000

There’s a little Broadway and a little rage as we talk about “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.” Join us as we consider the anti-feminism of '70s ballads, the political power of musical theater divas, and Mark's dramaturgical dorkiness for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tweet us at talksongs with your song requests, favorite musicals, and tip for Sarah's performance in Oklahoma!

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Episode 5: Cam, "Mayday"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Thu, 7 Apr 2016 13:00:00 +0000

In Episode 5, we've got a brand-new verzh of our MASTAS theme song -- and lots of thoughts about the dramaturgical rigors of country music (...you heard us), Friends, Junior Brown, Dolly, Dolly-WOOD, noun salads, Garth Brooks's alter egos, and what makes a good driving song. Tweet us at @TalkSongs with your favorite driving songs, and whether you too want to become a mule-skinner.

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Episode 4: Ellie Goulding, "Codes"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 1 Apr 2016 14:00:00 +0000

In MASTAS Episode 4, we're riding the sweet wave of Ellie Goulding's "Codes," while also pondering Swedish hitmakers, songs that help us get over terrible boyfriends, and that band from the Buffy soundtrack that Sarah FINALLY remembered. Tweet us at TalkSongs to suggest future songs, share your favorite Max Martin hits, and identify your favorite "old-lady walk."

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Episode 3: Madonna, "Get Together"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:00:00 +0000

In Episode 3, MASTAS FINALLY gets to Madonna. What took us so long?! While celebrating the neo-retro glory of "Get Together," we consider how Madge references her own past material, wonder why American radio hates people over 40, and admit that her weird religious references don’t bother us that much. Tweet us at TalkSongs to praise your favorite forgotten Madonna track, suggest songs for future eps, and share your enthusiasm for Mark's cheapo keychain.

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Episode 2: Luscious Jackson, "Naked Eye"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 2 of MASTAS, Sarah asks us to ponder "Naked Eye" by Luscious Jackson, which leads to tributes to '90s ladyrockers, theories about the career prospects of former drummers, and fond/horrified remembrances of our Clinton-era hairstyles. Tweet us at TalkSongs to get your riot grrrl on, suggest songs for future eps, and tell Mark if he correctly remembered who was in Belly.

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Episode 1: Heavy D and the Boyz, "Now That We've Found Love"

admin@bleav.com (Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:00:00 +0000

What ARE we gonna do...with it? The inaugural episode of MASTAS gets into it with Heavy D's "Now That We've Found Love" and covers such burning questions as why everyone shot videos in abandoned warehouses and why only one guy got to wear a transparent rain dance suit. Don't forget to hit us on Twitter at TalkSongs to discuss the ep, suggest cuts for future eps, and wonder why Sar so square.

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