Handclaps (with Eric D. Johnson)

We're all gonna die someday! Also it's almost spring, and that's nice.   Songs discussed in this episode: Arthur Lee - Everybody's Gotta Live (1972) Sufjan Stevens - Fourth of July (2015) William Onyeabor - Try And Try (1979) Yard Act - 100% Endurance (2022) Tol-Puddle Martyrs - Time Will Come (1967) Viagra Boys - Worms (2018) Paul Williams - The Hell Of It (1974) Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over The Sea (1998) La Luz - Sure As Spring (2013) Slow Children - Spring In Fialta (1981) Max Richter - Spring 1 (2012) (2014) Operating Theater - Spring Is Coming With a Strawberry In The Mouth (1986)

This is the 50th episode of this podcast! I'm joined by friend Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats, Bonny Light Horseman) to talk about handclaps. We talk about handclaps in the songwriting and recording process, play some of our favorite songs featuring handclaps, and also have a bunch of digressions about other stuff.   Songs played in this episode (maybe not exactly in this order): The Shins - Kissing the Lipless (2003) Led Zeppelin - Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (1970) Fruit Bats - When U Love Somebody (2003) The Routers - Let's Go - Pony (1962) Rose Royce - Car Wash (1976) Boston - Foreplay / Long Time (1976) Erasmo Carlos - Mundo Deserto (1971) The Cure - Close to Me (1985) The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Eighteen Is over the Hill (1968) Air - La femme d'argent (1998) Alice Coltrane - Govinda Jai Jai (1977) The Meters - Hand Clapping Song (1970)    

This episode features all songs whose titles are questions, even though some aren't punctuated as such. There are many songs that would qualify for this theme that aren't included, but I tried to gather a bunch that are all pretty different from one another.   Songs discussed in this episode: Them Two - Am I A Good Man (1967) Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Who Do You Think You're Fooling (1967) Art Fact - Whom Are You Dancing For? (1989) Todd Rundgren - Does Anybody Love You? (1972) Fatlip - What's Up Fatlip? (2000) Duffy Power - Where Am I (1964) Bjork - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (2004) Paul Clayton - Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons (1960) Soft Machine - Why Are We Sleeping? (1968) Kim Deal - Are You Mine? (2024) Sparks - When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (1994) T. Rex - Is It Love? (1971) Bright Eyes - You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. (2002) The Rapture - How Deep Is Your Love? (2011)

Songs in this episode feature two-part harmony for most of the song! Also, they're all good. Hopefully it isn't new information that the songs on this podcast are good.   Songs discussed in this episode: The Beatles - There's A Place (1963) Ween - What Deaner Was Talking About (1994) The B-52's - Topaz (1989) Peter & Gordon - A World Without Love (1965) Unknown Mortal Orchestra - From The Sun (2013) Chad & Jeremy - A Summer Song (1965) The Breeders - Divine Hammer (1993) Doves - M62 Song (2002) The Statler Brothers - Flowers On The Wall (1966) Rihanna - Never Ending (2016) Iron & Wine - Jezebel (2005) Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (2009)

Here are pairs of songs that share some feature (melody, chord progression, instrumentation, etc) and therefore remind me of each other. I hope that when you hear them you also go "hey!" or maybe just "oh yeah, okay", that works too.   Songs discussed in this episode: The Tonettes - I Gotta Know (1965) Yumi Arai - Ruju no Dengon (ルージュの伝言) (1975) Elliott Smith - Sweet Adeline (1998) Ty Segall - My Room (2024) Tears for Fears - Mad World (1982) R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People (1991) The Kinks - Wicked Annabella (1968) Elliott Smith - Speed Trials (1997) Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney - Monkberry Moon Delight (1971) Brian Protheroe - Fly Now (1974) The Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm (1993) Duncan Dhu - En Algun Lugar (1987) Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em (2010) Charli xcx - Sympathy Is A Knife (2024)

All songs in this episode feature use of chromatic scales. Have you thought about doing a bunch of half steps lately? Something to consider!   Songs discussed in this episode: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman - The Phantom of the Opera (1987) Fever Ray - Even It Out (2023) Fat White Family - Touch The Leather Redux (2014) Nina Simone - Tomorrow Is My Turn (1965) Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney - Too Many People (1971) Bobby Hebb - Sunny (1966) The Beatles - Hey Bulldog (1969) The Chills - The Great Escape (1989) Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed (1970) Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (1966) The Mothers Of Invention - Anyway The Wind Blows (1966) Anna Meredith - Nautilus (2016) Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules Theme (2008)

Here's a selection of songs featuring "If" in the title. We're getting conditional, baby (if you're into that).   Songs discussed in this episode: Blonde Redhead - If (2023) Cat Stevens/Yusuf - If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (1970) Guided By Voices - If We Wait (1996) Fever Ray - If I Had A Heart (2009) Bright Eyes - If Winter Ends (1998) Nolan Porter - If I Could Only Be Sure (1972) The Beatles - If I Fell (1964) Paul McCartney - If You Wanna (1997) George Harrison - If Not For You (1970) Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew (1996) Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind (1970) Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass - If You Don't Know Me By Now (1972) The Creation - If I Stay Too Long (1967)   Plus a few snippets of "Space Is Only Noise If You Can See" by Nicolas Jaar and "Freak, Go Home" by DARKSIDE.

Today's playlist contains all songs with finger-picked guitar parts! Or at least I'm pretty sure that's right, I don't play guitar. The songs are all good though.   Songs discussed in this episode: Elizabeth Cotten - Freigh Train (1957) Elliott Smith - Pretty Mary K (Other Version) (2007) Dando Shaft - Coming Home To Me (1971) Nick Drake - Which Will (1972) Lightnin' Hopkins - Shaggy Dog/Dad (1967?) Aldous Harding - The Barrel (2019) Labi Siffre - Cannock Chase (1972) Leo Kottke - Watermelon (1974) Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again (1977) Dolly Parton - Jolene (1974) Nico - These Days (1967) Jacco Gardner - Brightly (2015)

Today's playlist features songs whose titles are people names (names only, not names in a phrase).   Songs discussed in this episode: Basement Jaxx - Romeo (2001) Pixies - Allison (1990) Jennie Lawless - Annie (2021) Ween - Gabrielle (2005) Paul Simon - Duncan (1972) Jack Ladder - Susan (2018) Weezer - Susanne (1994) Perfume Genius - Jason (2020) Boney M - Rasputin (1978) The Replacements - Alex Chilton (1987) Prefab Sprout - Faron Young (1985) David Bowie - Andy Warhol (1971) Gillian Welch - Caleb Meyer (1998) Paul McCartney - Jenny Wren (2005) Robert Palmer - Johnny And Mary (1980)  

My friend Joel Spence is here to talk about The B-52's 1983 album "Whammy"! We also talk a lot about The B-52's in general and I manage to also sneak in "Janitor" by Suburban Lawns.