Song Stories, "Spirit In The Sky"

Though Maggie Rogers began songwriting in her teens, it wasn't until Pharrell Williams critiqued her masterclass at NYU when she got her big break. Many of the songs on "Heard It In A Past Life" deal with this overnight success and all the waves of emotion that come with that. She says "Heard It In A Past Life" was the introduction that she never really got to make. We discuss all the different production and writing styles reflected on the album, as well as Maggie's synesthesia and writing process.

In this episode, we're diving into one of punk's most enduring albums, "Marquee Moon" from 1977. We'll talk about Television's role in CBGB & OMFUG becoming the epicenter of American punk and the history of the venue, as well as the friendship and later falling out of Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell. Also–the Lower East Side poetry scene, Patti Smith helping build the mystique around the band, turning down a record contract, and what a good name change can do for the soul. Television, don't go to my head.

"After Hours" is like a film noir in album format. It depicts the rise and fall of an anti-hero, The Character, as he admits that his loneliness is more unbearable than he lets on. In this episode, we discuss The Weeknd's whole visual campaign around "After Hours," including an important series of music videos and appearances where The Weeknd showed up with facial bandages. Also, we'll discuss his evolution from releasing music anonymously to becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

In this episode, I talk to music writer Jamieson Cox, whose work has been featured in Pitchfork, Time Magazine, and more. We discuss how he finds new music, what made him get into criticism, and towing the line between having a hobby and keeping it one. We also get into his role in Pitchfork's first-ever review of Taylor Swift, how the Pitchfork scoring system works, and Jamieson's newsletter, One Good Song. Episode includes music by Frank Ocean, Madeline Kenney, Jazmine Sullivan, Mamalarky, and Darkside.

Even though metal isn't at the top of my list, "Colors" is one of the most interesting albums I've heard in a long time. Between The Buried And Me is a progressive metal band made up of virtuosos and friends, most of whom have been playing together since high school. Whether you're already a fan or just curious, my guest Job Fickett is amazingly helpful. He helps guide us through the world of modern prog metal, explains the different vocal styles, and shares all the reasons BTBAM is his favorite band.

Exciting news... The Radio Ga Ga Podcast is now on Patreon! We're talking swag, we're talking exclusive content, all the good stuff. Get all the details in this mini-episode update and join at Patreon.com/radiogagapodcast. Thank you for your ongoing support!

One of my personal goals for 2021 was to listen to a LOT more new music, or at least "new" to me. In this episode, I'm sharing 10 albums I just listened to for the very first time recently. To be fair, a few of these just came out in 2021 so they are actually new. But a lot of these, I wish I would've listened to much earlier. If you're like me and are looking for a refresh of your old go-to playlists, listen to this episode.

In the final installment of our Mariah Carey series, we get into the later years of her career, the tryst with Derek Jeter that was the catalyst to ending her abusive marriage, and the surprising side hustle Mariah was working on during the recording of "Daydream." Also, Christmas wishes, Tommy Mottola's revenge on Mariah via a J.Lo song, and the hunt for a very special white baby grand piano. Episode 2 of 2.

Though we know Mariah Carey as a high-maintenance diva, there's a LOT more to the story. She grew up in an incredibly turbulent environment with a family that could have very easily kept Mariah down (and keeps trying to). Her professional and personal life also merged in her early 20s, when she married a music exec who treated her like a prisoner. We'll get into Mariah's desire to shift "Daydream" to a more R&B sound, her signature whistle tones, and the earliest years of her global success. Episode 1 of 2.

"Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum is a fantastic song, and one of rock music's definitive one-hit wonders. Its omnipresence across television, film, and advertisements has earned it a permanent spot in classic rock history. And from "Apollo 13," to "Remember The Titans," to "Guardians of the Galaxy" and everything in between, "Spirit In The Sky" continues to live on as a cross-generational favorite. We talk about Greenbaum's past, the making of the song, and the reasons it became his only major hit.