One of the things we love most about music is its power to transport. It can carry us somewhere locational, philosophical, psychological, even quantal (as we explored more overtly in our Time Machine episode). A single song can shift the room, unlock memories, or reveal a door we didn’t even know was there. Music is the vessel that cracks open our hearts and minds, taking us on a long and winding road to anywhere.

SONGS:

Tinariwen: Amassakoul 'N' 'Ténéré (2004)

The Balfa Brothers: Le Danse de Mardi Gras (1967)

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES:

Tinariwen Webpage

Electric Blues Desert Refugees by Nate Seltenrich (Pop Matters)

Rebel Blues in the Sahara: A Desert Guitar Primer by Joe Tangari (Pitchfork)

Songs of Exile and Resistance by Andy Morgan (Al Jazeera)

A Review of Psychological and Neuroscientific Research on Musical Groove (Science Direct)

Justin Adams:Fantastical Deaths and Spectacular Rebirths by Farhad Mirza (Guernica)

Tinariwen: Chet Boghassa (another fave)

Tinariwen: Sastanàqqàm (another fave)

Rebellion and Fragmentation in Northern Mali

Rebel Music: The Tuareg Uprising in 12 Songs by Tinariwen by Rollo Romig

History of Cajun Mardi Gras

What is Courir de Mardi Gras? The Cajun Country celebration is rooted in Medieval France

Festival Acadiens Official Website

History of Cajun Music

'La Danse de Mardi Gras' Song Lyrics and Meaning

PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS:

I Said No Gifts

Off Menu

Anna and Isabella Do Improv (Pronounced Ahnna, sorry!)

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

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Brr. Did someone just open a window? Or did I catch a crazy vibe from this funky ass song? Ok enough silliness. This week we deep dive into the songs that give us the literal chills. You know, the type of song that makes the hairs on your arm stand up. A song that makes you sit up a little straighter... makes you "lock in" as the youth say. And no, we DIDN'T just explore this theme with "Visceral." That's different. We insist.

SONGS:

Herbie Hancock: Watermelon Man (1973)

Rosalía: Berghain (2025)

RESOURCE AND REFERENCES:

Watermelon Man - 1962 version

Hindewhu flute performance

The Ethan Hein Blog - Watermelon Man

Herbie Hancock on Watermelon Man

Watermelon Sacrifice at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Pygmy POP. A Genealogy of Schizophonic Mimesis

Rosalia Explains Lux: 13 Languages! Heartbreak! Betrayal! Björk! (& ‘Euphoria’) - Popcast

What Do Rosalia’s Lyrics Actually Mean By Michelle Santiago Cortes

Rosalía's Berghain is a thunderous goth-pop hit -- but is it opera? By Laura Snapes (The Guardian)

Rosalia’s Lux is Operatic, but is it Opera? By Joshua Barone (NYT)

Another article by Snapes wherein Rosalía is quoted as being “hot for God” (The Guardian)

Decoding the Language and Saints of Rosalías Lux (The Glottal Stop)

Lux: An exploration of divine femininity NOT centered around ability to reproduce (Reddit)

Spirituality and song: What Rosalía’s ‘Lux’ says about sainthood by Hannah Rich (Theos)

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Winter)

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

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Music has the power to soothe, excite, stir emotions, or make you get up and dance! And sometimes it elicits a visceral reaction that you weren't expecting... even after the umpteenth time you've heard the song. That's right, this week, we're talking about songs that wreak havoc on your nervous system.

SONGS:

David Bowie: Blackstar (2015)

Bjork: hyperballad (1996)

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

Tony Visconti Talks About How Blackstar Was Made

Jay Mills’ Drum Cover of Blackstar

The Guardian Review of Blackstar Video (2015)

David Bowie: Lazarus (2016)

A thank you letter to David Bowie from a palliative care doctor

Johan Renck on directing Bowie’s final videos

Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

On David Bowie’s Blackstar, Turning to Jazz for Inspiration by Nate Chinen (2016)

Bjork’s Interview in Record Collector Magazine (2002)

"Hyperballad" stands the test of time... and honestly, we've yet to reach its time (The Unfortified Castle)

The XFM Top 1,000 Songs of All Time

Bjork's theory about paparazzi culture

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!

Fa La La. Shoo ba doo bee. MmmmBOP! Did you read those out loud just now? Congratulations. You can scat! All jokes aside, this week we’re focused on made up words in music! Some of the greatest hits of all time have a nonsensical word (or two!) in their lyrics, and we’re deep diving into some of our favorites in this episode!

SONGS:

Ooh Poo Pah Doo: Jessie Hill

Serge Gainsbourg: Shu Ba Du Ba Loo Ba (1966)

EXTRAS:

Non-lexical vocables in music

Kim Cattrall Scatting

Twin Peaks Leland Palmers "Mairzy Doats"

Just Judy: Judy Hill, I Wanna Tell You About Ooh Poo Pah Doo

Trombone Shorty on Treme - “Ooh Poo Pah Doo”

Jessie Hill article in Gambit

France Gall - Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son - Eurovision Winner 1965

Gainsbourg and Birkin: Je t’aime…moi non plus (1969)

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life - Trailer (2011)

Juliette Greco: La Javanaise (1963)

Gainsbourg: La Javanaise (1968)

Gainsbourg's 20 Most Scandalous Moments

Gainsbourg & Greco Clip for Biopic (2011)

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

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We’re not making any friends with this episode. But hopefully we don’t lose any either.

We’re just being honest…and mildly obnoxious. Please listen until the end (unless you’re a Swiftie!).

SONGS:

Tom Waits: All the World is Green (2002)

Beyonce: 7/11 (2014)

EXTRAS:

Live Circus Live at Jacksonville (2008)

Tom Waits Library

Tom Waits - IMDb

Cinematic Appearances of Tom Waits and His Music

Tom Waits Glitter and Doom Press Conference (2008)

Tom Waits: Grapefruit Moon (1973)

Night on Earth Soundtrack (1991)

Interview with Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan (1981)

Tom Waits: Way Down in the Hole (1987)

The Wire: Season 1 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (The Blind Boys of Alabama)

The Wire: Season 2 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (Tom Waits)

The Wire: Season 3 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (The Neville Brothers)

The Wire: Season 4 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (DoMaJe)

The Wire: Season 5 Opening Credits - Way Down in the Hole (Steve Earle)

Story behind David Simon Choosing Way Down in the Hole for The Wire

Destiny's Child - Say My Name (1999)

Beyonce's 2018 Coachella performance

The Politics Behind Beyonce’s 2018 Coachella Performance

Cultural impact of Beyoncé Wikipedia

Solange Has Built a Creative Empire. Now She’s Bringing Her Work Home

Solange's speech during Eldorado Ballroom performance in Houston, TX, in June 2025

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

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Ever think there might be an invisible thread holding things together that you cannot see, but perhaps... you can feel? This week's theme centers on the question, "Are these songs related somehow?" And the resounding answer: "No."

SONGS

Pino D'angio: Ma quale Idea (1980)

Brian Eno: Baby’s on Fire (1973)

EXTRAS

Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

Sister Sledge: He’s the Greatest Dancer

The Bar-Kays: Sang and Dance

How Italo disco is taking over Berlin (again)

Ma Quale Idea - bassline by Stefano Cerri- OR IS IT?

bnkr44, Pino D'Angiò - MA CHE IDEA

Roxy Music: Re-make/Re-model (1972)

Roxy Music: Do the Strand (1973)

Roxy Music: Love is the Drug (1975)

Baby’s on Fire Review by Joe Hoeffner

Guardian Interview with Brian Eno

Fripp & Eno: No Pussyfooting (1972)

King Crimson: The Court of the Crimson King (1969)

Brian Eno on AI, Art and What Makes Us Human (2025)

Brian Eno: Music for Airports (1978)

12 Musical Works You Didn’t Know Eno Produced

Eno Meets David Byrne

David Byrne: T-Shirt (2025)

Oblique Strategies

And of course, Eno's "Baby's On Fire" has no relation to Die Antwoord's, a track we discussed in our Scary Songs episode.

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

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Happy New Year! We are kicking off 2026 with a deadly fall and a sliced off ear! That's right, movie magic music is back, and this time we’re talking about the most haunting use of a song in a movie. Brace yourself for spoilers!

SONGS

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band: P.I.M.P. (2008)

Stealers Wheel: Stuck in the Middle with You (1972)

EXTRAS

P.I.M.P. Scene from Anatomy of a Fall

Stuck in the Middle With You Scene from Reservoir Dogs

50 Cent: P.I.M.P. (2003)

Anatomy of a Song: A Reading of P.I.M.P. in Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall (Dr. Gemma Blackwood)

Pitchfork Review of 55

Rolling Stone: Quentin Tarantino on Five Key Soundtrack Picks, From “Reservoir Dogs” to “Inglourious Basterds"

Hip to be Square Scene in American Psycho

Instrumental Song that Could Have Been a Radio Hit (where today's podcast theme idea was formed)

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

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The year is (almost) over! And we are delighted. So what better time to share our most-loved and most-listened to bands with our dutiful, beautiful listeners? If the year-end "best of" lists overwhelm you, we hope you'll enjoy a mini-deep dive into two bands we kept coming back to all year long. And truly, we cannot wait to discover more new (and old) music with you in 2026! Thanks for listening all year long!

VIDEOS

Devo: Uncontrollable Urge (1978)

Being Dead: Van Goes (2024)

EXTRAS

Rolling Stone: ICE Ads Are All Over Your Favorite Streaming Services

Being Dead article in Texas Monthly

Being Dead: Big Bovine music video

Being Dead KEXP In-Studio Performance

Bowie Introduces Devo at Max’s Kansas City (1977)

Human Highway (1982)

Devo: Freedom of Choice (1980)

Devo: Girl U Want (1980)

Devo Performing I Can’t Get No Satisfaction on SNL (1979)

Devo Performing Uncontrollable Urge Live on Fridays (1980)

Devo Performing Nutra Theme/Jerkin Back and Forth Live on Fridays (1981)

Devo Performing Uncontrollable Urge at Hollywood Bowl (Oct. 18, 2025)

Guardian Interview with Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale (2022)

Mark Mothersbaug on KCRW with his Minimoog (2016)

Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!

If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.

And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!