Song Exploder
By Lakshmi Hutchinson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fascinating behind-the-music pod; some mature content.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this podcast.
Where to Listen
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What’s It About?
In each episode of SONG EXPLODER, a musical artist or band members break down exactly how one of their songs was made. The host, Hrishikesh Hirway, provides some background information on the song and artist, and then we hear the artist speak in detail about the songwriting process. Janelle Monáe shares how she initially records her ideas in a voice memo on her phone. Madonna and producer and DJ Stuart Price tell the story of their collaboration, and how she got ABBA's permission to sample one of their songs for her 2005 hit "Hung Up." Singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett shares the deeper meaning behind the lyrics of "Depreston." At the end of each episode, the song is played in full without interruption. Within the podcast there's a short sub-series called "Book Exploder", where authors share the writing process and inspiration behind their books.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fantastic podcast for people who appreciate music and songwriting, or for those who may enjoy hearing interesting stories told by the artists themselves. Song Exploder really stands out for its diversity. You'll hear from artists of different backgrounds, cultures, ages, and genders. Some speak about how their identity comes through in their music. Janelle Monáe discusses how being a queer Black woman in America has shaped her outlook and songwriting.
There's a diversity of musical genres represented, including hip-hop, classic rock, Afrobeats, and film scores. In one episode the members of Swedish indie band Peter Bjorn and John tell the hilarious story of their song "Young Folks," and how the famous whistling was just supposed to be a placeholder. Even if you don't know the artist or genre, once you hear the backstory you'll be excited to hear the song by the end of the episode.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how many of the solo artists featured on Song Exploder collaborate with others to achieve their artistic visions. How can working with a team help an artist? Can you recall a time when you worked with a team and they helped to inspire or motivate you?
Some of the musicians on the podcast are inspired by or even sample other artists. How do artists, as well as others who use songs in their content, make sure the original artists gets credit? Why is this important?
The Song Exploder podcast has now led to a Netflix show of the same name. How does listening to a podcast differ from watching a TV show for you?
This podcast promotes teamwork. Why is that an important character strength?
Podcast Details
- Release date: January 1, 2014
- Genre: Music
- Average Run Time: 15 minutes
- Website: https://songexploder.net/
- Host: Hrishikesh Hirway
- Publishers: Radiotopia, PRX
- Pricing structure: Free
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Teamwork
- Last updated: March 24, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
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Where to Listen
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