Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs

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! 

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!

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.

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! 

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!

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.

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! 

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!

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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"!

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.

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. 

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.  

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?

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!

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.