popular music

Song of the day:

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Time to break this one out again. My first interpretation of the song is here. My addendum to my first interpretation is here. I also wrote about the song here.

Song of the Day

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Frank Sinatra makes his 1973 comeback and Paul Anka delivers with this:

The Author’s Corner with Michael T. Bertrand

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Michael T. Bertrand is Professor of History at Tennessee State University. This interview is based on his new book, Southern History Remixed: On Rock ’n’ Roll and the Dilemma of Race (University Press of Florida, 2024). JF: What led you […]

Song of the Day

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I like this Amy Grant rendition of the Philips Brooks Christmas classic: ” No ear may his coming, But in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in”

“A Very Special Christmas” turns 35

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Did you know that The Pointer Sisters, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Pretenders, John Mellencamp, Sting, Run-DMC, U2, Madonna, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Alison Moyet, and Stevie Nicks […]

Song of the day

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I recently saw a social media post asking readers to identity the first pop song they remember hearing as a kid. I am pretty sure my song was this 1973 classic from Neil Sedaka. How about you?

Episode 122: “Springsteen, Joel, and the American Century”

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In his new book Bridge & Tunnel Boys, historian Jim Cullen discusses how Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen represented what he calls “the metropolitan sound of the American century.” In this episode of the podcast, we talk with Cullen about how Joel […]

Is it OK to like Barry Manilow’s music?

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In fifteen years of blogging I think this is my first Barry Manilow post. I’ll join Tom Nichols of The Atlantic in admitting that I sometimes listen to Manilow’s music. (Though I have never seen him in concert.) Here is […]