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popular music

Song of the night

John Fea   |  March 4, 2025

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  February 28, 2025

Song of the day

John Fea   |  February 24, 2025

RIP, Roberta Flack

Song of the day

John Fea   |  February 15, 2025

Song of the day:

John Fea   |  November 12, 2024

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.

“A dream of life”

John Fea   |  September 11, 2024

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  August 22, 2024

HT: Storm Bailey

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  June 1, 2024

HT: Mets announcer Gary Cohen

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  May 13, 2024

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

The Author’s Corner with Michael T. Bertrand

Rachel Petroziello   |  March 20, 2024

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 […]

We now live in a world where a narcissistic sociopath wants to be president again and only a global pop superstar can stop him!

John Fea   |  January 24, 2024

Donald Trump looks like he will be the GOP nominee for president again and only Taylor Swift can stop him from winning in November. OK–that’s a bit dramatic, but we should not underestimate Swift’s potential political power. A recent piece […]

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  December 16, 2023

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

John Fea   |  December 15, 2023

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

John Fea   |  December 13, 2023

Song of the day

John Fea   |  November 20, 2023

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”

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

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 […]

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  November 3, 2023

Song of the day

John Fea   |  November 2, 2023

Song of the Day

John Fea   |  October 28, 2023

Is it OK to like Barry Manilow’s music?

John Fea   |  September 29, 2023

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 […]

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