32 episodes

TnT's Hit Songs From Mars seeks to unravel the stories behind some of pop's most unlikely hits. From simple curiosities to songs that changed the world, we examine the sociopolitical and cultural factors that contributed to the success of these surprising outliers, and the impact these songs had on society.

TnT's Hit Songs From Mars Tom Thompson, Tyler Ralston

    • Music
    • 5.0 • 16 Ratings

TnT's Hit Songs From Mars seeks to unravel the stories behind some of pop's most unlikely hits. From simple curiosities to songs that changed the world, we examine the sociopolitical and cultural factors that contributed to the success of these surprising outliers, and the impact these songs had on society.

    Tubular Bells (Pt. 1) - Theme From "The Exorcist"

    Tubular Bells (Pt. 1) - Theme From "The Exorcist"

    In this episode, the lads become possessed by the unnerving creepiness of Mike Oldfield's unlikely hit "Tubular Bells", the theme music from the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist.  Thankfully, special guest Joseph Trivers performs a successful exorcism on the dreadful scene, through his exploration of minimalist music and the mechanics of how it confounds, delights, and offers unforeseen avenues of expression. Join the trio for a totally tubular episode of TnT.

    Songs:
    Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology
    Brian Eno - 1/1
    Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (Pt.1)
    John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter And Daniel Davies - Main Theme from "Halloween"
    Michael Jackson - Thriller
    Howard Shore - The Uruk-hai
    Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi
    The Shining - He Saw it on the Television
    Al Bowlly & Ray noble and His Orchestra - Midnight, the Stars and You
    Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (1971 Demo)
    Johannes Brahms - Brahms' Lullaby
    Silence of the Lambs - Fava Beans and a nice Chianti
    La Monte Young - Composition 1960 No.7
    Terry Reilly - Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band
    Steve Reich - Come Out
    Eighth Blackbird - Two Pages
    John Cale & Terry Reilly - Church of Anthrax
    Steve Reich - It's Gonna Rain, Part 1
    Steve Reich - Piano Phase
    Terry Reilly - A Rainbow in Curved Air
    The Who - Baba O'Reilly
    Ann Southam - Rivers Set 1: No. 1
    Julius Eastman - Evil N***** (Live)
    Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster & Panaiotis - Nike

    Connect with us:
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    • 1 hr 5 min
    Love Shack - The B-52s

    Love Shack - The B-52s

    In this episode, the lads got them a pod that's as big as whale and it's about to set sail! On route to the B-52s' "Love Shack" they head  down the Atlanta Highway and pick up some shiny happy people including REM, Iggy Pop, Nile Rodgers, and Don Was (Not Was) and...the legendary John Lennon himself? Come Roam (if you want to) with TnT to that little old place where we can get together...

    Songs:
    Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology
    Beyoncé - Texas Hold 'em
    Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman - Fast Cars
    B-52s - Love Shack
    Milli Vanilli - Blame It On the Rain
    Bad English - When I See You Smile
    Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire
    Billy Joel - You May Be Right
    B-52s - Rock Lobster
    B-52s - 52 Girls
    B-52s - Private Idaho
    John Lennon - B-52s Interview
    Weezer - Buddy Holly
    Chime of Wrens - Billow
    Echo and the Bunnymen - Bedbugs and Ballyhoo
    David Bowie - Let's Dance
    Chic - Le Freak
    Was (Not Was) - Walk the Dinosaur
    B-52s - Roam
    REM - Shiny Happy People
    REM - Me In Honey
    REM - What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
    Iggy Pop - Candy
    Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Going to a Go Go

    Connect with us:
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    • 1 hr 2 min
    Ball of Confusion - Love and Rockets

    Ball of Confusion - Love and Rockets

    In this episode Tom presents his Dissertation on Delay to Professor Ralston, who must choose the Hit Songiest Song From Mars from a number of worthy (and not so worthy) candidates. The challenge pits Love and Rockets against The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Tina Turner, Anthrax and Duran Duran. This ignites a compelling discussion on the unlikely bedfellows of Goth Rock, Reggae, Motown, Psychedelia and of course...Bauhaus and Van Halen! It's a ball of confusion you do not want to miss!
    Songs:
    Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded by the Light
    Love and Rockets - Ball of Confusion
    Love and Rockets - No New Tale to Tell
    Rock & Hyde - Dirty Water
    Randy Newman - It's Money That Matters
    Loverboy - Lovin' Every Minute of it
    Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
    Bauhaus - King Volcano
    Bauhaus - Kingdom's Coming
    Bauhaus - Slice of Life
    Bauhaus - Who Killed Mr. Moonlight
    Bauhaus - She's in Parties
    Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up
    Mutabaruka - Check it!
    King Tubby - Double Cross
    The Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
    Bauhaus - Harry
    Tones on Tail - Go!
    Tones on Tail - Rain
    Tones on Tail - Movement of Fear
    The Temptations - BOC
    Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears
    Edwin Starr - BOC
    Tina Turner - BOC
    Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With it
    Anthrax - BOC
    Duran Duran - BOC
    Eugene McDaniels - The Lord is Back
    Elvis Presley - Mystery Train

    Instagram

    • 58 min
    Trololo - Eduard Khil

    Trololo - Eduard Khil

    Now that the Falalalala season is over, time to get into the Trololo! Join the comrades as they revisit the "Golden Age" of YouTube (and perhaps the internet itself) with Eduard Khil's legendary non-lexical vocable masterpiece. As they travel along the Information Superhighway, they find the lost songs of their youth, search for the Sugar Man, and take an unexpected trip to Africa. C'mon and mash it up under the double rainbow with TnT!

    Songs:
    Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology
    Jim Bryson - Fleetwood
    The Buoys - Timothy
    Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator
    Caetano Veloso - Maria Bethania
    Eduard Khil - Trololo
    Baauer - Harlem Shake
    Cocomelon - Baby Shark
    WITCH - Introduction
    Afrorack - Cowbell
    Francis Bebey - Coffee Cola
    Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
    Wax Audio - Sad But Superstitious (Metallica/Stevie Wonder mash up)
    Antoine Dodson and the Gregory Brothers - Bed Intruder Song
    Rodriguez - Sugar Man

    Connect with us:
    Instagram

    • 48 min
    Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

    Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

    O come all ye faithful and join the lads as they say pogue mahone to Christmas, with that most un-Christmassy of Christmas carols "Fairytale of New York." As they attempt (and fail) to find the true meaning of Christmas, the fellows examine the multi-year process that went into the making of this unlikely holiday classic, debate which Pogues album marked their peak, and examine the life and legacy of the late, great Shane MacGowan. Happy Christmas your arse, we pray god it's no farce!

    Songs:
    Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology
    The Pogues - Fairytale of New York
    The Pogues - Fiesta
    The Pogues - Turkish Song of the Damned
    The Pogues - Bottle of Smoke
    The Pogues - Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six
    The Pogues - Worms
    The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God
    The Pogues - I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day
    The Pogues - The Old Main Drag
    Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind
    The Pogues - Fairytale of New York (early demo)
    U2 - New Year's Day
    Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much
    The Pogues - Streams of Whiskey
    The Pogues - USA
    The Pogues - Yeah, Yeah ,Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
    Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
    The Pogues - Fairytale of New York (Clean Version)
    Jason Kelce & Travis Kelce - Fairytale of Philadelphia
    KT Tunstall & Ed Harcourt - Fairytale of New York
    John & Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band - Happy Xmas (War is Over)
    Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
    Nat "King" Cole - The Christmas Song (Alternate Take)
    The Pogues - South Australia
    The Pogues - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
    Connect with us:
    Instagram

    • 58 min
    More, More, More - Andrea True Connection

    More, More, More - Andrea True Connection

    Join the lads as they put on their skates and travel back to the roller disco era, grooving to the melodious tones of the Andrea True Connection's "More, More, More."  As they try to keep their balance, the boyz marvel at the crisis turned opportunity that spawned not one but two top-ten hits (more than two decades apart, no less), ponder the origins of the death metal sound, and just try to stay out of the way of the roller derby jammers.  How do you like your TnT?  More, More, More!

    Songs:
    Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology
    Garfunkel and Oates - Present Face
    Andrea True Connection - More, More, More
    Sex-O-Rama - The Money Shot
    Jimmy Sturr - Beer Barrel Polka
    Jobraith - I'm a Man
    David Bowie - Right
    Fixx - Saved by Zero
    Jim Croce - Roller Derby Queen
    Blood Spasm - We Got Cactus
    Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
    Bee Gees - Massachusetts
    Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton - Islands in the Stream
    Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing
    Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
    Stan Rogers - Barrett's Privateers
    Len - Steal My Sunshine

    Books:
    Carrie Harris - Demon Derby

    • 44 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
16 Ratings

16 Ratings

Crowscage ,

Favourite Music Podcast!

Tom and Ty do an amazing, entertaining and informed job of presenting songs we have and have not heard to light. Music from one end of the spectrum to the other with Interesting tidbits of info presented by good friends makes for an delightful show that I binged in a week. Listen and share with your friends!

Beth in 613 ,

Awesome show!

I just finished listening to the first episode and loved it. I completely relate to the novelty and excitement when music videos came out. I remember going to Barrymore’s Music Hall in Ottawa in the early 80s when they played videos by New Wave artists before the live bands performed. They made a huge impact when I was 20. I was blown away by Flying Lizards’ cover of Money, which I think was another one hit wonder. Looking forward to episode 2!

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