124 episodes
60 Songs That Explain the '90s The Ringer
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- Music
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4.6 • 702 Ratings
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The 1990s were a turning point in music: with the increasingly connected world enabling an unprecedented coalescence of various styles and genres, the decade featured the rapid evolution of sonic artistry — and subsequently shaped the soundscape of eras that followed. Listen along as The Ringer’s preeminent music critic Rob Harvilla curates and explores 60 iconic songs from the ‘90s that define the decade.
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“Closing Time”—Semisonic
It’s last call for '90s songs and Rob’s memories as the show draws to a close. So there couldn’t be a more fitting moment for Semisonic’s “Closing Time” to be chosen as the episode’s focus. Listen as Rob grapples with his feelings of discomfort with the word goodbye, and stay for a final sendoff to the greatest '60 Songs' guest of all time, Yasi Salek.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Yasi Salek
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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“Friends in Low Places”—Garth Brooks
In the penultimate episode of 60 Songs, Rob takes it way back. Listen as he recalls the first song he remembers consciously hearing as a baby before diving into the world of Garth Brooks and 90’s country music. Later, Tyler Parker joins the show to discuss what Garth Brooks means to Oklahoma and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Tyler Parker
Producer: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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“Give Me One Reason”—Tracy Chapman
Rob ranks the books he was forced to read in high school before turning his focus on the greatness of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” from her 1995 album ‘New Beginning.’ Later, Rob is joined by fellow Ohio native and author Hanif Abdurraqib to discuss why Ohio breeds such great writers such as Tracy Chapman. The guys also get into Chapman’s appearance at the Grammy’s and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Hanif Abdurraqib
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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The Songs We Didn’t Do (Everyone Yells At Rob)
Hello friends, and thank you for stopping by for a very special episode of 60 Songs. With just three songs remaining, it felt like a great week to have some of Rob’s favorite guests as well as producers stop by and yell at him over songs that he missed. Enjoy!
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guests: Andrew Savage, Yasi Salek, Elamin Adelmahmoud, Alex Steed, Leslie Gray Streeter, Isaac Lee, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
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“Hard Knock Life”—JAY-Z
Rob looks at JAY-Z’s career backwards this week before reaching the rap legend’s 90’s pop crossover hit, “Hard Knock Life.” Along the way, Rob highlights the masterclass that is Funkmaster Flex premiering Kanye West and JAY-Z’a “Otis” on Hot 97 and much more. Later, the Ringer’s Wosny Lambre joins the show to discuss what JAY-Z’s rise to power in New York in the 90s, the importance of Hot 97 to New York rap, and JAY-Z the hyper-capitalist.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Wosny Lambre
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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“Black or White”—Michael Jackson
Rob reminisces on his time witnessing Janelle Monae perform at South By Southwest in the year of Michael Jackson’s passing, before looking back at the King of Pop’s televised funeral. Along the way, Rob looks back at the height of Jackson’s powers in the '80s as well as a bit more tumultuous era in the '90s. Later, Wesley Morris joins the show to aid in deciphering how to process Michael Jackson’s career draped in success and controversy.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Wesley Morris
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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Customer Reviews
INVU4URA professional music critic 🤩
Just wow, I don’t know how the algorithm didn’t deposit this podcast before me earlier, but I have been devouring this pod since finding it 2 weeks ago. If you were alive in the 90s, if you enjoy Beavis and Butthead and Wayne’s World References, if you like any kind of music at all, I would recommend this pod. I don’t skip any episodes, not even if I don’t remember (or think I don’t remember) the song, even if I don’t like the band. The production quality rules (ugh the tape player sounds), it’s all at once funny, smart, touching (the Whitney episode made me cry), and just a working definition of nostalgia for me. I find myself reliving specific memories of these songs that have long dropped out of my core memories, and I’m creating 90s playlists like a crazy person now. Not to mention I’ve never heard somebody describe what it feels like listening to Bjork like Rob Harvilla before, and it’s healing for my soul. Anyway, human feelings, blah blah blah, I love this show.
Born Too Late
Man, every time I find a new podcast I enjoy it has just ended.
I love Rob’s maze of personal experiences before he talks about whatever song the episode is on. I feel like I’m listening to someone else reading a choose your own adventure book. Once Rob gets to the song of topic, it’s like I just finished a 1000 piece puzzle. That satisfaction washes over me to the point that I don’t even know if I care about the topic song anymore, but I still do.
Rob is also in the top tier of podcasters who have potent pronunciation. He strikes the ear, pulls you in, and proves he has a point.
I appreciate that. I appreciate the show. I appreciate the ‘90s even though I was born in ‘97.
Amazing, Funny, and Deep
Gives me a WHOLE bunch of music wormholes to go down. And a full 5% of episodes don’t even mention Nevermind at all!