The Secret Life of Songs
Award-winning music analysis podcast, The Secret Life of Songs, returns with a new series exploring classic songs from the 1970s and 80s. Hear how the fallout from the disappointed hopes of the 1960s was explored in the work of Sly Stone and Joni Mitchell, how the unearthly new sounds unlocked by radical new music technology was used to express both utopian and dystopian impulses by Giorgio Moroder and the originators of Detroit Techno, and how the era’s most divisive cultural concept - postmodernism - was uncannily reflected in the output of the era’s most divisive pop band - ABBA. All of this - and more - is presented by host Anthony in his inimitable style: deftly weaving fine-grained musical analysis, historical context and philosophical reflection with his own impassioned recreations of the music to produce embodied, thoroughly grounded and deeply personal insights into these wonderful songs.
Winner of the bronze award in 'Best Arts & Culture Podcast' at the British Podcast Awards 2021.
Latest Episode
Previous Episodes
- #12 - Family Affair / Sly and the Family Stone 14.08.2025
- #11 - I Feel Love / Donna Summer 14.08.2025
- Series 2 trailer 07.08.2025
- #10 - River Deep — Mountain High / Ike & Tina Turner 27.08.2020
- #9 - The Makings of You / Curtis Mayfield 13.08.2020
- #8 - Walkin' After Midnight & Crazy / Patsy Cline 30.07.2020
- #7 - Cigarettes and Coffee / Otis Redding 16.07.2020
- #6 - Jealous Guy / John Lennon 02.07.2020
- #5 - Son of a Preacher Man / Dusty Springfield 18.06.2020
- #4 - God Only Knows / The Beach Boys 04.06.2020
- #3 - You're All I Need to Get By / Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell 21.05.2020
- #2 - One Fine Day / The Chiffons 21.05.2020
- #1 - Bring It On Home to Me / Sam Cooke 21.05.2020
- Series 1 trailer 13.05.2020
