I'm Clifford Stumme, and I use literary analysis and research to explain the deeper meanings of pop songs. Feel free to leave a comment or to email me at clifford@popsongprofessor.com with questions or ideas!
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People hate country music, but why? And how can we tap into these particular hates to put together the greatest (see: worst) country song of all time? Guest Garrett Vandenberg is going to explain how he did it for a video for the BlimeyCow YouTube channel. This episode is fun and incisive as we explore country music and how it fails.
"Something Just Like This" is hovering at number eight on the charts right now. It's popular because it's the work of two very different bands, and it's bringing those fans together. "Coldplay" (or particularly Chris Martin in this case) and The Chainsmokers have created a unique something here. The music sounds like The Chainsmokers, and the lyrics sound like a slightly less deep but still sweet Coldplay. In this episode, I explain every line of the song and explain how allusion plays into all of this, and I wonder at what another word for a "gaggle of gods" is. You'll see later. We also talk about the superhero mythos.
So, when "Heathens" first came out, I put out a couple of blog posts explaining the lyrics. My first one explained that "Heathens" was largely about the Skeleton Clique and letting in outsiders, but my second one retracted that and said that "Heathens" was about Christian witnessing and what it meant to share your faith as a quick fix for people with real troubles. I still really like that explanation, and it fit in really well with Twenty One Pilots songs like "Clear," but I've just gotten new evidence that I HAD to share with you guys. In a radio interview, Tyler Joseph gives the TRUE meaning of "Heathens," and I have a lot to say about it.
Imagine Dragons is working up to releasing their new album Evolve, and "Thunder" has got to be the most eclectic popular song I've heard all year. Seriously though. This song is fantastic, but in this podcast we're going to expose it for just how fantastic it is. Is it about epic conquest? Is it about deeper questions in life? Is it about Dan Reynolds's life? Yes, to all three! But we'll see how and more soon! Plus, we'll be looking at how the music, music video, and lyrics compliment each other perfectly.
The Weeknd does a masterful job of curating this track. Or should I say that Abel Tesfaye does? That's one of those things that trips up even the biggest fan of The Weeknd--Abel Tesfaye and The Weeknd are not the same person. And that's one of the things we talk about in today's episode of The Pop Song Professor Podcast.
So, today we're talking about an absolutely wonderful song--Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." The lyrics are deep, interesting, and unique, and I think you'll enjoy this episode. Plus, while the sound quality may be a little lower than usual, we did this podcast live on YouTube, so we got viewers' comments in on it! So, you have a voice! We hope to do more of these and can't wait to see you on our behind-the-scenes live editions of the show!
Today, my guest and I are talking about "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. It's a fantastic song, and I think you're going to enjoy going deeper behind the meaning of these lyrics. The song is about a school shooter, but it's not glorifying it. Foster the People is trying to start a conversation about who school shooters are.
So, I researched all of the Top 10 songs of 2016 (according to Billboard.com), and I found 58 songs that were extremely popular in 2016. It just so happens that 10 of these songs (with two honorable mentions) were also rather deep and had interesting things to say. So, today my beautiful wife April and I discuss these songs and what exactly their meanings are (and, in April's case, why I might be wrong). Enjoy!
Folks, I love Lorde's music...like a lot. And so I'm really excited to be explaining "Green Light" by her, from her upcoming album Melodrama. This song is excellent, and I think you'll enjoy this unique and original look at heartbreak and the process of getting over heartbreak and what comes after. Lorde uses some pretty unique tactics in her song, and I think she pulls them off really well.
This is one of my favorite songs of 2017 because it's so deep compared to most pop songs. There are several allusions and many metaphors and symbols in here, and it's a very worthwhile song to try to figure out. You may not agree with the politics of "Chained to the Rhythm," but it's worth your time to try to understand it and grapple with the issues being mentioned here. Enjoy everyone!
The conversation was good, and the topics were deep during the trip, but I especially enjoyed this conversation about how they integrate pop song lyrics into their Sunday School and youth group programs at their church.
Hey, Everyone! Welcome to this week's episode of the Pop Song Professor podcast. I made this for you about "Million Reasons" by Lady Gaga because I think it's a fantastic song and that she's a fantastic artist with an interesting perspective on sincerity as an artist and as a person. This podcast goes over who she is, "Million Reasons," the music video thereof, and a little bit of the Super Bowl controversy caused by body shamers.
All right, people! It's time to talk about a recently released song. I've been a big fan of Imagine Dragons for a while, and I'm pumped to explain this one. "Believers" is beautifully "musicked," and the lyrics are deep too. Plus, I have my cousin Drew on the show since we're both big fans of the band.
So, today's episode was a little different. You'll notice that I didn't input the song for the lyrics, and there're a lot of references to the fact that I recorded this live on Facebook! It was a super fun experiment, and I may do it again. I worry that my podcast listeners are the ones who will suffer, but we'll see. Let me know what you think about and whether I should do something differently.
"Starboy" by The Weeknd is a super popular song right now, and I want to help you to understand the deeper meaning of it. There's a lot to talk about here, but I think one of the most important themes is The Weeknd's dubious relationship with fame and success. Is he really happy he has so much money? Even though he's bragging about it here?
So, this episode is finally here! Time to begin season 2 right with a podcast about "Paris" by The Chainsmokers! On this episode, I go line-by-line through the whole song and explain what the duo is saying about nostalgia in a Millennial generation! This is some really good stuff, and I enjoyed chatting with you all again!
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme and his wife April (with the help of Samantha via email!) explain the last song in their series on Twenty One Pilots's Vessel album.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme takes a serious look at the meaning behind "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. The band is a legend, and this song is no less a legend than any other. Let's dig deep into what this song means!
In this episode of the Pop Song Professor podcast, Clifford Stumme explains what's going on with Twenty One Pilots' song "Run and Go" and how it connects closely to the story behind "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Hey everyone! I'm looking at the biggest recent pop hit in this podcast. "Closer" is a fantastic song--great for dancing and for listening--and it's got some interesting stuff going on behind the scenes. Enjoy this explanation!
