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!
You may be wondering if there's a deeper meaning to this song, and I hate to disappoint you by telling you that there really isn't. It's a fun song, and Bruno Mars is everything you love about him in this song, and one of those things is a good time. Unfortunately for those who like more "meat" to their lyrics, "good times" don't usually mean "good lines" as far as depth goes.
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!
In the first verse, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) sings about who he is and how he's changed since his last album came out. He sings, "I'm try'n'a put you in the worst mood," to explain what he's about to do. Since he's going to sing about his own personal success, which is considerable, he's saying that when he's done, we'll be unhappy with our lives.
In the first verse, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd's real name), sings about a mysterious and enigmatic woman: "Bathroom stalls for the powder nose / High heel shoes with the open toes." Those first two lines aren't super unique, but they begin to paint for us a picture of a high class, sophisticated, and fashionable woman.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme does a thorough explanation of "Guns for Hands" by Twenty One Pilots, and he does it with your help! About a month ago, he put out a call for help in explaining this amazing song, and you responded! Thanks for your help!
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme explains "Screen" by Twenty One Pilots! It's a short episode, but it's packed full of helpful insight and analysis of this amazing song!
You wanted deeper meanings in your pop music? Well, you've got it. Also, why haven't you been listening to Sia (and Kendrick Lamar for that matter) before this? Both of these artists are warriors of thought and influence. Neither are as popular in the mainstream as A-level pop divas like Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber, but what they lack in popular appeal you forget when you dive deeper into what they have to say beneath the bars, rhymes, and synthy dance beats.
Lady Gaga released "Perfect Illusion" on September 8th. The song features a backdrop of grungy electric guitar and pop angst, but all soon recedes to leave nothing but a strong emphasis on Lady Gaga's own voice and simple backup vocals for parts of the song as she tries hard to tell us something. In "Perfect Illusion" Lady Gaga is trying to put a strong emphasis on the important of the lyrics. In fact, according to a BBC interview, Lady Gaga's voice isn't auto-tuned to further emphasize her (and the other writers') attempts at sincerity. The song feels like a throwback to the 90's but the words, according to an interview we'll get into soon, are relevant to 2016.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme breaks down the lyrics behind Twenty One Pilots' "Semiautomatic." It's a deep song, and you won't want to miss this episode, especially if you're a TOP fan.
The Chainsmokers dropped "Closer" four weeks ago, and it's blown up. The song has over 150 million listens on Spotify and nearly the same amount of views on YouTube. It's currently the top song on the Billboard Hot 100, and it looks like it's going to be there for a while.
And there's good reason for that. The song's super catchy, and the lyrics are just vague enough that they can get stuck inside a person's head and make him or her wonder exactly what's happening between the lines.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme and his guest Dr. Tess Stockslager take a long, close look at Mumford and Sons's album Sigh No More to map out how the album's songs work together to tell a story of frustration, anger, redemption, and victory. It's a podcast that you really won't want to miss.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme continues his series on the Twenty One Pilots album Vessel with "Migraine." It's a deep song, and there's some really good stuff here. Be sure to listen! And feel free to email Clifford back at jugglingcliff@gmail.com with your thoughts.
People are excited about the Irish singer James Vincent McMorrow's new album We Move, and after hearing his latest single from that album, "Get Low," I am too. "Get Low" is slow and soulful. It's very methodical and careful; each note feels carefully planned, and the entire song has an entrancing feeling that makes you want to sway in time with the slow, pulsing beats. It reminds me of Hozier and his song "Take Me to Church" but less angry and sarcastic--more sad and thoughtful.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme tackles another serious song in his series on the Twenty One Pilots album Vessel. Like the others, "Ode to Sleep" is full of meaning and valuable insights into life and one's mental life. Enjoy and be sure to share with other Skeleton Clique members and those who need to become Skeleton Clique members.
Pop Song Professor Clifford Stumme takes on his next Twenty One Pilots explanation project. A LOT of TOP fans requested Clifford explain "House of Gold," and he couldn't wait. "House of Gold" by Twenty One Pilots is a deep song with plenty below the surface and much to think about. Enjoy hearing it explained line-by-line by the Pop Song Professor!
Shawn Mendes is releasing his new album Illuminate on September 23rd, but in the meantime we get to listen to all of the great singles he's been releasing. We've already heard "Ruin" and "Treat You Better," and now it's time for another one: "Three Empty Words."
Pop Song Professor and his wife April Stumme take on "Rise" by Katy Perry. The song is getting popular FAST, but there's a lot to it, and it's kind of interesting. Topics in this podcast stretch from the 2016 Olympics, to the pre-100 BC Olympics, to the Zelda video games.
"Fake It" came out on July 29th, and it's another single for their album Wild World. I'm a fan of the song and of lead singer Dan Smith's awesome voice. And I'm also a fan of the depth of meaning behind the song.
I always thought that Bastille was overly dramatic and sentimental (think "What Would You Do"), but I feel like with "Good Grief" and "Fake It" they've hit a compromise and seemed to have mellowed out a little while still discussing difficult, emotional issues. They feel more confident--like they don't have to use sob stories to sell songs--and I like it.
Well, I just listened to "Zillionaire," and while I wouldn't call myself a "Flo Rida Fan," I do like several of his hits, particularly "I Don't Like It, I Love It" and "My House." He's just really good at that big, bouncing, cool, self-assured club dance sound, and I can really get moving to music like that, particularly because I like dancing west coast swing to it.
I became a Twenty One Pilots fan my first year of grad school when I was meeting up with some friends in a parking lot. Twenty-One-Pilots-Early-Adopter Heather had her car door open and was playing "Car Radio" pretty loudly. The song sounded weird, and I didn't think much of it, but I kept hearing it around, so I pulled it up on YouTube and eventually bought it or something (maybe used Spotify?).
