Song by Song podcast
Music
Popular episodes
Lost In The Harbour, Alice, Tom Waits [293]
Never lost for a conversation, Jo, Miranda, Martin and Sam take a look at the theatrical and political context of Waits's less-mannered song of longing. We return to some conversations from recent episodes, consider Kathleen Brennan's presence in these songs, and break SbS rules to revisit Lotte Lenya's presentation of the music of Kurt Weill....
Table Top Joe, Alice, Tom Waits [292]
Miranda returns alongside Jo (not currently available on table-tops) to talk about parody and joy in this Waits track as well as it's 1992 demo version. We dig into a discussion of the entertainment industry, images of American exceptionalism, and the presence/absence of women in music....
Poor Edward, Alice, Tom Waits [291]
As Waits takes a left-turn into a very different story from the 19th century, we're joined by Miranda Horvath and Jo Lewis to take a look at some of the gender politics in the tale of Edward Mordrake, and how nostalgia/fear/obsession are represented in this week's tracks....
Kommienezuspadt, Alice, Tom Waits [290]
Waits mangles both minds and the German language, as translation expert Justine Houyaux rejoins Sam and Martin for this call to punctuality. We explore linguistic alterations in other directions, as well as the image of madness and the ways that meaning is projected onto misheard or uncomprehended language....
No One Knows I'm Gone, Alice, Tom Waits [289]
Our third week with Ashleyanne sees our hosts expressing some differing opinions on both the Waits and interval tracks. Portrait of bleak mortality or optimistic reach for freedom? Upbeat flirty plan for adventure or bloodless cover? All opinions are valid, except for the ones which are definitely wrong......
Flower's Grave, Alice, Tom Waits [288]
There's some examination of the value and impact of this song, as Ashleyanne discusses the prettiness and depth of music with Martin and Sam. We talk about the context of the play, as well as the presence of hope and optimism in music with a fatalistic attitude....
Everything You Can Think, Alice, Tom Waits [287]
Producer and DJ Ashleyanne Krigbaum joins Sam & Martin for the worst lullaby in the world, as Waits aggressively welcomes us into the body of the album. We discuss the sonic tone of this track, the use of sound effects, and the meaning of Dreamlands for Waits, Carroll and others....
Alice, Alice, Tom Waits [286]
Carrollian scholar Justine Houyaux rejoins Sam & Martin to look at the eponymous opening track for our 19th season, Alice. We chat about the sorrow and violence in the song, the lyrical density and the overlap between the writing of Waits and Carroll, as well as other adaptations of the Alice stories....
Alice background [285a]
Before embarking on our Alice season, we thought a little context on the books, the play, and the biography of the major players would be relevant (for us as well as you, dear listener). So we welcome Carrolian scholar Justine Houyaux to talk about the writing of Charles Dodgeson, his friendship with Alice Liddell, and the adaptation by Robert Wilson, Paul Schmidt, Kathlee...
Mystery Men (film, dir. Usher, 1999) [F16]
It's the silly-fun one folks! For perhaps the biggest blockbuster movie in the Waits filmography, Sam & Martin welcome Desiree Burch to get nostalgic(ish) for the 90s in this gigantic neon superhero comedy mashup. With a few frustrations and no small amount of delight, we talk about juggling the ensemble cast, how it relates to the cast and superhero films... but basically...
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