Song Exploder
{{Short description|Music podcast}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = Song Exploder
| image = Song Exploder.png
| hosting = {{ubl|Hrishikesh Hirway
(2014–18, 2019–present)|Thao Nguyen
(2018–19)}}
| language = English
| length =
| production = {{ubl|Hrishikesh Hirway (Exec.)}}
| audio format =
| began = {{Start date|2014|1|1}}
| ended =
| genre = Music podcast
| url = {{URL|http://www.songexploder.net|Song Exploder}}
| num_episodes =
| list_episodes = List of Song Exploder episodes
| provider = {{ubl|Maximum Fun (2014–15)|Radiotopia (2015–present)}}
}}
Song Exploder is a music podcast created and hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway, which debuted in January 2014. It is part of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX. The show features musicians talking about the creative process behind an individual song while breaking down the song into its component parts. In 2020, the podcast was adapted into a Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/80992997 original series].
The podcast launched on the Maximum Fun network, became independent in February 2015 and joined Radiotopia in June 2015.{{Cite web|title=Thanks to Song Exploder & The Memory Palace|url=http://jessethorn.tumblr.com/post/111237056756/thanks-to-song-exploder-the-memory-palace|work=Jesse Thorn: Tumbler|date=February 16, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2016}}{{Cite news|title=Song Exploder Joins Radiotopia - PRX|url=https://blog.prx.org/2015/06/song-exploder-joins-radiotopia/|work=Public Radio Exchange|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2016|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706191632/https://blog.prx.org/2015/06/song-exploder-joins-radiotopia/|archive-date=July 6, 2018}}
Format
Each episode begins with the host introducing the show's featured musician (or musicians) and giving a brief history of the musical act or television program with which they are associated. The artist then discusses the creative process used in the creation of a particular song. This may include anything from songwriting to recording to post-production. The discussion is interspersed with short clips of separate tracks from the song isolated to illustrate the topics being discussed – for example, the drum track might be played to demonstrate how a particular beat was used in the song. The episode ends by playing a recording of the featured song in its entirety.{{cite web|title=Breaking a Song Apart, Note by Note|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/18/349576284/breaking-a-song-apart-note-by-note|work=National Public Radio|publisher=All Things Considered|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014}} Hirway edits his side of the conversation out of the recording with the purpose of condensing the contents of the podcast around the song's creation and how the artist brought it to life.
Subjects
Song Exploder has taken a deep-dive into more than 200 tracks, including: Kiss from a Rose with Seal and Trevor Horn and into Blue Monday with Peter Hook—formerly of New Order.{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/seal|title=Episode 250: Seal|date=22 March 2023 }}{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/new-order|title=Episode 252: New Order|date=3 May 2023 }}
Furthermore, the podcast has also analysed theme music from Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones, as well as music from La La Land and Moonlight.{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/downton-abbey|title=Episode 37: Downton Abbey|date=6 May 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/ramin-djawadi|title=Episode 40: Game of Thrones|date=11 June 2015 }}{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/la-la-land|title=Episode 92: La La Land|date=21 December 2016 }}{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/moonlight|title=Episode 95: Moonlight|date=30 January 2017 }}
Reception
The show receives generally positive reception and has been featured at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Noise Pop Festival, and Moogfest.Vulture said, "Song Exploder is probably the best use of the podcast format ever," and named it one of the Top 10 Podcasts of 2015.{{Cite web|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|title=The 10 Best Podcasts and 10 Best Podcast Episodes of 2015|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/10-best-podcasts-2015.html|work=Vulture|date=December 11, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019}} It was also named Best of iTunes in 2015,{{Cite web|last=Kelley|first=Seth|title=Apple's iTunes Best of 2015 list for podcasts includes a ton of LA-based favorites|url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/blog/apples-itunes-best-of-2015-list-for-podcasts-includes-a-ton-of-la-based-favorites-120915|work=Time Out|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|language=en}} and Quartz named it the Best Podcast of 2015, saying, "It is possibly the most perfect podcast, really."{{Cite web|title=The Casties: Quartz's awards for the best podcasts of 2015|url=https://qz.com/580076/the-casties-quartzs-awards-for-the-best-podcasts-of-2015/|work=Quartz|date=December 30, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|language=en}} Pete Naughton of The Daily Telegraph called Song Exploder an "excellent podcast" and placed it on his list of top music podcasts in August 2014.{{cite web|last=Naughton|first=Pete|title=The best music podcasts|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10765719/The-best-music-podcasts.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=August 26, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221012606/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10765719/the-best-music-podcasts.html|archive-date=February 21, 2018}} The A.V. Club praised the podcast's "beautiful production and thoughtful editing" in June 2014.{{cite web|title=Ice T's Final Level joins the 'masses, talks Manslaughter and Maya Angelou|url=https://www.avclub.com/ice-t-s-final-level-joins-the-masses-talks-manslaught-1798269531|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|date=June 16, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014}} It has also received favorable reviews from Spin, Gizmodo, Slate, and The Atlantic.{{cite web|title=Press|url=http://songexploder.net/press/|work=Song Exploder|access-date=October 25, 2014}}
Creator Hirway has discussed Song Exploder at conferences like the Google Design Conference and AIGA Design Conference. In 2016, the Sydney Opera House hosted a Song Exploder Residency.
The show won the 2016 and 2017 Academy of Podcasters award for best music podcast.
= Awards =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Award !Year !Category !Result !Ref. |
| rowspan="3" |Academy of Podcasters
|2015 | rowspan="2" |Music & Commentary |{{CFinalist}} |{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=2015 AofP Winners and Finalists |url=http://academyofpodcasters.com/2015winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014050853/http://academyofpodcasters.com/2015winners/ |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |website=Academy of Podcasters |publisher=Podcast Movement}} |
| 2016
|{{Won}} |
| 2017
|Music |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="4" |iHeartRadio Podcast Awards
|2019 | rowspan="4" |Best Music Podcast |{{Nom}} |
| 2020
|{{Nom}} |
| 2021
|{{Nom}} |
| 2022
|{{Won}} |
| Adweek Podcast Awards
|2021 |Best Creativity Podcast |{{Won}} |
| Webby Awards
|2022 | rowspan="2" |Best Music Podcast |{{Won}} |
TV show
On September 17, 2020, a television series based on the podcast was announced, which premiered on October 2, 2020 on Netflix,{{cite web |title="Song Exploder" - Official Trailer |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/video/2020/09/17/video-song-exploder-official-trailer-netflix-989101/20200917netflix01/ |work=The Futon Critic |date=September 17, 2020 }} with 4 episodes:
{{Series overview
| caption = Series overview
| color1 = #00AF89
| link1 = #Volume 1 (2020)
| linkT1 = Volume 1
| episodes1 = 4
| released1 = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| color2 = #19A98A
| link2 = #Volume 2 (2020)
| linkT2 = Volume 2
| episodes2 = 4
| released2 = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
}}
=Volume 1 (2020)=
{{Episode table |background=#00AF89 |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Alicia Keys: 3 Hour Drive
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 00AF89
| ShortSummary = Far from her newborn son, Alicia Keys collaborates with Sampha, who has just lost his mother. Together, they give a longing melody life.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Lin-Manuel Miranda: Wait for It
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 00AF89
| ShortSummary = In his quest to capture Aaron Burr's voice, Lin-Manuel Miranda finds his lines on the subway. Many breathless choruses later, can he relate to Burr?
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = R.E.M: Losing My Religion
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 00AF89
| ShortSummary = No obvious chorus plus a lead mandolin and handclaps equals the least likely chart-topper of the '90s. R.E.M. looks back at the life-changing track.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Ty Dolla $ign: LA
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 00AF89
| ShortSummary = Ty Dolla $ign pens a verse in minutes, picks up multiple instruments and brings in Kendrick Lamar and Brandy for this moving love song to his city.
}}
}}
=Volume 2 (2020)=
{{Episode table |background=#19A98A |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Dua Lipa: Love Again
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = 19A98A
| ShortSummary = When a bad breakup spills into the studio, Dua Lipa finds release in high-drama strings, throwback analog synths and memories of her parents' faves.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Killers: When You Were Young
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = 19A98A
| ShortSummary = Eager to beat the sophomore album slump, the Killers dusted off three chords to capture their desert home of Las Vegas — and mine for pop anthem gold.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Nine Inch Nails: Hurt
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = 19A98A
| ShortSummary = Broken-down sounds, damaged vocals and naked emotion make a chilling coda to a blockbuster LP as Trent Reznor talks about transforming pain into art.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Natalia Lafourcade: Hasta la Raíz
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = 19A98A
| ShortSummary = After stepping back from stardom, Natalia Lafourcade rediscovers her roots, which are planted deep in Veracruz and the rhythm of huapango folk music.
}}
}}
Episode list
{{main|List of Song Exploder episodes}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://songexploder.net/}}
{{Radiotopia}}