Long before Bieber fever and Swifties, there was Lisztomania.

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer who inspired such intense fandom and frenzy that it was dubbed mania.

So, was it true mania? What caused fans to respond to him so passionately? 

And what can Lisztomania reveal about the way we talk about female obsession?

If you're looking for something to listen to next, check out our episode; Hook me baby one more time: the psychology of pop music.