Do you remember the nervous energy that filled the room at your first school dance? Mark wasn’t there, but Nichole remembers. Slow dance with us to Spandau Ballet’s 1983 classic “True”? Mark does have some theories about how certain chords and melody notes give the song its emotional punch, and Nichole talks us through the brain chemistry of love, and how it changes as we grow. The hosts also answer an important question: whether they’ve ever had a song written about them.

Other music heard in this episode: The Beatles - "I Dig a Pony," Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On," Al Green - "Let's Stay Together," Charlie Puth - "Attention," Common Plight - "Problems Over", Backstreet Boys - "I Want it That Way"

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Can a cover ever be better than the original? In this episode, we ask that unthinkable question as we each bring in three of our personal favorite cover versions. See you next week for a full episode!

Music heard in this episode: David Bowie - “The Man Who Sold the World”, Nirvana - “The Man Who Sold the World”, The Moody Blues - “Your Wildest Dreams”, Harley Allen - “Your Wildest Dreams”, Sublime - “Doin’ Time”, Lana Del Rey - “Doin’ Time”, Bad Religion - “We’re Only Gonna’ Die”, Sublime - “We’re Only Gonna Die for Our Own Arrogance”, Taylor Swift - “Shake it Off”, Ryan Adams - “Shake it Off”, The Beatles - “Yesterday”, Boyz II Men - “Yesterday”, Paul McCartney - “Maybe I’m Amazed” 

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Do you have a go-to song when all a thug can do is cry, cry? Maybe you should consider Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s 1996 outpouring “Tha Crossroads.” Mark describes how the song hits so hard in part because of the unique rhythmic identity from each of the members of the group, while Nichole takes us through the stages of grief.

Other music heard in this episode: Steven Sondheim - "Being Alive", Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - "Flow Motion," Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - "Crossroad", The Isley Brothers - "Make Me Say it Again Girl", Tre - "Mary Don't You Weep," Migos - "Bad and Boujie," Public Enemy - "Bring the Noize," Jurassic 5 - "Quality Control"

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But where do you belong? In this episode, we break down Ace of Base’s 1993 not-quite reggae dance-pop megahit “The Sign.” Mark thinks he’s cracked the code on how the band used weird key changes to top the chart several times over. Meanwhile Nichole muses about whether this song’s lyrics relate to some fun ideas about the collective unconscious. Can the hosts get to the bottom of why Swedish pop music is so darn catchy?

Other music heard in this episode: Night Ranger - "Sister Christian," Motorhead - "Ace of Spades," The Beatles - "The Fool on the Hill," Elton John - "I'm Still Standing," Ace of Base - "All That She Wants," Ace of Base - "Don't Turn Around," Tina Turner - "Don't Turn Around," Aswad - "Don't Turn Around" 

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Wait, what exactly do you get when you let your heart win?! Here we tease apart Paramore’s 2007 power pop anthem of youthful mistakes, “That’s What You Get.” Mark thinks this song is such a banger because of a very old songwriting technique, and Nichole takes us on a journey of how our brain chemistry can lead us to make bad decisions - and then regret them.

Other music heard in this episode: Paramore - "Misery Business," Ludwig von Beethoven - "Symphony No. 5", Frank Sinatra - "The Way You Look Tonight," Lipps Inc. - "Funkytown,"

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In this sneak peak, hosts Nichole (psychology professor) and Mark (music professor) banter about their new music podcast, Nevermind the Music. Join us each week as we light-heartedly pick apart a classic pop song from the perspectives of a songwriter and a psychologist. Nevermind the Music launches in September 2024!

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