The Secret Life of Songs

The 1960s girl group genre might seem an odd place to find tragedy, particularly when it's wrapped in such apparently joyful music as The Chiffons' 'One Fine Day'. Legendary songwriting partners Gerry Goffin and Carole King manage the difficult trick of combining the bright-eyed optimism of new love with the sad certainty it'll never be realised in a song which takes in influences from both doo-wop and opera. It's a wonderful demonstration of the way minor chords and 'blue notes' can make a song more emotionally complex and true-to-life.

All songs discussed in the episode, including 'One Fine Day', can be heard here

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How does a song make us feel like we want to go home? that we miss someone who has left us at a home that now feels nothing but empty? that they may never come home, though we'll never stop hoping? In this first episode, I look at Sam Cooke's song, 'Bring It On Home to Me', to introduce the concept of the 'home' chord and to explore all the ways Cooke uses melody, harmony, lyrics and more to achieve a powerful expression of missing someone, of longing for their return.

All the songs mentioned in the episode, including 'Bring It On Home to Me', can be heard here

If you've enjoyed the episode please leave a review on Apple podcasts! Thank you.

‘The Secret Life of Songs’ is a new podcast series exploring ten classic pop recordings to get to the heart of why they mean so much to us. Hosted by Anthony T Jackson, a songwriter, it’s intended for musicians and non-musicians alike, a personal, reflective journey through some of pop’s greatest songs. The first three episodes will be released on May 21st, 2020, then fortnightly on Thursdays after that.

The series is intended for anyone who loves music - musicians and non-musicians alike - who might want to hear a bit more about why songs affect us in the way they do. It’s a personal, reflective journey through some of pop’s greatest songs, but it’s also a celebration of the role song plays in our lives, the way that songs find their way into our deepest experiences and help shape our understanding of the world.