Music critic and author Kalefa Sanneh says "pop music" is no longer a pejorative label. He traces the rise of "Poptimism" and discusses the challenges of being a pop music critic.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
pop music
When the "Free Britney" movement started, it was initially treated as a joke. But the fan movement has drawn attention to exploitative conservatorship arrangements that celebrities like Britney Spears have been subjected to. Filmmaker Samantha Stark tells us the story of how the fans saved Britney's life.
If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the Monkees, the pop group with a hit TV show. Michael Nesmith wore the green stocking cap. Since then, he’s reinvented his career several times over. He (sort of) invented country rock. And the music video.
We talk to two other septuagenarian musicians in addition to Moroder who are still productively making music: the 74-year-old political folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, and the 78-year-old minimalist composer Philip Glass.
Dianna Dilworth is a filmmaker and journalist. Her latest documentary is called "Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie."
Music writer Carl Wilson doesn't like Celine Dion's music so why would he write a book about her 1999 hit album, "Let's Talk About Love"? Wilson shares his story of trying to get in touch with his inner Celine Dion fan. And what the experience taught him about musical taste. Also, we'll explore...
It's been described as many things -- a battlefield, a tender trap, a drug. But according to Rob Sheffield, love is a mix tape. In this hour of To The Best Of Our Knowledge, Sheffield will tell us how music was a big part of his marriage to Renee… and how it helps him to cope with her loss. Also...
You might have thought that the ukulele was gone for good after Tiny Tim tiptoed through the tulips for the umpteenth time. But singer/songwriter Victoria Vox is doing her part to bring the ukulele back into popular music. In this hour of To The Best Of Our Knowledge, we'll meet Victoria Vox....
