What tools can a pop song use to affect us psychologically to make us like the songs more? We'll take a look at everything from music theory, to linguistics, to rhetoric, to applied psychology.
37 Available Episodes (37 Total)Average duration: 00:12:13
Apr 01, 2020
Twitter Announcement
00:00:39
Not really an episode. Just a quick announcement.
May 17, 2019
"We Will Rock You" by Queen - Season 3, Episode 07
00:10:36
How powerful is a really good rhythm? In this episode, Isaac Wu helps us learn how the Testing Effect made "We Will Rock You" more memorable.
You can find this episode at SongAppealOfficial.com/WeWillRockYou or by searching for Song Appeal on your favorite podcasting app.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal
May 10, 2019
"Style" by Taylor Swift - Season 3, Episode 06
00:13:20
What happens when we don't get what we want?
Why do we like surprises?
In this episode, Claire Arthur helps us see how "Style" by Taylor Swift plays with our expectations to musically surprise us, and how that makes the song more enjoyable.
You can find this episode at SongAppealOfficial.com/Style or by searching for Song Appeal on your favorite podcasting app.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.
"Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty - Season 3, Episode 05
00:10:51
How much does it really matter which notes a song uses?
And how can predictability be a good thing?
In this episode, Claire Arthur helps us learn how "Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty sets up expectations through its notes and its intervals, and how it fulfills those expectations.
You can find the full transcript for this episode, references, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/Unwell.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.
Themes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Season 3, Episode 04
00:18:56
How can music change what we think of an experience?
In this episode, superhero expert Peter Coogan helps us learn how the MCU themes can be more powerful by being more forgettable.
You can find this episode's transcript, references, and links to hear the themes at SongAppealOfficial.com/MCU.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal, where you'll find great perks including the full version of the interview with Peter Coogan.
"Lost Woods" from Ocarina of Time - Season 3, Episode 03
00:15:52
How much does it really matter which key a song uses? In this episode, 8-bit Music Theory, Ongaku Concept, and Ian Straehley help us learn how the "Lost Woods" theme uses the sound of Lydian to give us a feeling of optimistic anxiety.
You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/LostWoods.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston - Season 3, Episode 02
00:18:47
When we’re listening to a song, how much does the tune’s structure really matter? In this episode, Bryn Hughes and Anja Cui help us dive into a classic music psychology experiment to show why we like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston.
You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.
"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers - Season 3, Episode 01
00:18:21
How does "Mr. Brightside" keep its melody interesting while staying on the same note? Learn how in this episode, with the help of Bryn Hughes, Jeremiah Tabb (from the Hype Harmony podcast), and Matthew Scott Phillips (from the Music Student 101 podcast).
You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/MrBrightside.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal, where you'll find great perks, including the full versions of the interviews that were used in this episode.
"One Week" by Barenaked Ladies - Season 2, Episode 18
00:19:44
Why do we like "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies? In this finale to Season 2, we wrap up and expand the last few episodes of this season by take a look at how "One Week" gives us novel tunes, then familiar tunes, so it can take advantage of the fluency heuristic to make us like the song more.
You can find the full transcript for this episode, references, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/OneWeek.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.
"Demons" by Imagine Dragons - Season 2, Episode 17
00:08:42
Why do we like "Demons" by Imagine Dragons? In this episode, we take a look at how the melody focuses on false sequences to create a sense of relative novelty, and how relative novelty makes a song more memorable.
You can find the full transcript for this episode, references, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/Demons.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal.