Episoder
-
You know, sometimes, songs that become classics aren’t quite what we think they are. Hidden meanings, mistaken lyrics, or misunderstood messages. All of those things. These are tracks that have fooled listeners for decades. We’re going to count down and share the crazy backstories behind the most misunderstood songs of all time… Including Van Halen's feel good party anthem Jump that we all sing, but it was actually inspired by a chilling live news broadcast about a man ready to leap off the roof of a building, then there was the obsessed fan that stalked Sarah McLachlan, sending deranged letters which she used as the basis for one of her biggest songs Possession, only to have the crazy fan sue her claiming his obsessed meanderings inspired the song, find out what happened. And finally, The Beatles wrote the most complicated nursery rhyme ever recorded, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, with a very adult theme that is so creepy it still gives us nightmares…It’s Top 6 Most Misunderstood Songs of the Rock Era is NEXT… on Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Up next is our final countdown of our top song of each year countdown…We’ve covered every year from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we have one left. Can you guess the final year? It was a monumental year, including Janis Joplin, a nervous legend who vomited every take she did while recording a song that out did any male rocker of the time…also the last great song, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay from Otis Redding who died in a plane crash just after releasing his signature tune, as well as a psychedelic classic Pictures of Matchstick Men that wouldn’t have happened if the lead singer liked his mother in law... even a little bit. Then there’s the famous song by The Beatles, Hey Jude, with a secret cuss word that I got in big trouble for even mentioning on my radio show, for fear of getting FINED by the Big boys. As well as the creepiest song of all time, Tiptoe Through the Tulips, sung by the weirdest pop star of all time, Tiny Tim. It’s the countdown of the Top 11 Songs of 1968…NEXT on Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Mangler du episoder?
-
FROM THE VAULT: On this day in 2004, The Beastie Boys' album "To The 5 Boroughs" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
To celebrate, we’ve got the story of those three mischievous New Yorkers who disavowed one of their biggest songs… Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA otherwise known as the Beastie Boys hated (You Gotta Fight) for Your Right (to Party). This breakthrough track became a legendary music video on MTV but for all the wrong reasons. A rebellious party anthem they wrote to make fun of party anthems in general but in the end, it painted the trio as immature frat boys. But the thing is, it was all a big joke… a throwaway track. Their producer however loved it and pushed for its release. After that things got out of hand real quick with the song blowing up on radio and MTV. And yeah, these guys were no angels… but when fans demanded they live up to the song’s raucous lyrics, they turned their backs on the track… and License To Ill in general. It almost broke up the band. Still, fans couldn’t get enough of it. And even today it is one of their most popular songs. It’s an all-out brawl for this band’s identity and a fight you’re not gonna want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
When Led Zeppelin released their debut album, it literally made the entire world shake. Nobody had ever heard a band like this… They took over America, touring nonstop in support of their earth-shattering LP. Their Label begged them to get one album #2 ASAP… Their sophomore record came out just months after their debut. Unheard of in music at that time… But in the hurried pace to get that second album out, the label kept them on the road…they were so slammed they had to record it in 13 different studios all over the world. Out of this second record came a masterful feel-good classic, Ramble On, that was inspired by a classic novel. Ramble On was an instant classic with a scorched earth vocal and blazing guitar and percussion…played on.. well, Nobody is exactly sure what the drummer was playing… We’ll try to solve that today… Ramble On is one of the band's most beloved, but they NEVER actually played it LIVE until they did a one-off concert after they broke up almost 40 years later, and it was the one time! They were so big, they said no to Woodstock. It’s a great one next on Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Alright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. So you know, we gotta dial up the 90s. And this is my favorite yet… You know all these themes by heart. We’ve got the Friends Theme I'll Be There For You that was recorded over a weekend & was only 40 seconds long so a DJ looped it a few times, making it a full song, and it hit #1 on 3 charts and made them 1-hit wonder Mega millionaires. Then there’s Seinfeld's anti-theme song that was made up of a bunch of weird mouth sounds and slap bass, and the songwriter had to play a unique version for every single episode. The show was such a hit that he had to do 200 different versions of the same song. Then there was the classic Law and Order theme that came from the footsteps of 500 monks on a hardwood floor, and the rockstar Danny Elfman who’s made tens of millions for singing three notes of The Simpsons Theme, and the eerie X-Files theme that came from a frustrated composer slamming his elbow on the keyboard. These are some of the stories you'll hear next on the Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Coming up next, a very interesting interview that was a little off at first but got better as we went along. It’s about Soul Asylum's Runaway Train, a song that started out as one thing and ended up making a powerful change worldwide. It came out of crippling depression and it took years to finish. Initially, the lyrics were too similar to another #1 Hit from another time, but after pushing through some horrendous trials, one day a metaphor hit singer-songwriter Dave Pirner like a bolt of lightning. An old memory of playing with a toy train, and he wrote Runaway Train we know, in a few minutes. Then the song’s video would have even more impact, helping solve crimes and saving lives. A song that came from Dave's lowest times changed the world in a way he could never have imagined. Get the story next on Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Up next, an interview with Gary Numan about several songs that shook radio in different parts of the world. The first one, Are Friends Electric, was a hit in the UK and it came from an out of tune instrument that was written as a science fiction story about the future one that seemed far fetched in the late 70s but one that is a reality now about android hookers… and back then it sold a million copies then the second song Cars was a hit right in middle of soft rockers like Christopher Cross, and Olivia Newton John and this song could’ve have been more different. It was strange and epic, and it came from an incident of highway anger. Gary Numan cut someone off in traffic and almost got pummeled because of it. It became his only hit in America, even though he had many other brilliant hits. He got so sick of it, he resented it. He began to detest it, and then, years later, another legend made him realize he was being a huge baby, and he was grateful for it. A great interview with a legend is next.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
FROM THE VAULT: The Bee Gees or the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have sold more than 220 million records over their storied career. In this Bee Gees documentary we celebrate their astonishing run as the most prolific group of the 70s and list their top 5 songs from Lonely Days to Stayin’ Alive, from Jive Talking to How Deep Is Your Love. These are the stories behind their incredible music.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Sometimes, taking a bold leap or making a risky move can seem like career suicide—until it isn’t. Coming up, we’ll reveal six incredible stories of artists who faced doubt, backlash, or skepticism, only to turn those moments into their greatest triumphs... including an up and coming singer, Anthony Kiedis, who had written a deeply personal song, Under the Bridge, that he hoped to release as a single. But his label execs wanted to see how it would do in concert. Then night he performed it in front of them he missed is cues and screwed up royalty. What happened next was beyond inspiration and convinced his label to put the song out, and it became his biggest hit… Then there was Kenny Loggins, who got a chance to record on the biggest movie soundtrack of the year, but he fell off a stage and broke several ribs. Kenny had to take pain meds and, in the process, sang the soundtrack songs in the wrong key and was fired from the project. But the firing allowed him to write his biggest hit, Footloose, which became a pop culture phenomenon. Our Countdown of the Top 6 Career Killers that became triumphs is NEXT, on Professor of Rock!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Coming up, a year that was so great we had to reformat our countdown to 12 songs, truly compelling masterworks here... including the song All the Young Dudes by David Bowie, which he knew was a can’t miss smash. But he gave it to his favorite band, Mott the Hoople, who needed a hit or they were done. The song saved their career and became an all-time classic. Then there was the rookie Justin Hayward, who sent the legend Eric Burdon his demo tape, and it was rejected. But then, years later, Eric ended up covering the artist he scorned... As well as the Seals & Crofts feel good classic Summer Breeze with a melody played by a toy the singer found in the studio, that made it sound different than anything on radio… Then there were The Hollies, who were known for crafting pretty pop hits, who decided to rock out, the lead singer did his best John Fogerty impression, and the song Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress became a smash. But then he got sued by the man he mimicked and had to pay him half the royalties. It’s the countdown of the Top 12 Songs of 1972, NEXT on Professor of Rock!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Today, we have a very special episode of Professor of Rock, and I’m going to get right into it. We lost a true musical Genius recently. But Ya know.. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. And GENIUS simply doesn't cover it. For Brian Wilson, there should be a higher word or title for him that could never be bestowed up on anyone else in music history... Only him. In my opinion, He composed the highest vibrations in popular music-period. He was a light in a sometimes very Dismal world, and his music will continue to cut through the darkest times. I’ve mentioned this before, but when I started doing interviews, I made a list of 15 legends I wanted to have a deep conversation with before I left this earth, and at the top of that list was Brian Wilson.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
FROM THE VAULT: The thing about Jon Bon Jovi and his incredible band is the music they've created has always got your back. From "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" to "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "It's My Life", their music gives us redemption and faith against all odds. Mostly it's music of hope, which is a powerful thing, especially in the times we live in. As Jon Bon Jovi says "You live for the fight when that's all that you've got". You got to keep the faith.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
From rock royalty to wild misfires — today we’re covering the greatest supergroups you’ve never heard of… but won’t forget any time soon. We’re telling the stories of rock legends who almost joined forces but just couldn’t get it together… And others that actually made it to the stage and into the studio. Among them, there’s a soap opera-inspired band (featuring soap star Rick Springfield) that mixed reality television with arena rock, decades before it became a thing. Then there’s the band Hindu Love Gods that came together during a drunken jam session and accidentally cut an album that became a cult classic. We’re also covering two of the biggest icons in music history, the King of Pop and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. They had a project that was thwarted by llama drama in the recording studio. That’s right — an actual llama derailed this legendary collaboration. Plus, the near-miss Beatles-Stones supergroup that could have become the biggest band of all time. It's next on Professor of Rock.
Head to http://acornsearly.com/por to download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Coming up next, the evolution of one of the most legendary groups ever through their greatest songs…and we have all three principles here to tell the story of their sound and its impact on the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Crosby, Stills, and Nash. SO many great stories here in our Evolution series. Including their first album that blew up radio with harmonies that moved the soul, including the Suite: Judy Blue Eyes about a torrid love affair that’s break up was so painful the singer can’t even say the famous woman’s name and then there was the vinyl cover where the photographer set the band members up in the wrong order while sitting on a couch in front of a house…They were supposed to correspond with the group name that would appear above them on the album.. No big deal, he said, we’ll just go back after the weekend and re-shoot the cover shot. Problem is that when they went back to the house, and couch was gone… over the weekend, it had been demolished! And then there was the guy who bet band member Graham Nash 500 bucks he could write a song in a few minutes… Not only did he win the bet, but the tune Just a Song Before I Go became the famous group’s biggest hit. It’s an all-star episode… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Coming up next is an interview with Kenny Rogers, a legend we lost a few years back… He was voted the greatest singer in the world several times by the people, and today’s song, The Gambler, his most famous one, is a major reason why… It’s a song that everyone knows and loves, even if they won’t admit it. It’s a song that changed the fortune of a computer programmer forever. A tech guy who was working a graveyard shift wrote the song, and in the process, he elevated a middle-aged singer whom the pundits said was done. They said at 40 Kenny was way past his prime, over the hill, they said his career was over, and left him for dead. But The Gambler launched him into superstardom. The song was so good that it became a hit TV movie and a metaphor that’s been used a million times. Up next, the making of a storybook song that grabbed an indelible piece of pop culture… in his own words. next on Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Today, we honor the life, genius, and lasting legacy of Brian Wilson—co-founder of The Beach Boys, and one of the most visionary minds in rock history. In this special bonus episode of Professor of Rock, we commemorate Brian’s extraordinary contributions to music following the news of his passing.
Through exclusive commentary and historical perspective, we remember Brian not only as a musical innovator but as a fragile genius whose art transcended generations.
This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the man who gave the world God Only Knows, Don’t Worry Baby, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, and so many more.
Rest in harmony, Brian Wilson. Your music lives on.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Some songs were made to push boundaries — stirring up scandal, controversy, and uncomfortable conversations. On today’s episode, we’re featuring songs that did just that… We’re breaking down six songs that either got themselves banned from radio, blacklisted by MTV, or pulled from live shows. The list of taboo tracks includes Olivia Newton-John John who panicked after recording her biggest hit, Physical, and begged her manager to kill it — but it was already racing up the charts. Another musician, Laura Branigan, released a music video for Self Control that played out like Phantom of the Opera meets Eyes Wide Shut. So MTV banned it. But it still went Top 5 on the US charts. We’ve also got Sting, who retired one of his biggest hits to avoid modern-day backlash, and Meat Loaf, who got so sick of explaining what his song meant that he tried to delete it from his catalog. But the fans wouldn’t have it. So, what do you think, did any of these songs go too far? You be the judge, next on The Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
FROM THE VAULT: An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this Petty classic should’ve been #1 next on Professor of Rock.
Brought to you by Gamut Podcast Network.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
COMING up next, we are taking the time machines back to the Summer of Love, the birth of psychedelia, and the year when music truly became art. With 11 of the greatest songs of that magical time, including a scruffy 16-year-old kid Alex Chilton, who won a high school talent show and got to record a short 2-minute song, The Letter… It ended up hitting #1 and outdoing the Beatles. Then there was the revolutionary song For What It's Worth that came from the rookie band Buffalo Springfield that took us decades to realize was a supergroup who spawned many legendary bands. Then there was RESPECT, a song that was written by Otis Redding from his perspective as a man wanting some appreciation from his woman, but then Aretha Franklin covered it, changing the song’s gender and making it an all time female anthem and then there was the #1 band The Beatles who had 2 prolific writers, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, who each wrote a masterpiece, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever, and were in competition to see who would’s song would be the hit.. so they released them on the same single. It became the greatest double-sided hit ever. Legendary guests and stories next on the Top 11 Songs of 1967 on Professor of Rock.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
-
Coming up next, the fascinating story of the 80s mega-hit Never Gonna Give You Up that topped the charts in at least 25 countries. And it almost never happened. When Rick Astley was searching for his first hit, he got picked up by one of the world's premier production teams. Only instead of letting him record an album, they had him doing chores around the studio… assigning him to make tea for the crew. But when they finally gave Rick a chance, he made the most of it and created a catchy ditty that came from an argument with his girlfriend. But when he showed Never Gonna Give You Up to his famous production team, they absolutely HATED IT and refused to release it. It was only by chance that it started to get airplay. But when it did, it stormed the charts, and nobody even knew who this mystery man was. It led to 3 massive hits and then Rick up and vanished… But then, decades later, today's Never Gonna Give You Up was resurrected and became the mother of all pop culture tracks, it became the biggest prank song in history. The story next.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Se mer
