Episode details
Available for over a year
A triptych of audio essays on the enduring qualities, appeal and intent of pop music. In this second episode, the writer Laura Barton looks at popular music's relationship with language - wordplay, neologisms, and the sensory delight of sound, from Little Richard's a-wop-bop-a loo-bop to the fleet-footed grime MCs of today, via the careful honing of the singer-songwriter. Including contributions from singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and Poet Laureate and lyricist Simon Armitage, as well as an archive appearance from Billy Joel. Music: Anais Mitchell - The Shepherd Anais Mitchell - Bright Star Van Morrison - Brown-eyed Girl Anais Mitchell - Riddles Wisely Expounded LYR - Lockdown David Bowie - Moonage Daydream A Green - L.O.V.E. Van Morrison - Madame George LYR - Never Good With Horses Anais Mitchell - The Revenant (for release January 2022) Billy Joel - James Marion Williams - The Day is Past and Gone Ferron - Ain't Life a Brook LYR - Adam's Apple Van Morrison - You Know What They're Writing About Produced by Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
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