60 Songs That Explain the '90s

A song played at every wedding, at every dance, and in every store, “Stacy’s Mom” has cast a great shadow over the rest of the discography of Fountains of Wayne. Today, Rob is here to shine some light on their prolific careers, commemorating the life of legends including the lead bassist and lyricist for the band, Adam Schlesinger. Fountains of Wayne are clearly a 2000s-sounding band, but their lyrics are reminiscent of bands from Rob’s youth like The Cars, giving them a timeless sound. Later, he is joined by music journalist Annie Zaleski, who shares her favorite songs from their catalog, how “Stacy’s Mom” became a novelty song, and the many different projects of Adam Schlesinger after Fountains of Wayne like ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ and the band Ivy. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Annie Zaleski Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie CONNECT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s (00:00) Intro: Starting from the End: Rob’s favorite song from Fountains of Wayne (19:50) This week’s song: “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne (21:24) New Jersey’s prevalence in rock, and the influences of Fountains of Wayne (36:58) The best of Adam Schlesinger’s lyricism (51:08) Fountains of Wayne’s humor (60:58) Interview with Annie Zaleski (77:07) Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a brief moment in 2000, At the Drive-In were the best live band in the world—then they broke up. This week, Rob tracks how the El Paso post-hardcore outfit burned so bright so quickly with their complex, politically-charged tunes that made for some of the wildest shows in rock. The band then suddenly flamed out after it became clear that their intensity wasn’t sustainable when they struggled to contain an unruly, “sheep”-like crowd at Big Day Out. Later, Rob is joined by journalist Suzy Exposito to discuss the herculean task of covering “One-Armed Scissor” and the politics of the pit. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Suzy Exposito Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie CONNECT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s (00:00) Intro: “Ice cream-eating motherf–kers,” Big Day Out 2001, and how to wrangle a mosh pit (31:09) This week’s song: “One-Armed Scissor” by At the Drive-In (32:17) ATDI’s formation amid tragedy (38:11) The band’s ferocious, dense lyricism (57:45) “One-Armed Scissor,” as performed on various late-night shows (66:42) Interview with Suzy Exposito (94:58) Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pack up your winter gear—we’re headed to the Wisconsin woods. This week, Rob retreats into Justin Vernon’s cabin to remember the buzzy indie album ‘For Emma, Forever Ago,’ which launched the career of the eventual Grammy-winning band Bon Iver. He looks back on how critics and audiences were enamored with the narrative that Vernon wrote the album while heartbroken and alone in the woods, and the way his voice conveyed those feelings. Later, Rob’s joined by The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica to discuss if “Skinny Love” possibly led to “stomp-clap” music and what collaborators like Kanye West and Taylor Swift heard in Bon Iver. (00:00) Intro: Neko Case’s voice as a force of nature (30:19) This week’s song: “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver (32:36) Justin Vernon’s (many) early bands (48:29) Bon Iver’s abstract lyrics (55:05) “Skinny Love” and the narrative of ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ (01:04:57) Interview with Jon Caramanica (01:33:25) Outro Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Jon Caramanica Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie CONNECT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are bad lyrics good lyrics? That’s the question Rob posits as he tackles the Black Eyed Peas, who may have mastered the art of good-bad songwriting. He looks back on how the Peas jumped from hip-hop to pop after they added Fergie to their crew, until they ultimately hit dance music in 2009—but they maintained their goofy sensibility the whole way. Later, Rob’s joined by columnist Leslie Gray Streeter to discuss the merits of “My Humps” and why “I Gotta Feeling” has come to represent the Obamacore era. (00:00) Intro: Lyrics so bad that ... maybe they're good? (21:12) This week’s song: “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas (24:57) BEP’s early hip-hop days (39:05) Shifting to pop and recruiting Fergie (51:54) The wonderfully dumb ‘The E.N.D.’ and “I Gotta Feeling” (01:00:24) Interview with Leslie Gray Streeter (01:32:58) Outro Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Leslie Gray Streeter Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie CONNECT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She sings both kinds of music—country and Western—and you better be grateful for it. Lee Ann Womack followed in the footsteps of icons like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, but she took even greater inspiration from male country stars like George Jones. After making a name for herself with her captivating tunes, Womack reckoned with love and faith on the beautiful—and melancholy?—"I Hope You Dance," which became a crossover hit and Womack's signature song. Rob is joined by music journalist Marissa R. Moss, who discusses what Womack faced as a woman in country music during the late '90s and 2000s and the selflessness it takes to write a love song to someone who is leaving your life. (00:00) Intro: The Blues Brothers go to Bob's Country Bunker (24:19) Remembering Dolly Parton (38:11) This week's song: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack (41:02) Womack's early tracks and the state of country in the late '90s (57:28) Is "I Hope You Dance" a sad or happy song? (01:05:27) Interview with Marissa R. Moss (01:33:12) Outro Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Marissa R. Moss Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie Power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices