Full Transcript for Explicit

--> 00:02:07.680 Don't worry, you're not prying. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:08.240 Yeah. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:08.719 Okay. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:08.960 There. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:10.319 I'm glad I got that out. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:11.039 Good. 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:18.000 I also was wondering if you picked up on what I'm putting down with this theme. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:19.439 Being explicit. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:20.719 Yes, I got that. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:25.439 Do you think I hooked anybody who might have thought we were talking about dirty stuff? 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:29.919 Well, I mean, after our last episode or the horny. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:31.439 Yeah, the horny episode. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:33.439 That was a real bait and switch. 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:34.000 Yes. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.639 We do that a lot on stereothematica. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.680 I think we got a lot of new downloads from different parts of the world. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:41.680 Oh, yeah, I think so, for sure. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:42.800 I don't mind. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:45.520 But I wonder if they listened to the entire episode. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:54.240 I do want to clarify I don't think our songs are explicit in in the sense of they're NC17. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:59.599 They're more Hey, I'm explicitly telling you what this song's gonna be about. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:10.240 And I think it's so funny when artists will say exactly what the song's going to be about before they really start singing anything. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:10.719 Yeah. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:16.400 So, you know, and what I told you specifically was this is a song about blank. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:17.120 Yeah. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:21.280 And then they give you a little flimsy line, you know, to set up the story. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:24.800 And sometimes they're not as explicit, right, Christine? 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.400 I think you had a song that you wrestled with. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:29.599 Oh yeah. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:33.840 So this was actually the second time I wanted to choose this song. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:35.680 Let me give it away. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:48.639 I probably will use it at some point, but Bob Dylan's Hurricane from his album Desire, wonderful song, eight and a half minutes about the black boxer Reuben Hurricane Carter. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.879 And he was wrongfully convicted of triple murder. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:56.319 And eventually in 1985, it was overturned. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:02.800 But Bob starts, I mean, he he sets it up, but then he says, Here comes the story of the hurricane. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:03.680 Hell yeah. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:07.520 And then he gets into the story of the hurricane for another eight minutes. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:07.919 Yeah. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.039 Which is also so funny for Bob Dylan to be doing that. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:13.199 Here comes the story of the hurricane. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:13.439 Yeah. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.120 You're already singing about it, Bob. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.040 No, it's it's it's kind of adorable. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.480 Now, I think I should probably just bring this up right now, get it out of the way. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:27.839 He does use the N-word in the song, which was part of my hesitation for sharing it the first time and this time. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:34.639 Obviously, with Bob, there is context, but still, I don't think he would have used that word today. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:36.160 It's anyway. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:37.040 I challenge that. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:38.240 I don't think he would have used it. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.360 I think he knows better. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:45.600 But anyway, I feel like I think his producers would probably tell him not not anymore, Bob. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:46.000 Yeah. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:47.439 So that time is fast. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:49.199 Wait, what year did you say that song came out? 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.959 Um, that was 76 on desire. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:54.240 It was a different time. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:55.199 Different time. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.639 Uh no, I don't I don't believe in the different time thing. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:01.279 I do think it's it's touchy, right? 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:01.920 Yeah, yeah. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:02.720 No, for sure. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:08.000 Especially for a white guy from Minnesota to be using the hard R N-word. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:08.720 Yeah, no. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.399 So anyway. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:18.879 Well, now that we got that out of the way, what do you think when songs say exactly what they're going to talk about before they even get into the song? 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:20.240 I don't think it bothers me. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:20.879 Oh, yeah. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:21.360 Yeah. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:25.199 I think I I mean, I feel like you get it a lot at concerts. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:26.399 Oh, yeah. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:31.120 So if you're used to that, it's like, okay, they're just doing it on the album too. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.720 It's it's not that big of a deal. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:36.000 I kind of I I like the clarity. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:42.639 I do it's funny because like in books, literature, movies, television, I prefer subtext. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:44.319 But I don't think I do in songs. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:46.240 In songs, I like it all out there. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:48.000 I like the explicitness. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:52.160 That is really funny because I'm not, I don't know. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.720 One I one way or another, I think it could it could make her it's not gonna make her break a song. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:57.120 Uh-huh. 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:02.720 It's going to just give a little extra that you maybe don't need, is

my opinion. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:05.759 But I actually really like the flimsy ones. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:10.079 So I don't think you're gonna know this song, but maybe some of our listeners were as well. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:14.639 Brittany Spears told us this is a story about a girl named Lucky. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:15.519 Do you know that song? 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:16.399 I don't I don't think so. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:16.959 Okay. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.560 It's called Lucky, and it's like, she's so lucky. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:28.879 Anyway, the irony, uh-huh, her luck, aka fame, was a curse, and it was a very thinly veiled uh story of Britney Spears' own life. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:32.240 And this happened before she shaved her head. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:33.600 Oh poor Britney. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:39.439 There's also that extremely annoying song that opens with, This is the story of a girl. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.160 Do you know that one? 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:40.800 I don't well. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:43.120 Oh my god, what planet do you live on? 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.639 I know Pulowski. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:50.800 I know that some of our listeners will know that one. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:52.800 It is so freaking annoying. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:56.000 I had to Google it to find the band and the song name. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:00.319 Never heard of them. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.439 It's an awful. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:05.040 I will actually call this one a terrible earworm because that line. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:09.920 Yeah, anytime I hear someone be like, This is, and I'm like, the story of a girl. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:17.600 Like, cause it probably had to be that you were there like when it was really on the radio, which wins probably when I was in like middle or high school. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.079 Yeah. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.199 Anyway, can't remember. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.199 I don't think K Crw was playing it. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:22.879 Girl, no, they were not. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:23.839 They were not. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:31.199 But if you've ever heard speaking of concerts, the 1977 live recording of Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac at the forum. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.000 I have yeah, I know the song, obviously. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.759 But yeah, it's a it's a good recording, it's faster than I would expect. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:42.000 But at the very beginning, Stevie says, This is a song about a witch. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.360 Oh, yeah, which I love. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:44.560 Do you like Rihannon? 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.279 I do, yeah. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.160 It's such a chance. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:46.959 It's good, yeah. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:47.759 It's so good. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.759 I wish it were acceptable for this theme because I would have chosen that. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:54.959 Oh, but it's not because it's not in the original lyrics. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:55.360 Okay. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:56.879 But I I will link to that song. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:06.560 And then I know you're gonna love this one, Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy, which opens with, Here's a little song I wrote, and it's so bad. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.160 I know you don't love it. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:09.839 No, not a huge fan. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:15.279 Somebody out there loves it, but it is toxic positivity, and I reject that. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:19.920 So I'm starting off by sharing all of these bad tunes because I am trying to make a point. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:24.800 And that point is this is a lazy vehicle for songwriting and storytelling. 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:25.600 Okay. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:37.519 I disagree that artists need to do this to tell us anything we need to know about a song because just let us listen to the lyrics, let us feel it. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:37.840 Yeah. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:39.840 Create our own meeting. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:42.080 Why are you hitting us over the head with it? 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:42.879 Fair enough. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:45.519 It's interesting that we are on opposite sides of the coin on this one. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:50.320 And and now that you put it like that, I mean, it's not that I need to have that. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:51.600 I just don't mind it. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:54.480 How amazing would it be if you were like, I need every song. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:55.679 No, I don't want that. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:56.320 That would be weird. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:59.200 But I feel like every once in a while it's like, it's kind of cute. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.240 It's kind of like, oh, you're getting it's a little more intimate. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:12.879 I do, uh, and I'm walking back a little bit because sometimes, you know, and like I feel like in country, like kind of the more classic country, they'll be like, this is a song I wrote about, you know. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.320 And I'm like, yeah, I love that. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:16.240 Love, love the storytelling opening. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:16.480 Okay. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:21.120 Anyway, all of this is to say I did pick a song that I do like. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:26.080 Um because as soon as you'll hear it, it's nothing serious. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:26.559 Yeah. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.759 So let's listen. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.279 My pick for explicit. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:34.399 Here's An On and On by Janet Jackson from the 1995 album Janet Remixed. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:40.480 Besides, this is a song about summertime. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:42.399 May it never end. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:43.120 Yeah. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:44.639 May it never end. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:51.679 This is a summer of love as a lover goes. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.919 Oh no, and on and on. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.000 I'm not a

hater. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.600 I'm not truly hating this trope. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.279 I do think it's funny, but this is why I love what Janet did here. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:05.759 Uh-huh. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.240 She says this is a song about summertime. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:09.600 May it never end. 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:14.720 She clearly didn't live in Houston, Texas, where I am ready to melt. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:19.840 And probably most of my insides have already melted because summer really does go on and on here. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:20.240 Yeah. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:26.159 But in actuality, there's no indication that the song is actually about summertime. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:27.519 She's just saying that. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.639 I think she is saying the feeling goes on and on and on. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:36.879 And like maybe if I lived in Los Angeles with which I have endless summer, right? 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.200 Yeah. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:37.679 Not really. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.320 It does get away. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.600 No, I mean it gets nice. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:40.399 But yeah. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:46.559 But I feel like what she's trying to say is like the feeling of summer is so great that she doesn't want it to stop. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.360 Well, I mean, you can kind of relate to that. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:53.919 Like summer, lots of concerts, lots of like outside time with friends. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.279 There's some time with friends. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.240 It's it's nice. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:58.799 It's things slow down a bit with work. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:00.799 It's it's a better time. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.720 It's not temperature-wise. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.399 I like all of the sunlight. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.360 That's for damn sure. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:06.960 I like the sun setting late. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:07.440 Yep. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.799 It's just so hot here. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.440 It's so hot. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.679 I live in a cursed place. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:22.320 But Janet, if I were in LA, ooh, I would be so there, so right there with you, top down in the car next to your sweetie, just that blissful feeling. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.159 Pure, fun, smooth jams on the radio. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:37.039 I do think people agreed with Janet too, because as a single, this song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994 and eventually reached number 30 on the year-end chart. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:38.480 Do you remember this song? 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.840 Honestly, I don't. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.600 I I was never really a Janet fan. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.879 More more Michael. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.919 What about Scream? 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:46.720 Scream? 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.120 Yeah. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:47.519 No. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.720 Wait, isn't that what it was called? 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:52.960 I don't the one where Janet and Michael were it had such video. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:53.840 Oh no, I don't even. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:54.720 Oh my god. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:58.080 Listener, if you're screaming like I am, scream. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:11:58.639 Okay. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.200 I'm gonna have to send you the video out as soon as we stop. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.240 Don't let me forget. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:02.720 Okay. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:03.919 That's such a jam. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.519 Anyway, I vaguely remember this song from my childhood. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:13.360 Like I just was like, oh yeah, this is kind of unlocking something in me. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:22.480 But I do think when we're, you know, talking about this song in particular, it's not quite an earworm like we were talking about in our last episode. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:25.840 But it has this like incredible repetitiveness. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:26.960 Oh my god. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.279 Yeah. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:27.840 Right. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.919 And it's kind of like weirdly soothing. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.320 Uh-huh. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:33.200 Cause like, you know how we were talking about with the earworms. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:43.120 If I get a song stuck in my head and I'm like laying awake at night, I could just like say, and on and on and on and on over and over until I fall asleep. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:43.600 Yeah. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.279 And I'm on meds now. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.639 But maybe that's not bad. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.879 Yeah, no, I'm just I'm saying it's a good thing. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.240 It helps you go to sleep. 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:50.799 Yeah. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.480 And like even the male vocalist who I couldn't figure out who it was. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:56.480 I like looked everywhere trying to figure it out. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:05.519 His repetitive singing doesn't even bother me because it's like a little bit more intense than hers, which is like really like peaceful and smooth. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.240 Yeah. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:11.279 But there is a part of the song that actually made me laugh out loud when I was listening to it while prepping. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.480 And let me play it real quick. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:12.960 Okay. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.679 She goes, damn, this is a long song. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.000 Yeah. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:34.879 It's so funny. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.919 And that's what I was thinking right about the time she says it. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:47.759 It's funny because, like, when you're listening to it, or at least for me, I didn't think it was long, but it is almost five minutes long, which is pretty long for a pop song. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.159 Yeah. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:52.720 And

longer than I think, you know, probably some of her other songs are. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:59.360 And I also did a little bit of Reddit Lurking because the Janet fans out there really love this one. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:13:59.840 Uh-huh. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.159 And it was actually released as a B-side. 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:05.600 So it didn't even get as much airplay as some of the other songs. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:08.159 And doesn't she call that out at the beginning too? 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:10.399 Yes, she said this is a B side. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.720 Or I think she just goes B side, which is very explicit. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:15.679 Good point. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.000 Like, absolutely love that. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:24.879 But when you think about like, so even though this one made it to number three on Billboard, think about that's the way love goes. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:25.279 Yeah. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:26.240 Do you remember that one? 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:26.799 No. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.919 It's from '93. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.799 It was very single from Janet. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:33.279 And it went double platinum in the ears. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.240 Okay. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.960 Do you remember when we were on Who Will Save Gen X? 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:37.840 Yes. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:46.000 And how much I sucked when we were doing the fill in the blanks for Janet Jackson's song Nasty. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:47.200 Was it is that what it's called? 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.000 Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:48.320 Yeah. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.759 I'm not just that one song. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:51.919 It was just that one song, and I sucked at it. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.120 So I guess Janet Jackson had a bigger role. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.440 Like, and my parents were not a fan or anything. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:02.000 It would just be purely hearing it on the radio, MTV, like whatever. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.320 But like she's a pop star. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:04.960 Oh, yeah. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:05.519 For sure. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.000 It's like, and it's not so much pop like Britney. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:15.279 It's kind of more like RB smooth, like but she made a really big impact on pop music, I would say. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:15.759 Yeah. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.840 It's crazy to think about how different like reach of music was back then. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:25.039 Like because when I say double platinum, I mean she sold two million copies of that single. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.440 Yeah. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.720 That is that's crazy. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.120 Yeah. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.440 Who who's even buying singles? 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.399 Anyway. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:30.799 Yeah. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:35.279 Well, I do want to wind it down so that I can get to your pick. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:39.200 But I do want to give you a little bit of trivia about this song before I do. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:42.639 Did you catch the Family Affair sample on this? 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.919 I did, but only the second. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:47.919 So the first time I listened to it, and I was like, eh, okay. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.360 I didn't when you shared it initially, I wasn't that like focused on it. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:56.320 But then I always prepare for what before our episode and I listen to the whole thing. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:00.639 And Family Affair is like one of my favorite sliced open. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:00.879 Yes. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:01.600 It's so good. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.000 So um, and I recently watched the documentary, the Quest Love documentary. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.000 So the song is in my head already. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:13.039 So I'm like, I didn't know right off the bat what it was, but I did have to who stamp her. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:13.519 Yeah. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:13.919 Okay. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.720 That's like one. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.120 Yeah. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.159 So it's so great. 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.200 That's actually good. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.000 It's a good song. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.200 I I do enjoy the song. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:19.919 Okay, good. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.919 I mean, it's not one of those ones that I'm like, oh, this is my favorite song or anything. 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:24.799 I just, you know. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:29.279 But Sly Stone was one of the songwriters on this song and on and on. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.799 So that's why the Family Affair sample happened. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:35.039 But I didn't hear it initially either. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:41.039 And it is funny too, because my sister and I used to sing Family Affair a lot as children, just like to each other. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.000 I think we thought it was funny because we're like, it's a family affair. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.120 It's such a good song. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.320 Yeah, it's a blast. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:50.960 I was listening to it after I was listening to the Janet song, and I'm like, that song is good. 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.200 Yeah. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.960 Like bring never gets old. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.000 Bring it back. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:17:01.600 Anyway, I would love it if you could be as explicit as possible in sharing your song. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.840 You know, I will. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:04.960 So, okay. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:10.960 Just a day before you picked this theme, our friend Alice shared one of her favorite summer songs. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:16.559 And she went as far as to say it was on a no-skip album. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.119 Wow. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:17.519 Yeah. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.240 High praise. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:18.799 I know.

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:28.079 So I immediately liked the song, but had only listened to it once and really knew nothing about the singer or the album it was on when I shared it with you. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.599 I just knew it was like the perfect song for this theme. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:34.079 In fact, it's so perfect. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.720 I'm just gonna let the song introduce itself. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.799 This is a sad song. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.200 Although it feels happy. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.039 It is not happy at all. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:47.279 In fact, it makes me so, so sad to sing this song. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.920 And I'm not sang it for you anyway. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:53.359 This song is called Goodbye Henry. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:55.440 And I wrote about a boy. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.759 A very lovely boy. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.839 And his name isn't even Henry, but I'm just trying to be respectful. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:19.039 Now, forgive me for not being explicit enough that this is from the British singer-songwriter Ray doing goodbye, Henry, in case that wasn't obvious, on her 2026 album, explicitly titled This Music May Contain Hope. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.880 Now, what did you think when I shared it? 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.720 Did you know anything about Ray? 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.880 I didn't know anything about Ray. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.279 I was surprised when you shared this one. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.319 And I will tell you, Christina, I did not want to like it. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.680 I didn't want to like it because I was like, this is corny. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.319 Yeah. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.920 This is some bullshit. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.240 Yeah. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:42.640 And then I was listening to it a second time and I found myself dancing along, just moving and grooving. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.720 I still think it's corny. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.200 Oh, yeah. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.279 But I don't dislike it. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:51.359 Uh and Ray, I just saw her in the headlines yesterday. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:51.920 It's funny. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.000 I think she's dating some celebrity, but I can't remember who it was. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:58.000 No, it's it's funny. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:02.319 I feel like she this album is just like like gonna make her blow up. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.519 I think she's already there. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.200 Oh, okay, probably. 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.680 For me. 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.160 Yeah. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:06.559 Yeah. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:11.440 I'm see in my mind she is blowing up after I have now listened to the album. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:14.319 Now wait, are you gonna talk about this other song? 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.640 The Where the Hell is My Husband? 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.000 Um, I'm not gonna talk. 00:19:18.319

--> 00:19:21.279 I actually don't have plans to talk about it. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.720 I can mention it, but I kind of want to talk about the whole album. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.200 Okay. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:30.720 Being like this exercise, like in subtextless minimalism. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:37.839 And I'm really not saying that as a diss, like as I said earlier, like I don't mind it when music is subtextless. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.759 Like I'm I'm kind of here for it. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.960 I don't like that in my movies and books, but songs are okay. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:48.559 And Ray actually very proudly labeled herself as a maximalist. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.000 So I don't know. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.359 I kind of love this album and love her for it. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:20:00.400 So there's a lot to say about Ray, and considering I didn't even know who she was until a couple of weeks ago. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:08.000 Yeah, I'll I'll try to stay focused on my pick, but first I will share a little bit of background in case anyone else is new to her. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:10.240 I feel like I might be the last person. 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:12.720 You and you and I might be the last. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:16.880 So she was born Rachel Agatha Keene in 1997. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.599 She's young. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.160 Young. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:21.920 Her mother is Ghanaian Swiss and her father's English. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:26.240 Her music is all over the place, but in the best possible way. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:35.279 And this album doesn't just contain hope, but jazz, chanson, soul, RB, pop, classical, and musical theater. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:44.400 She's been compared to Amy Winehouse and even attended the Brits School, which counts Winehouse, Adele, and Olivia Dean as alumni. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:59.519 She and Olivia were there around the same time, but Ray didn't complete the full term because she was already making money and writing songs for pop stars like Beyoncé, John Legend, and I don't know if you've heard of her, but Charlie XCX. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.200 Oh, an up-and-coming Starlet. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:01.839 Yeah. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:07.519 So in June of 2021, she posted on Twitter, Today I feel like a toilet. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:13.119 And she kind of went off on being used and emotionally like worn down by her record label. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:16.720 And that ultimately led her to go independent. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:22.720 And her debut album in 2023, 21st Century Blues, really put her on the map. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:30.319 She holds the record for most Brit awards, one in a single year, receiving six in 2024. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.319 That's more than Adele or Blur Carrie Styles. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:39.200 And she was also the first woman to win Songwriter of the Year. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:39.839 Damn. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:40.480

I know. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.359 Like none of how did I not know about her? 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:49.119 So as I was researching Ray, I found an unexpected connection. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:53.519 She collaborated with DJ Retone on the song I Don't Want You. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:57.599 And it's no fake ID, which we talked about just last week. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.519 It's, you know, your typical dance. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.839 Top bot, but it's still kind of cool. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.279 I did see that on YouTube when I was looking at the fake ID video. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:11.680 I saw Ray and Retone, and I was like, oh, I want to mention this, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.480 No, how funny. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:15.200 Well, probably because like we're using now the same YouTube example. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.400 Oh, that's right. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.599 So the stuff that I'm looking at is coming up. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.839 Shameless plug, stereothematica on the page. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.559 On YouTube. 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.000 Check us out. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.599 There's no video. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.480 No video. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:34.240 But this new album is really special and it's so special that, you know, I might actually buy it on vinyl. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.039 It's wow. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:35.440 I know. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:35.839 I know. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.480 It's surprising. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.359 I'm shocked. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.759 Uh-huh. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:40.160 It's it's just so big and it's theatrical. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:43.680 It's got Hans Zimmer and the London Symphony Orchestra. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:51.519 It's also very sentimental, which you know is not typically my thing, but but she's just so earnest and wildly talented. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:55.359 And like really, I think you are the audience for this. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.160 I think you'd love it. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.880 Oh my goodness. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.359 As a whole. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:57.680 Yes. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.240 Wow. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:58.880 Interesting. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.559 It feels like musical theater. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.359 Hmm. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:03.039 I guess I don't know. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:08.000 I might have to go listen to more of the album because I only listen to a handful of songs. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.400 I invite you to listen from start to finish. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:10.799 Okay. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.440 To say. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.240 Now, speaking of family affair, this album is indeed a family affair. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:18.160 Her parents are her managers. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:23.440 Her sisters make guest appearances on the song Joy, another really fun song. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:28.319 And she incorporated her grandparents in one way or another on this album. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:32.400 She talks about all this during an interview with Zane Lowe. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.440 So we'll we'll share that. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.640 Really interesting. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:37.759 Get a lot of like background of where she's coming from. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:50.079 Anyway, so this is only her second album, and it's a 73-minute autobiography across four season-themed acts and 17 songs moving through autumn, winter, spring, and summer. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:52.240 Yes, anyone say Vivaldi. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:24:01.599 And with Goodbye Henry in the spring section, along with songs I Hate the Way I Look, Nightingale Lane, and Skin and Bones. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:04.240 And I'm just kind of obsessed with it all. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.680 It's not a no-skipper. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:08.000 There are songs that I'm not feeling really. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:11.519 But for the most part, it does give me chills throughout. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:20.480 And dude, I was in line at a CVS the other day, and I started crying listening to the closing track. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.400 Are you familiar with this at all? 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.039 No. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.440 Okay. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:27.119 Closing track fan, which is French for end. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:34.000 Um, she basically shares her gratitude in a very Disney musical, over the top sort of way. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:38.079 And then she talks through the credits, naming every person involved. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:40.079 And it goes on for six minutes. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.559 And it's really, it's just very sweet. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:52.640 Like I yeah, listening to it a lot of the album, I do get chills, like you get kind of choked up because you do you get the sense this this means so much to her. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:55.440 And she did it exactly the way she wanted to. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:59.759 So yeah, I that's why I think it's definitely worth like listening from start to finish. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.319 Okay. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:11.039 So getting back to goodbye Henry and the theme, she even breaks the fourth wall singing, his name isn't even Henry. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.640 I'm just being respectful. 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:23.279 So, in many ways, the song is a tribute to vintage Memphis RB, and not to bury the lead here, but it's kind of built around a duet with Al Green. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:28.640 Put your hands together, ladies and gentlemen, for Al Green. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.480 I hope you're well. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.279 It's nice to be on a microphone. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:26:00.319 Sorry to cut off Al Green here, but you'll just have to listen to the whole song to hear all his glory. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:05.839 But she also nods to Green's song, Love and Happiness, wishing that for Henry.

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:15.680 And according to song facts, this Henry character may be the same recurring ex who shows up in Nightingale Lane and Winter Woman. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:22.000 But here, unlike those more devastated songs, she's arrived at acceptance. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:29.119 And I have arrived at the end of my part, and I am so grateful to you for proposing this theme and Alice for sharing the song. 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:33.519 But yeah, you had mentioned the Where's My Husband in all caps. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:36.160 Did you have something to share about that? 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.759 An observation. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:49.920 I think that was how I was introduced to this singer because that song got quite a bit of airplay and features and you know the ubiquitous Instagram videos and whatnot. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:57.359 But one day while I was railing against Taylor Swift being an anti-feminist, to a friend of mine, she goes, Well, what do you think of this song? 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:57.599 Uh-huh. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:01.039 And she shares this song with me, Where the Hell is My Husband? 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.720 And I said, This is amazing. 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.440 It's hilarious. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:09.119 And it's funny, and it's just, you know, a very cheeky like song. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:11.279 So I was like, this is not anti-feminist. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:14.960 And also, women can want a husband, and it doesn't have to be their whole identity. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.839 Like, whatever. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:19.519 So that's where I was curious about your thoughts on that one. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:25.279 It's a fun, like it's and I again, that's this the first song I've ever heard is the Goodbye Henry. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:33.119 So just in listening to the album, and then there's like an amazing performance of her at the Brit Awards, which we'll share singing that song. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.519 It's a good, it's it's a funny song. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:38.400 And the fact that it's all in caps is hilarious. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:45.599 The songwriter after Goodbye Henry also opened with This Is the Song about Nightingale Lane. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.359 So I was like two in a row. 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:50.720 No, I'm like, oh my gosh, if I had known, I would have picked that. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:54.000 But I actually like Goodbye Henry so much more than Night and Gallane. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.400 Yeah. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.599 Oh very fun. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:58.880 Good job on the box and thanks, Alice. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.920 Yeah, thanks, Alice. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.480 Big time. 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.839 Perfect, perfect choice. 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.559 Well done. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.119 Yep. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.720 Um, would you mind if I just gave you a little bit of unsolicited advice? 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.440 Please. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:11.839 And our listeners, but I am curious if this is applicable. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:18.400 Because if you haven't already, please would you just watch Widow's Bay for the love of God? 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.000 It made my summer. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:24.799 And might you allow some joy in the form of horror comedy into your life? 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.960 Dude, I'm dying to watch it. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:30.160 And and now we finally caught up with Silo, so we can. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:36.480 Finally, listeners, I have been begging her to listen to this for maybe months at this point. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:41.519 And it's so rare that I recommend to any visual media that you know it's gotta be good. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:44.720 So this show has everything. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:47.680 Sea hags, single dads doing their best. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:52.079 Chris Fleming is a drug-dealing shaman, possible Satan worshiping. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.359 Need I say more? 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:56.000 Chris Fleming is a drug-dealing shaman. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.119 Why didn't you lead with that? 00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:01.680 I know I should have really hooked you in there, but I kind of wanted it to be a surprise. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:08.640 Listener, if I am late recommending this to you, it's not because I was late to the bandwagon when I watched this show. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:11.519 I awaited each new episode with bated breath. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:14.400 If that tells you anything about how exciting it is. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:18.960 And if you don't have Apple TV, I don't blame you. 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:22.720 But maybe see if you can bum a login from a friend or a family member. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:25.200 Advice over Christine. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.960 Any hints for next week? 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:29.440 Let's do some seasonal vibing. 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.680 Thanks for listening to Sterythematica. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:35.920 If you like what you're hearing, please consider a review, a rating, or share us with a friend. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:40.480 And follow us on Instagram where you can share your most explicit songs. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:45.680 We've also got our Infinite Spotify playlist linked in our show notes as always. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:49.119 And visit stereothematica.com for more fun.