Anyone familiar with Song Exploder, the excellent Podcast, [now on its 193’d episode], will be delighted and perhaps a little bit puzzled that it has been made into a TV series for Netflix. How do you transform a podcast that hangs on an artist talking about how they made one of their songs? [continues in comments]
https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/song-exploder/netflix-review/
You keep it simple and stick to the things that created the winning formula. And it helps if you can get an Oscar winning production team to make the show – and get some big stars and legends of music on your first season as well.
There are some changes of course, host Hrishikesh Hirway now speaks during the episode [and even appears – and he looks just like his voice] but the episodes are kept short, just like the podcast and are as entertaining as ever [perhaps more so, as the scenes of a band or artist building the song in the studio, or archive footage really help to bring the process to life. The REM episode was the one I was most interested in and it was moving to see them and hear them speak about the song and the time in which it was made, but the beauty of Song Exploder was always that even if you have zero interest in the song, or the artist this show will make you appreciate it all on another level.
I watched the REM one today and enjoyed it. Not a massive fan of theirs, so I learnt a few things about them. Was interested to hear Michael Stipe talk about being rather more comfortable with fame than I imagined he would be. And Bill Berry didn’t realise there were handclaps complementing his drums til it was pointed out to him.
Funnily enough, I too watched the REM one yesterday and found the friendship between them really touching. The Alicia episode is wonderful. Watching the song being created and grow was terrific. I really like her, but have none of her music, so I rectified that immediately. Really good viewing.
I had the same reaction when Stipe said he was ok with fame – it’s not so bad. I had assumed he still hated it. And yes, how nice was it to hear the obvious affection they all still have for each other. I got the feeling that a reunion tour would not be out of the question at some, post covid, point. [Not wishful thing, by the way, I saw them in their pomp – they were brilliant – but doubt I would be tempted to see them again.
The Alisha keys episode is a great case in point that even with little interest in the artist, it’s still worth watching. I’m not remotely interested in Hamilton and have never knowingly heard anything of Ty Dollar $ign, but I’m looking forward to watching the episodes none the less.
I always assumed he loved it and was striking a pose. I mean, it’s not hard to not be famous if you hate it that much. Just don’t do what you’re famous for, keep out of the spotlight and people will forget about you. Rock musicians whining about being famous are talking crap.
I need to check this out again. I love the concept of the podcast, but when I tried it a few years ago it seemed that artists would only talk about their then-current release, so as a result seemed rather stiff and sanitised.
It’ll be on point for these times, then – everything must be sanitised. 😏