Song Appeal
Song Appeal
Hunter Farris
What tools can a pop song use to affect us psychologically to make us like the songs more? We'll take a look at everything from music theory, to linguistics, to rhetoric, to applied psychology.
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Not really an episode. Just a quick announcement.
Apr 1, 2020
39 sec
"We Will Rock You" by Queen - Season 3, Episode 07
How powerful is a really good rhythm? In this episode, Isaac Wu helps us learn how the Testing Effect made "We Will Rock You" more memorable. You can find this episode at SongAppealOfficial.com/WeWillRockYou or by searching for Song Appeal on your favorite podcasting app. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal
May 17, 2019
10 min
"Style" by Taylor Swift - Season 3, Episode 06
What happens when we don't get what we want? Why do we like surprises? In this episode, Claire Arthur helps us see how "Style" by Taylor Swift plays with our expectations to musically surprise us, and how that makes the song more enjoyable. You can find this episode at SongAppealOfficial.com/Style or by searching for Song Appeal on your favorite podcasting app. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
May 10, 2019
13 min
"Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty - Season 3, Episode 05
How much does it really matter which notes a song uses? And how can predictability be a good thing? In this episode, Claire Arthur helps us learn how "Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty sets up expectations through its notes and its intervals, and how it fulfills those expectations. You can find the full transcript for this episode, references, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/Unwell. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal. Some music provided by Motivational Soft Rock and produced by OrangeHead: https://youtu.be/Q9GyxsMx38. http://www.orangehead.net. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
May 3, 2019
10 min
Themes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Season 3, Episode 04
How can music change what we think of an experience? In this episode, superhero expert Peter Coogan helps us learn how the MCU themes can be more powerful by being more forgettable. You can find this episode's transcript, references, and links to hear the themes at SongAppealOfficial.com/MCU. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal, where you'll find great perks including the full version of the interview with Peter Coogan. Selected music provided by RFM: https://youtu.be/VvQ8aM3MVR0 Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
Apr 26, 2019
18 min
"Lost Woods" from Ocarina of Time - Season 3, Episode 03
How much does it really matter which key a song uses? In this episode, 8-bit Music Theory, Ongaku Concept, and Ian Straehley help us learn how the "Lost Woods" theme uses the sound of Lydian to give us a feeling of optimistic anxiety. You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/LostWoods. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
Apr 19, 2019
15 min
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston - Season 3, Episode 02
When we’re listening to a song, how much does the tune’s structure really matter? In this episode, Bryn Hughes and Anja Cui help us dive into a classic music psychology experiment to show why we like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston. You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
Apr 12, 2019
18 min
"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers - Season 3, Episode 01
How does "Mr. Brightside" keep its melody interesting while staying on the same note? Learn how in this episode, with the help of Bryn Hughes, Jeremiah Tabb (from the Hype Harmony podcast), and Matthew Scott Phillips (from the Music Student 101 podcast). You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/MrBrightside. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal, where you'll find great perks, including the full versions of the interviews that were used in this episode. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
Apr 5, 2019
18 min
"One Week" by Barenaked Ladies - Season 2, Episode 18
Why do we like "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies? In this finale to Season 2, we wrap up and expand the last few episodes of this season by take a look at how "One Week" gives us novel tunes, then familiar tunes, so it can take advantage of the fluency heuristic to make us like the song more. You can find the full transcript for this episode, references, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/OneWeek. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
Jan 11, 2019
19 min
"Demons" by Imagine Dragons - Season 2, Episode 17
Why do we like "Demons" by Imagine Dragons? In this episode, we take a look at how the melody focuses on false sequences to create a sense of relative novelty, and how relative novelty makes a song more memorable. You can find the full transcript for this episode, references, and a link to hear the song at SongAppealOfficial.com/Demons. You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal. Support Song Appeal by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songappeal
Jan 4, 2019
8 min
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