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Artwork for 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

60 Songs That Explain the '90s

The Ringer
Iris
Goo Goo Dolls
1990s Music
Glory Box
Portishead
What's Up
MTV
Lenny Kravitz
City Of Angels
Jay-Z
Tracy Chapman
Lovefool
Trip-Hop
Dummy
Societal Expectations
4 Non Blondes
Believe
George Michael
High Fidelity
Fast Car

First came '60 Songs That Explain the '90s.' (We did that.) Then came '60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s.' (We're doing that now—and yes, that's the actual name.) But whether you want to jump back to the Clinton years or join us as we reboot our old iPods, you can find all of the collected works of Rob Harvilla below. Come back each Wednesday for a new episode.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes169Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

Latest Episodes

This week, Rob takes a trip down memory lane, a.k.a. 2000s Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Now that we are in the dark ages of social media and virality, there is a set-in-stone Mount Rushmore of late-night TV band performances, including the high-energy TV ... more

This week, Rob makes a solid argument that the coolest thing a person can do is watch cartoons and play pretend. He breaks down the many personas of Daniel Dumile, starting with Zev Love X and ending with his villain persona Madvillain. He argues tha... more

You’ve heard the song a million times, and you can sing along with the crowd when it comes on. But come trivia, would you be able to name the artist and song title? Today, Rob is going to drill every jock jam into your head, leading up to the iconic ... more

Today, Rob talks about the song that left him speechless upon his first listen—“Milkshake”. He retraces his steps back to the beginning of Kelis’s career when she was screaming at a Glastonbury crowd. He analyzes the trend of not being able to place ... more

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Recent Guests

Chuck Klosterman
Author and writer, guest discussing football culture and music journalism
Author, Football (book)
Episode: The White Stripes — “Seven Nation Army”
Rob Mahoney
Senior staff writer for The Ringer and podcast personality
The Ringer
Episode: Paramore — “Misery Business”
Jill Hopkins
Journalist and podcast host, Civic Events producer at Metro Chicago and G-Man Tavern
Metro Chicago; G-Man Tavern
Episode: The Darkness — “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”
Steven Hyden
Critic and author, known for works on music and rock criticism
Author of 'There Was Nothing You Could Do, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA and the End of the Heartland'
Episode: Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”
Jeff Weiss
Writer, critic, editor in chief of POW Magazine, and author of the semi-fictional novel 'Waiting for Britney Spears'
POW Magazine
Episode: Britney Spears – “Toxic”
Amy J. Berg
Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker, known for her film It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley.
Episode: “Hallelujah” — Jeff Buckley
Chris DeVille
Longtime managing editor at Stereogum and author of 'Such Great Heights'
Episode: “A-Punk” — Vampire Weekend
Dylan Tupper Rupert
Writer, producer, and superstar podcaster known for Bandsplain and her new podcast Music Person.
Episode: “Heavy Metal Drummer”—Wilco
Katie White
Vocalist and guitarist of The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings
Episode: “Can’t Stop”—The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Host

Rob Harvilla
Host of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s; long-running music essayist and analyst

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.6k ratings
  • Rob is the best

    Love this show. Big fan!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Huntridge1969
    United Statesa month ago
  • I don’t leave reviews but…

    I listen to podcasts daily…for hours every day, for years. I have never been compelled to write a review until now. This podcast is just fantastic. Host Rob Harvilla makes 90+ minutes flash by in a blink of an eye with his story telling and incredible lengthy meandering intros, and I use the word “meandering” in the most positive and appreciable way. I love this podcast. I love the episodes where I’ve never heard of the song or the artist. I love the episodes where I’m a fan of the song and the ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JBB3466
    United Statesa month ago
  • The Best Music Podcast of All Time

    Rob is so good. His writing on the podcast is super-sharp, both on an analytical level and on a line-level alacrity. Highly intelligent, insightful, clever, and often hilarious. Ron has invented a particular style of music commentary that no one else alive can do half as well. And he finds a distinct hook and controlling idea for over 150 different song episode and counting. Definitely the overall best music podcast I’ve ever heard. (Although, I hope Rob will forgive me for pointing out that the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheMidnightBackslider
    United States2 months ago
  • Best show for my long runs

    Amazing podcast that makes me forget I’m running in -20c ; so happy to have a huge back catalog to discover!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IsabelleMTL
    Canada2 months ago
  • No notes.

    Music history meets self deprecating witticism by way of a poignant exploration of how popular culture, and in particular popular music, are a through line that connects so many who came of age in these decades (80s, 90s and 2000s). No notes, I’ll listen to every episode as long as Rob keeps making them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The gin blossoms’ lawyer
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise in-depth research and storytelling that evoke nostalgia while teaching new context.
Some critique the interview segments as uneven, but essays are consistently strong.
Fans appreciate the host's humor and knowledge, calling it unique and engaging.
A few listeners feel the 2000s episodes are weaker but still value the overall archive.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#3
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/Music
Spotify
#15
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#7
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#40
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#4
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The White Stripes — “Seven Nation Army”
Q: Did the White Stripes fit into the broader early-2000s rock revolution or were they their own singular phenomenon?
They initially seemed distinct and more grounded in a Midwest, stripped-down aesthetic, but as they rose to prominence, their impact merged with the broader wave of post-millennium rock, influencing and being influenced by a wide range of bands and media narratives.
Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”
Q: Is there another record as explicit as The Rising in saying this is my 9-11 record?
There isn't another record that so directly addresses 9/11 while attempting to heal the nation, though other albums from that period deal with similar sentiments indirectly.
Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”
Q: Did you personally need Bruce Springsteen in this moment?
As a young man at the time, I was wary of the coverage surrounding The Rising but recognized its significant impact on those closely affected by the events.
Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”
Q: What do you think it was about Bruce Springsteen, specifically, that made him the rock star everyone felt they needed suddenly in this moment?
Springsteen was viewed as an ideological figure who transcended partisan politics, providing solace and encouraging unity in the aftermath of 9/11.
Britney Spears – “Toxic”
Q: Is Blackout an album about her personally, or is it great because she's able to step outside of the personal stuff a little bit?
It's probably like the best thing anybody's ever made in some respect.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

What is 60 Songs That Explain the '90s about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show provides long-form, essay-driven explorations of popular songs from the late 20th century and early 2000s, often pairing meticulous musical analysis with personal storytelling and cultural context. Episodes hinge on deep-dive histories of iconic tracks, the eras that shaped them, and the artists' broader legacies, with guest voices offering specialized perspectives from music journalism, filmmaking, and local scenes. A standout quality is the blend of lyrical/narrative critique with vivid recollections from the host, creating a nostalgic yet timely look at pop culture milestones. The format balances research-forward essays with conversations that illuminate how songs reflect and influence their moments in time, making it appealing ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to 60 Songs That Explain the '90s?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 60 Songs That Explain the '90s:

1. Bandsplain
2. The Big Picture
3. The Watch
4. The Rewatchables
5. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

How many episodes of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s are there?

60 Songs That Explain the '90s launched 4 years ago and published 169 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 60 Songs That Explain the '90s?

Recent guests on 60 Songs That Explain the '90s include:

1. Chuck Klosterman
2. Rob Mahoney
3. Jill Hopkins
4. Steven Hyden
5. Jeff Weiss
6. Amy J. Berg
7. Chris DeVille
8. Dylan Tupper Rupert

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