60 Songs That Explain the '90s
The 1990s were a turning point in music: with the increasingly connected world enabling an unprecedented coalescence of various styles and genres, the decade featured the rapid evolution of sonic artistry — and subsequently shaped the soundscape of eras that followed. Listen along as The Ringer’s preeminent music critic Rob Harvilla curates and explores 60 iconic songs from the ‘90s that define the decade.
Episodes
March 13, 2024 • 91 mins
It’s last call for '90s songs and Rob’s memories as the show draws to a close. So there couldn’t be a more fitting moment for Semisonic’s “Closing Time” to be chosen as the episode’s focus. Listen as Rob grapples with his feelings of discomfort with the word goodbye, and stay for a final sendoff to the greatest '60 Songs' guest of all time, Yasi Salek.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Yasi Salek
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayle...
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March 6, 2024 • 100 mins
In the penultimate episode of 60 Songs, Rob takes it way back. Listen as he recalls the first song he remembers consciously hearing as a baby before diving into the world of Garth Brooks and 90’s country music. Later, Tyler Parker joins the show to discuss what Garth Brooks means to Oklahoma and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Tyler Parker
Producer: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
L...
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February 28, 2024 • 92 mins
Rob ranks the books he was forced to read in high school before turning his focus on the greatness of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” from her 1995 album ‘New Beginning.’ Later, Rob is joined by fellow Ohio native and author Hanif Abdurraqib to discuss why Ohio breeds such great writers such as Tracy Chapman. The guys also get into Chapman’s appearance at the Grammy’s and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Hanif Abdurraqib
P...
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February 21, 2024 • 106 mins
Hello friends, and thank you for stopping by for a very special episode of 60 Songs. With just three songs remaining, it felt like a great week to have some of Rob’s favorite guests as well as producers stop by and yell at him over songs that he missed. Enjoy!
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guests: Andrew Savage, Yasi Salek, Elamin Adelmahmoud, Alex Steed, Leslie Gray Streeter, Isaac Lee, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles
Producers: Jonathan...
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February 14, 2024 • 93 mins
Rob looks at JAY-Z’s career backwards this week before reaching the rap legend’s 90’s pop crossover hit, “Hard Knock Life.” Along the way, Rob highlights the masterclass that is Funkmaster Flex premiering Kanye West and JAY-Z’a “Otis” on Hot 97 and much more. Later, the Ringer’s Wosny Lambre joins the show to discuss what JAY-Z’s rise to power in New York in the 90s, the importance of Hot 97 to New York rap, and JAY-Z the hyper-cap...
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February 7, 2024 • 110 mins
Rob reminisces on his time witnessing Janelle Monae perform at South By Southwest in the year of Michael Jackson’s passing, before looking back at the King of Pop’s televised funeral. Along the way, Rob looks back at the height of Jackson’s powers in the '80s as well as a bit more tumultuous era in the '90s. Later, Wesley Morris joins the show to aid in deciphering how to process Michael Jackson’s career draped in success and contr...
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January 31, 2024 • 89 mins
Rob looks back at the movie ‘High Fidelity’ and observes the similarities between himself and one of the characters, who is also named Rob. Somewhere along the way, our Rob focuses in on Matthew Sweet, the Knack, Material Issue, and other artists singing power-pop songs about women they usually don’t get in the end. Finally, Rob gives attention to the Goo Goo Dolls and “Iris.” Later, Rob is joined by Niko Stratis to discuss the una...
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January 24, 2024 • 92 mins
Rob looks back at the top five songs that make him still feel like a 6-year-old, before turning his attention to the great George Michael. Along the way, Rob highlights a letter written to Michael from Frank Sinatra with his best dramatic reading. Later, Rob is joined by Rob Tannenbaum to discuss whether George Michael is on the MTV Mount Rushmore, and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Rob Tannenbaum
Producers: Jonathan Kermah a...
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January 17, 2024 • 93 mins
Rob takes a trip down memory lane and once again back to his days of watching ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ before stopping at his memory of the time Beavis and Butt-Head met a woman. That woman was Cher. Cher’s influence in the world of auto-tune is also discussed along the way. Later, Rob is joined by DJ Louie XIV to discuss the impact of Cher’s “Believe.”
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: DJ Louie XIV
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayl...
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January 10, 2024 • 96 mins
Rob looks back at his MTV watching days as a child in the late 80s before turning his attention to Lenny Kravitz. Along the way in his monologue, Rob highlights Kravitz’s appearance on ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’ in 1991 and the perceived disconnect between black radio/publications and Kravitz’s music. Later, Rob is joined by writer Elamin Abdelmahmoud to further discuss Kravitz’s recent comments on this disconnect.
Host: Rob Harvilla
...
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December 14, 2023 • 92 mins
Rob indulges in outright negativity when focusing on some of the worst songs of the '90s before turning his attention 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” voted one of the worst songs of the '90s by Rolling Stone. Later, Rob is joined by journalist and host of ‘Fine Beats and Cheeses’ Leslie Gray Streeter to discuss how '90s music criticism discredited the music of 4 Non Blondes.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Leslie Gray Streeter
Producers: Jon...
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December 6, 2023 • 93 mins
Listen as Rob reminisces on some of the funniest songs he heard from the back seat of the car as a child, before turning his focus to Sublime, the band’s frontman Bradley Nowell, and the jarring storytelling on the Sublime song “Date Rape.” Somewhere along the way, Rob is able to regain focus on the song at hand, “Santeria.” Later, Rob is joined by his “daughter” Yasi Salek from Bandsplain to discuss what Sublime means to her as a ...
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November 29, 2023 • 104 mins
Listen as Rob and Yasi Salek are joined by Chris Ryan to hold the ultimate '60 Songs' draft! But before we get to that fantastic main event, Yasi roasts Robs for some of his worst mispronunciations across the history of the '60 Songs That Explain the 90s' pod, and there’s even a very special guest to kick off this special episode. This episode was taken from our live super show at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on November 17...
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November 15, 2023 • 94 mins
Rob looks back at the “SADNESS” mixtape that he put together in 1996 before turning to the tragic passing of the Notorious B.I.G., and mogul Puff Daddy’s transition from executive producer in the background to full-blown artist honoring Biggie (01:48). Stay tuned to hear guest Sowmya Krishnamurthy share her experience as Puff Daddy’s assistant and much more (58:15)
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Sowmya Krishnamurthy
Producers: Jonathan ...
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November 8, 2023 • 94 mins
Listen as Rob confesses about that time where he sorta…kinda…maybe…beat up a guy at a Portishead concert in 1997. Stay as he dives into the world of trip-hop while celebrating Portishead’s “Glory Box” as well as other bands such as Massive Attack.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Simon Reynolds
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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October 25, 2023 • 83 mins
Listen as Rob lets us in on his dream of being the guy that plays piano at a party and serenades all the ladies. And if that isn’t enough for you, stay as he looks back at the 1996 film ‘Romeo + Juliet’ and the Swedish rock band the Cardigans while celebrating their hit “Lovefool.”
SIGNED BOOKPLATE COPIES are available for preorder via Premiere Collectibles: https://premierecollectibles.com/harvilla
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October 18, 2023 • 88 mins
Rob reflects on the times when he was a child in the car with his mother and inappropriate songs played on the radio, as well as his times as a parent driving his kids and explicit songs played in the car. This all leads to a deep dive on the ever-so-controversial rap icon, Eminem, and what his hit “My Name Is” meant to the '90s. Later, Rob’s editor and the host of ‘The Wedding Scammer,’ Justin Sayles, joins the podcast to discuss ...
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October 11, 2023 • 92 mins
Rob is back for the final stretch of '60 Songs That Explain the ’90s,' and this week, it’s all about guitar tone! Listen as Rob peruses Smash Mouth’s wild discography before turning to Soundgarden and their hit “Black Hole Sun.” Rob also somehow finds the time to share his top five favorite made-up band names. Later, author Mark Yarm joins the show to discuss Soundgarden’s place within the big four of grunge music.
Preorder Rob's b...
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August 16, 2023 • 87 mins
Rob ranks the top five funniest moments in the film ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ to kick things off for this very special U2 edition of '60 Songs.' Later, Rob focuses in on what Bono and U2 meant to music in the ’90s versus their ’80s impact. Writer Annie Zaleski later joins Rob to dive into all things U2.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Annie Zaleski
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
Learn m...
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August 9, 2023 • 92 mins
Rob blends his memories of watching Pee-wee Herman with flash backs of his punk rock era while praising Fugazi and their 1990 alternative rock head banger, “Merchandise.” Later he is joined by Touché Amoré singer and host of ‘The First Ever Podcast’ Jeremy Bolm to discuss how intimating Fugazi was as a post hardcore band and much more.
Preorder Rob’s new book, Songs That Explain the ’90s, visit the Hachette Book Group website.
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