Author: The Ringer

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

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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

Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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 Kermah and Justin Sayles

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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-capitalist.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Wosny Lambre

Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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 controversy.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Wesley Morris

Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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 unavoidable nature of “Iris” while working retail jobs in the ’90s and much more.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Niko Stratis

Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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 and Justin Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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 Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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

Guest: Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles

Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark

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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: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles

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