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"Could It Be Magic": From Chopin to Manilow — with a slight detour

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 1, 20223 min read

"Could It Be Magic": From Chopin to Manilow — with a slight detour

This site is dedicated to discussion of popular music, but explaining today's choice necessitates a flashback to the Romantic era.

Confronting my past through "This Is Gospel"

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 27, 20225 min read

Confronting my past through "This Is Gospel"

*deep breath* This is a pretty personal piece, but that's because of what this song means and has meant to me.

On "Dirt," Keane are true to themselves as they decry an all-too-familiar conflict

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 15, 20224 min read

On "Dirt," Keane are true to themselves as they decry an all-too-familiar conflict

Their title track from last summer's EP has an unavoidable gravitas as it speaks to the fallout the innocent suffer from war.

On "I Got You Babe," Groundhog Day, and diegetic music

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 2, 20223 min read

On "I Got You Babe," Groundhog Day, and diegetic music

No song is more appropriate for a musical discussion on February 2 (or 3).

Turning a critical ear to "good 4 u," one of 2021's standout pop tracks

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 26, 20214 min read

Turning a critical ear to "good 4 u," one of 2021's standout pop tracks

In Olivia Rodrigo's smash summer hit, I hear what may be an inflection point for pop music in terms of sound and the business of crediting.

"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" has the perfect amount of narration

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 15, 20214 min read

"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" has the perfect amount of narration

Elliot Lurie and Looking Glass relay just enough to the listener to make their story both succinct and rich.

"Here Comes the Rain Again" and a lesson on the second scale degree

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 12, 20213 min read

"Here Comes the Rain Again" and a lesson on the second scale degree

Bear with me, because this is actually pretty cool in the context of this song.

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 11, 20214 min read

Tommy Roe's key changes make me "Dizzy"

...but the song has more than just that to offer. It ends up lending itself to a discussion on risk taking in pop writing and production.

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 3, 20215 min read

"Lady Marmalade" and hook theory

Labelle's smash hit is so catchy because nearly every individual element is infectiously memorable on its own.

"Elastic Heart," a story of not losing oneself after heartbreak

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 27, 20214 min read

"Elastic Heart," a story of not losing oneself after heartbreak

Sia presents a tale of self-reckoning, but also acceptance and ultimately confidence that she can at least healthfully keep her pain inside.

"I Get Around" is early Beach Boys in a nutshell

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 23, 20214 min read

"I Get Around" is early Beach Boys in a nutshell

It may not be their signature tune (if you can even narrow that down to one), but it's an indicative slice of their formative sound.

Behind the ultra-80s pop of "Love Is a Battlefield" is a powerful message on the reality of romance

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 16, 20214 min read

Behind the ultra-80s pop of "Love Is a Battlefield" is a powerful message on the reality of romance

Why does it feel like so few songs even remotely touch on the theme of working through relationships?

"People of the Pride": wait, this is Coldplay? ...Actually, it totally is

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 15, 20215 min read

"People of the Pride": wait, this is Coldplay? ...Actually, it totally is

While a departure from their known sound, this highlight from their new album — over a decade in the works — fits the band's character.

Is it house? Is it electronica? Is it pop? All I know is that it's "Magnets," and it's awesome.

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 10, 20214 min read

Is it house? Is it electronica? Is it pop? All I know is that it's "Magnets," and it's awesome.

Disclosure's masterpiece with Lorde has a downright outrageous beat and great lyric / instrumental coordination to drive home its narrative.

I needed "O-o-h Child" and its unabashed optimism today

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 6, 20214 min read

I needed "O-o-h Child" and its unabashed optimism today

The simplest tracks sometimes hit you the hardest.

"Stuck in the Middle with You," a story of clowns, jokers, and an industry

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 3, 20214 min read

"Stuck in the Middle with You," a story of clowns, jokers, and an industry

"Trying to make sense of it all" (read: this tune) led me down some pretty interesting paths.

"Love Me Again" is a love letter to both an old flame and an old sound

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 28, 20214 min read

"Love Me Again" is a love letter to both an old flame and an old sound

John Newman's hit starts slowly, but he soon unleashes its northern soul flavor.

"Second Chance" shows the power of paying attention to the little things as much as the big picture

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 25, 20216 min read

"Second Chance" shows the power of paying attention to the little things as much as the big picture

It sounds like a lot of tracks from its era, but its creators' attention to detail and its dramatic but relatable lyrics make it stand out.

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 20, 20215 min read

Is an everyman a "Parasite"?

Nick Drake presents the difficulty of looking past the negativity that lies on the world's surface.

"Tiny Dancer" ever so slowly builds to something magical

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 18, 20214 min read

"Tiny Dancer" ever so slowly builds to something magical

Some pop songs could be cut short and still feel somewhat satisfying. "Tiny Dancer," simply put, is not one of those songs.