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NPR listeners share the songs that remind them of Mom

by Robin Hilton

With Mother’s Day nearing, listeners share songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them.

NPR’s Mitra Arthur joins host Robin Hilton.

Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro / “Stardust” by Hoagy Carmichael
(01:52) Christina Aguilera: “Beautiful”
(06:06) Jeannie C. Riley: “Harper Valley P.T.A.”
(10:09) Kermit the Frog: “Rainbow Connection”
(13:50) Phyllis Hyman: “You Know How To Love Me”
(17:16) MILCK: “Oh, Mother”
(21:58) Christina Perri: “You Are My Sunshine”
(25:33) The Tokens: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
(29:16) Four Tops: “Reach Out I’ll Be There”
(33:43) Sweet Honey In The Rock: “Wanting Memories”

Note: A version of this episode originally ran in 2024

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The Contenders, Vol. 9: The songs we can’t stop playing this week

by Sheldon Pearce

We update our running list of the year’s best songs with new ones from Dominic Fike, WILLOW, Kamasi Washington, Illuminati Hotties and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. WILLOW: “run!” from ’empathogen’
2. Dominic Fike: “hi grace” from ’14 minutes’
3. Kamasi Washington, George Clinton & D Smoke: “Get Lit,” from ‘Fearless Movement’
4. Illuminati Hotties: “Can’t Be Still” (single)
5. Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion: “To Music,” from ‘Rectangles and Circumstance’
6. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross: “L’ouef” from ‘Challengers’ OST

Like the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Feedback always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

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Relax: Songs to calm the nerves

by Hazel Cills

It’s music to the rescue on this week’s All Songs Considered, with a mix of songs to slow the blood, including the one track scientists believe can reduce anxiety by up to 65%.

Featured songs and artists:
• Marconi Union: “Weightless”
• Mary Lattimore: “Wawa by the Ocean” from ‘Collected Pieces’
• Van-Anh Nguyen and Noshika Masuda: “Spiegel im Spiegel” by Arvo Pärt
• Brian McBride: “Girl Nap” from ‘The Effective Disconnect’
• Laraaji: “Meditation No. 1” from ‘Day of Radiance’
• Arooj Aftab: “Saans Lo” from ‘Vulture Prince’
• Eluvium: “One” from ‘Talk Amongst The Trees’
• Enya: “Watermark” from ‘Watermark’
• Adele: “Somoene Like You” from ’21’
• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, John Pritchard & London • Philharmonic Orchestra: “O Mio babbino caro” from ‘Kiri Te Kanawa Sings Puccini and Verdi’
• Yo La Tengo: “Our Way To Fall” from ‘And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out’
• Cassandra Jenkins: “Hard Drive” from ‘An Overview of Phenomenal Nature’
• Ruth Laredo: “Clair de Lune” from ‘My First Recital’
• Rachika Nayar: “Our Wretched Fantasy” from ‘Heaven Come Crashing’
• Radiohead: “Everything in its Right Place” from ‘Kid A’
• Clem Snide: “Nick Drake Tape” from ‘A Beautiful EP’

Visit our site to see the Top 10 songs scientists say are the most relaxing.

Feedback? Write us: allsongs@npr.org
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Beck’s ‘Loser’ at 30 and the golden age of slacker rock

by Cheryl Waters

Nothing on mainstream radio sounded like Beck’s “Loser” when it dropped in 1994. Thirty years later, we explain why, look at its impact on the rise of slacker rock and how we still hear it today.

With KEXP‘s Cheryl Waters, NPR’s Stephen Thompson and host Robin Hilton.

Beck tracks featured in this episode:
From ‘Mellow Gold’:
“Loser”
“Truck Driving Neighbor Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)”
“Beercan”
“Black Hole”
From ‘Stereopathetic Soulmanure’:
“Satan Gave Me A Taco”
“Rowboat”
From ‘One Foot in the Grave’:
“One Foot in the Grave”
Also featured:
Basehead: “Brand New Day” from ‘Play with Toys’
Ween: “Push Th’ Little Daisies” from ‘Pure Guava’
King Missile: “Detachable Penis” from ‘Happy Hour’
Pussy Galore: “Brick” from ‘Sugars*** Sharp’
The Lemonheads: “Half The Time” from ‘Lovey’
Guided By Voices: “#2 in the Model Home Series” from ‘Vampire on Titus’
Sebadoh: “Soul and Fire” from ‘Bubble & Scrape’
Pavement: “Cut Your Hair” from ‘Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain’
Alex G: “Runner” from ‘God Save the Animals’
Courtney Barnett: “History Eraser” from ‘The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas’
Frankie Cosmos: “Apathy” from ‘Vessel’
Beck: “F**** With My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)” from ‘Mellow Gold’

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