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60 Songs That Explain the '90s

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How Oasis Conquered Britpop—and Then the World—With “Wonderwall”

‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’ returns from hiatus with the surliest brothers in the U.K. and their biggest hit

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Chart-Conquering Slow Jams of Boyz II Men

On our last episode for a quick summer break, we explore ‘End of the Road’ and the beginnings of one of the decade’s biggest groups

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Limp Bizkit, the Nü-Metal Death Rattle of a Decade

In honor (dishonor?) of the new Ringer Films doc ‘Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage’ on HBO this week, we’re looking at the baddest boys of rap-rock and their hit song, ‘Nookie’

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Madonna Strikes a Pose

The history of ‘Vogue’ and Madonna’s decade, with an assist from The New York Times’ Caryn Ganz

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Coolio, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and the Struggle to Be Taken Seriously

Exploring ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ and the history of pop rap in the early 1990s through the prism of Coolio’s most serious—and biggest—song

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Going the Distance With Cake

Exploring the history of the droll kings of Sacramento with help from Sadie Dupuis

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: It’s Time for the Pavement Episode

Chris Ryan joins Rob to discuss 'Gold Soundz,' ’90s indie rock, and getting a little cooler by discovering the hardest-working slackers in music

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Cold War of ‘The Boy Is Mine’

Monica and Brandy had one of the biggest hits of the decade. They also had one of the biggest feuds that never quite came to pass.

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In Praise of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Asshole and ‘Semi-Charmed Life’

Max Collins from Eve 6 joins the show to talk about one of the most infamous jerks in alt-rock—and one of its catchiest songs

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Eternal Bounce of ‘Back That Azz Up’

On today’s show, we’re headed to New Orleans for Juvenile’s classic single and Cash Money Records’ big breakout

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“Under the Bridge” Was the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Their Most Naked

Let’s go to the city they live in, the City of Angels, to explore "Under the Bridge" and the Sir Psycho Sexys at their most tender

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: All You Ever Needed Was Whitney Houston’s Voice

The diva’s biggest hits and legacy broken down with help from writer Gerrick Kennedy

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: 'Say It Ain’t So,' Weezer, and the Teenager in All of Us

Talking Rivers Cuomo and Co. with help from Bobby Bones

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Earnest Intimacy of Dave Matthews Band’s ‘Crash Into Me’

DMB stood apart from their peers thanks to their relative mastery of pop-song structure, their acumen with hooks, and legit radio hits. This was their biggest one.

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: How Björk Became a Genre Unto Herself

On "Hyperballad," one of the finest moments in the Icelandic singer’s catalog

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Scenario’ and the Art of the Perfect Posse Cut

This week’s episode breaks down Tribe’s iconic collab with the Leaders of the New School plus our favorite rap team-ups with help from Shea Serrano

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Luniz’s ‘I Got 5 on It’ and the Making of a Bay Area Classic

The Ringer’s Logan Murdock and The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson join to discuss one of the greatest Oakland slaps of all time

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: A Glimpse of Selena, the Global Superstar

Exploring the history of the "Dreaming of You," the posthumous crossover hit from the late Mexican American singer

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Pulp’s “Common People,” Perhaps the Most Perfect Britpop Song

All’s fair in class warfare—except slumming it. The latest episode of our trek through the decade tackles Pulp’s defining moment.

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Ugly Beauty of Tool

Up next on our trek through the decade: "Stinkfist," one of the hardest, crudest songs from one of rock’s hardest, crudest bands

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Shania Twain, the Canadian Queen of the Most American of Genres

Breaking down ’90s country, Shania, and her massive hit "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" with help from Nashville writer Marissa R. Moss

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy,” and the Genesis of a Legend

Exploring the man and the myth of Biggie Smalls with help from New York Times pop music critic Jon Caramanica

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Temple of the Dog and the Shape of Grunge to Come

Exploring the early ’90s Seattle scene through "Hunger Strike," the finest moment by the Pearl Jam–Soundgarden supergroup

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: TLC’s “No Scrubs” and the Biggest Girl Group of All Time

The trio’s 1999 hit isn’t their best-selling song, but it’s the key to unlocking what made them so special. On the latest episode of ‘60 Songs,’ Rob explores the history of T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli with help from ‘Black Girl Songbook’ host Danyel Smith.

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The History of No Doubt, ’90s Ska, and Gwen Stefani Being Bigger Than Both

On the latest episode plumbing the depths of 1990s music, Rob looks at No Doubt’s breakout hit "Just a Girl" and the history of ska with help from Pitchfork editor-in-chief Puja Patel

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“Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” and Creating the Myth of Dr. Dre

On the latest episode ‘60 Songs,’ Rob breaks down ‘The Chronic’ and the sometimes-complicated legacy of Dr. Dre with help from Sheldon Pearce

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Do You Remember Pop House Music?

"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" was a hit at the beginning of the decade, which made both a ton of sense and zero sense at all. Rob Harvilla and guest Craig Seymour break down the phenomenon, the ’80s New York club scene, and the illustrious career of Martha Wash on our latest episode.

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The History of the New Radicals, ‘You Get What You Give,’ and That Damn Bucket Hat

Rob Sheffield joins the show to break down the 1998 hit that took center stage at Joe Biden’s inauguration

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‘Enter Sandman’ Was Metallica’s Triumphant Crossover

The latest episode of our journey through the music of the 1990s explores the history of heavy metal’s biggest band, with help from Dave Chang

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The Breeders, “Cannonball,” and the Chaotic Pop of Kim Deal

Reliving the most unforgettable bass line of 1990s alt-rock, with help from Open Mike Eagle

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‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Master P, No Limit, and the Rise of Southern Rap

"Make ’Em Say Uhh!" was Master P’s biggest hit. It was also a pivotal moment for the South. The latest episode of the journey through the music of the 1990s explores both.

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Math, Max Martin, and the Perfect Pop Song: The Secret History of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way”

The latest episode of our journey through the decade looks at the Swedish hitmaker who distilled music to an equation