Elizabeth McQueen

This Song: Meredith Goldstein

Meredith Goldstein is host of the Love Letters podcast, the love advice columnist and entertainment writer for the Boston Globe and one of host Elizabeth McQueen’s oldest and dearest friends. In this episode she explores all the reasons she loves the sexy, pleading desperation of “Father Figure” by George Michael.

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And now, for Meredith Goldstein’s “Pleading Playlist!”

George Michael was particularly incredible at writing songs about pleading for physical (or emotional) intimacy. On some tracks, he begs for it, usually while building to a great crescendo. “Father Figure” is my favorite (for many complicated reasons discussed on the podcast), but there are others that make their way onto my playlists. These are some of my favorite songs that feature George Michael asking, begging, and pleading to get love of some kind.

I Want Your Sex (Part 2)

The first installment of this very literal (and wonderful) pop song is all about lobbying for sex. But Part 2 adds new hooks, more begging, and my favorite lines: “I’m not your brother. I’m not your father.” I mean, he’s not technically a father … just a father figure.

Fastlove

I always thought it was weird that Adele chose to cover this song to honor George Michael on the Grammys (I figured she’d opt for “One More Try,” which seems very much in her wheelhouse). But this song is quintessentially George. It’s another hit that lyrically is one big request for intimacy, although in this case it’s more about distraction. It’s not so much about fast love, but more about seeking intimacy for a break from emptiness. “In the absence of security, I made my way into the night. …So why don’t we make a little room in my BMW … searchin’ for some peace of mind.”

Fantasy

I love the lyrics: “When you know what to do, I’ll be in the next room.” What an invitation.

Freeek!

This is the most overtly sexual George Michael song there is, and in it, he’s still pleading. Aggressively. “Can I come on in, my sweet baby? Can I move on in? Can I come on in, my sweet baby? Can I move on in?” I highly recommend revisiting this music video.

A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Pt. 3)

Yes! There was a Part 3! George is shooting his shot one last time. “My cards are on your table, my dreams are in your bed. If I was able, I’d be there instead.” He ends it with a last plea: “Sleep with me tonight.”

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This Song: Jungle

On this episode, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, of British electronic pop outfit Jungle, tell us about the Jai Paul’s “Jasmine” and how it helped their band get comfortable with sonic experimentation. “A lot of our music is just accepting bits and pieces that happen around the creation, and ultimately letting the sounds find you.”

Hear how this openness led the duo to include a creaky door solo on their first record and how they continue to try and walk the line between originality and relatability on their latest record “For Ever.”

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This Song: Bayonne (rerun)

The Beach Boys song “God Only Knows” isn’t just one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, it’s one of the most heartfelt expressions of loss and grief ever recorded. For Bayonne, the song taught him the power of vulnerability and openness and how to embrace it in his own music. As Bayonne says, it allows the listener to get a “crystal clear understanding of things” and while this moment is “fleeting”, it is worthwhile. Bayonne is KUTX’s Artist of the Month for February.

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This Song: Jackie Venson

Jackie Venson explains how seeing “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” from the movie Evita, changed the way she listened to music and the way she saw herself. Then she describes her journey from classical pianist to blues guitarist. It’s a tale of soul expanding love, self crushing doubt, and musical perseverance.

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This Song: Sahana Srinivasan of Brainchild

In addition to being the host of Brainchild, the popular Netflix science show for kids, Sahana Srinivasan is an accomplished actor, comedian, filmmaker, and musician. In this episode, she explains how listening to “Where Will I Go” by Sweet Valley helped her find her voice a young artist. She also tells us about the artistic journey that led her to host Brainchild, and what it’s like being the kind of role model she never had growing up.

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This Song: Dana Falconberry (rerun)

February is “Love Austin Music Month” and to celebrate This Song is re-running this episode with singer and songwriter Dana Falconberry. In it she talks to host Elizabeth McQueen about the profound impact that being in the band “Peter and the Wolf” had on her when she first moved to Austin. It’s two Austin musicians, talking how Austin Music changed their lives. Enjoy!

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Listen to Dana Falconberry’s new single “Who Will Be the Only One.”

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Listen to music by Peter & the Wolf

This Song: Shy Beast

Shy Beast front woman Mariclaire Glaeser describes how the music of the Cardigans helped her navigate a difficult childhood, bond with her older brother and find her musical way.

Shy Beast is KUTX’s Artist of the Month for January

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Watch the video for “Leave Me/Let Me”

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Watch Shy Beast’s Perform “Leave Me/Let Me” in Studio 1A

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This Song: Sharon Van Etten

On Sharon Van Etten’s upcoming release Remind Me Tomorrow, due out January 18th, she explores themes of love, partnership, parenthood, and visions of the past through a collection of gorgeous synth-laden songs. When she sat down with This Song, she told us how listening to Neil Young’s “Harvest” as a kid helped her connect with her father. She also shared how her own experiences with parenthood pushed her to pursue her own music again after a long break working on other projects.

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Check out Sharon Van Etten’s new record “Remind Me Tomorrow”

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This Song: KT Tunstall

We got a chance to catch up with Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall shortly after she released, Wax, the second album in a trilogy focused on the soul, body, and mind. On this episode, she tells us how seeing Beck’s Loser on MTV as a kid pushed her to pursue her own music and how his willingness to experiment with styles and genres continues to inspire her.

📸 Piper Ferguson

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This Song: Hrishikesh Hirway // Thao Nguyen

For the last episode of 2018, This Song decided to celebrate some exciting changes at one of our favorite music podcasts. Starting in 2019, Song Exploder host, creator, and producer Hrisikesh Hirway will hand over hosting duties to Thao Nguyen of Thao and the Getdown Staydown.

Listen as Hrishikesh Hirway tells us how listening to Asha Bhosle’s “Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera” as a young child helped open up a well of emotion that continues to inspire him to this day. Then we hear how Lucinda Williams helped Thao Nguyen understand the power of “the good hurt.”

Have a Happy New Year!

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This Song: Nik Ewing, aka Chewing, of Local Natives

Nik Ewing, leader of the band Chewing and bass player for Local Natives, explains why he chose to cover Dennis Wilson’s solo album “Pacific Ocean Blue” in it’s entirety. This project is part of Turntable Kitchen’s Sounds Delicious series, a monthly subscription service where artists cover classic albums and subscribers get a limited edition vinyl copy of each project.

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We talked to Nik for an earlier episode of This Song. Check out this episode.

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This Song: Charlie Faye

Austin based singer and songwriter Charlie Faye leads the sixties inspired girl group Charlie Faye and the Fayettes. Listen as she describes how her childhood love of “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes helped her find her musical way and how it inspired the band’s new single “I Don’t Need No Baby.”

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This Song: Parquet Courts

Andrew Savage from Parquet Courts loves karaoke. Hear from whence that love springs, how that love led him to Roxy Music and why he love that band’s song “Re-Make / Re-Model.” Then listen as he explores the ways the Parquet Courts deals with the current chaotic moment we all find ourselves in on their latest record “Wide Awake!”

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Buy Parquet Courts New Record “Wide Awake!”

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This Song: Zettajoule

On this episode of This Song, Meggan Carney and Matt Sheffer of Austin’s Zettajoule tell us how Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill (A Deal With God)” and Rufus Wainwright’s “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” helped them expand their ideas about the possibilities of pop music and explain what inspired them to record their new low-fi electronic EP, Always Looking Up, on an iPhone.

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Zettajoule is our KUTX Artist of the Month

Watch Zettajoule’s video for “No Thank You”

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This Song: BUHU returns

Austin’s BUHU returns to This Song with a new lineup and a new sound. Now the band centers around the husband and wife team of Jeremy Rogers and Tiffany Paciga. In this episode Jeremy explores how Tiffany, along with Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” inspired him to be more open and vulnerable in his work. Later Tiffany explores how “I Wanna Win” by Jaako Eino Kalevi made her feel safe enough to let loose.

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This Song: Duckwrth

Rapper and songwriter Duckwrth talks about how “If 6 was 9” by Jimi Hendrix opened his mind to the universe, why San Francisco and psychedelia call to him and what the key to finding peace might be.

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This Song: The Wombats

Matthew Murphy, aka “Murph,” from the British rock band The Wombats describes how hearing Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” and Radiohead’s “Creep” when he was a teenager set him on an alt-rock path, and describes what it’s like to talk about songwriting with Paul McCartney.

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Listen to The Wombats’ New Record Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life

Watch the Wombats perform an acoustic version of “Lemon To a Knife Fight” backstageat ACLfest

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This Song: Superfónicos

As the singer and Gaita player for the Austin based Afro Columbian band Superfónicos, Jaime Ospina often finds musical inspiration in some pretty interesting places. In this episode, Jaime talks about his love for Gary Clark Jr’s song “When My Train Pulls In” and how the Blues Brothers soundtrack pushed him to discover roots music from his own country. Plus, he tells us how African American music can help us all survive and thrive in an increasingly chaotic world.

📸 Gabriel Perez

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This Song: Listener Episode

The This Song listener episode is finally here! Emily La Framboise describes how Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” got her interested in social justice. Lee Miller explains how “Darling Be Home Soon” by the Lovin’ Spoonful helped him discover his love of songwriting. We revisit Joanna Castillo as she explores the heartbreaking beauty of Kathy Mattea’s “Where’ve You Been.” And Charlie Press tells us about the impact that the Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” had on him as a young child.

Thanks to everyone who shared their transformative musical experiences with us! We’re going to make another listener episode! If that sounds like something you want to be a part of all you have to do is record your story about a song that changed your life to a voice memo and email it to us at ThisSong@kutx.org

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This Song Extra: Elvis Costello

In this This Song Extra, Elvis Costello explains why he wanted to get outside of himself and tell other people’s stories in an expansive musical style on his new record Look Now.

Photo by James OMara

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