

Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs
Mark Blankenship & Sarah D Bunting
Mark Blankenship and Sarah D. Bunting are journalists, friends, and music fans who love talking about pop music of all stripes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 5, 2024 • 23min
Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 3: "Bedrock Anthem"
Grab a tube sock for your privates: it's time to pit the Red Hot Chili Peppers against Weird Al! Before Mark makes the pun that drives our listenership numbers off a cliff, we're discussing the omnipresent Chilis hits "Under The Bridge" and "Give It Away"; how many songs Weird Al might have tried to fit his Flintstones joke set into before settling on these; the five items '90s dorm rooms had to contain lest their occupants risk expulsion; and the difference between "sexy" and "just always naked all the time." Hashtag justice for the Bee Girl: it's an all-new episode of MASTAS!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Queens of the Stone Age. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
"What...is this thing?" Start at the beginning!
The "Under The Bridge" video
The "Give It Away" video
The "Bedrock Anthem" video
...and of course Blind Melon's "No Rain"
That Rolling Stone cover story, in which Anthony Kiedis talks about the birth of "Under The Bridge"
Flea's podcast, This Little Light
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 29, 2024 • 23min
Weird Al vs. Everybody Episode 1: "Amish Paradise"
Welcome to the Weird Al vs. Everybody season of MASTAS! We're looking at a couple dozen Weird Al Yankovic songs and the originals that inspired him, and choosing a winner in each match-up -- starting with Coolio homage "Amish Paradise"! Before we get into self-serious videos for movies we think might be fake, cultural appropriation of pre-tech societies, and how Stevie Wonder feels about our swearing, we've got an important announcement about voting and future in-person events...but then we're back to discussing whether Weird Al-chemy turns "Gangsta's" into gold. Listen now, English!
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne; the WAvE theme-let is a mash-up of Oingo Boingo, Elvis Costello, Black Box, and Michael Buffer; and our outro is by The Primitives. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes this season, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The "Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.)" video
The "Amish Paradise" video
People recaps the Coolio/Al "feud"
Vision Quest: it exists, people
"Pastime Paradise" at WhoSampled.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 4, 2023 • 50min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 12: Answer Songs
The competition is over, but the discussion of comeback songs isn't -- and today's is about comebacks in the answer/clapback sense. Seven "answer" songs come under the MASTAScope, as well as the frequency with which Neil Young is told to shut it, Bavaria's unexpected move to Ireland, the Judy Cycle opera we need to see, and pop songs that have become microplastics in their ubiquity. Vaseline those teeth and have a listen.
Our outro for today's episode is by Neil Young. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
Answer songs on Wikipedia
The Lost Songs Project on "Judy's Turn To Cry"
"No one knows why Ambrose Bierce disappeared, but here are some theories"
Episode 79: TLC, "No Scrubs"
Episode 195: Dolly Parton's Underrated Hits
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 27, 2023 • 25min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 11: The Championship
It's time to declare a winner -- the definitive pop-music comeback song -- but the road to the final result is a twisty one. "Believe" and "Walk This Way" each crystallize the concept of the comeback, but in different ways, so to help us choose, we're watching videos, discussing the synecdoche of Cher, rummaging through a bin of PhD-thesis topics, and resisting arithmetic. Is the outcome predictable, or precedent-setting? AutoTune a drum roll and listen!
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is by the Strokes. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
"Walk This Way"'s official video
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 20, 2023 • 34min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 10: The Final 4
The semifinal round is, while somewhat predictable, still full of ups and downs, including Spelling Bee's interest in our works and days, the way Adam Lambert takes and gives meaning, how far is far enough for a song we actively dislike, Latin-phrase drag names, scary puppets, and reader comments! Sorry about the sweaty-Reagan reference; distract yourself with our penultimate DCIAC episode.
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
JASTAS: Til Tuesday, "Voices Carry"
It's not John's and SDB's first meatloaf rodeo
More on portmanteaux
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots
Spitting Image
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 13, 2023 • 47min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 9: The Elite 8
We're down to eight great comeback songs; which ones will join the Do Call It A Comeback season's Final Four? We're quoting Wayne's World, we're putting things in plaid place out of eight, we're remembering upsetting Beatles gifts, we're adding salt to temp tracks, and we're wondering why it so often seemed like nobody cared about Laura Branigan's reputation. Transmitting live-to-tape from the floor of the Utah legislature while on a date with Bonnie Raitt, it's Mark And Sarah Talk About Songs!
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is by Squeeze. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
Laura Branigan's insupportable "Hold Me" cover art
Toothy D's Vegas residency
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots
Episode 125: ABBA-sode with Adam Grosswirth
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 6, 2023 • 1h 17min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 8: The Sweet 16
The Sweet 16 is here, along with the return to numbered rankings...and the unkindest cuts of all, plus another Auto-Tune justice conversation, myriad matrices, Tracy Chapman's post-nineties Flintstones car, 92.5% of Cher's butt, unpleasant flashbacks to the sophomore dance, and the long wait for a muffin basket from Nick Rhodes. Quick, before another UHF quote-fight breaks out -- walk THIS way to hear our latest episode!
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up; our interstitial music is by Beck, and our outro is by Joni Mitchell. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots
MASTAS Presents: Money Can't Buy You Podcast 01, "Money Can't Buy You Class"
The Beatles, "Now and Then"
Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked
Walk This Way: Run-DMC, Aerosmith, And The Song That Changed American Music Forever
Songs That Saved Your Life on "Pesty Shopfield"
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 30, 2023 • 54min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots
We're taking a quick break before the emotional press of the Sweet 16 to talk about a handful of "off-label" comebacks: award-winners, kids' songs, comebacks only we noticed, and more. We wonder whether it's possible to have been too big to truly come all the way back; we contemplate a truly catastrophic remix of self-loathing; and we bemoan sad computers, unfortunate spiritual-title phrasing, and Jackwagon Wenner. Got some snitty advice for dead people? Us too! Get on board!
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is the Stone Roses. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
SDB mentions the Backstreet comeback on PCHH
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 3: The NEXT Next 15
Behind the Music on David Cassidy (sort of)
SDB's capsule review of C'mon, Get Happy
MB talks "Hey Deanie" on The Lost Songs Project
The Lilith Fair 40, Episode 06: The Hurty 30
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 23, 2023 • 1h 1min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 6: Round Of 32 B
Mark's spreadsheet of history has spoken: we're choosing the rest of the Do Call It A Comeback season's Sweet 16 this week! From the top of the pallet of improbable late-'80s comeback songs, we're surveying the joyful geeky dance of Robin Gibb, the 20 percent of our income we owe to Duran Duran, the most tiresomely groovy Ben & Jerry's flavors, Canadian spellings, and what's playing when we're drinking a Crystal Light at the hotel spa. What would The $1.98 Video Show have looked like? Find out in our latest episode!
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is The Connells. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 3: The NEXT Next 15
Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s
Dinner For Five
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 16, 2023 • 1h 1min
Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 5: Round Of 32 A
The Round Of 32 is underway! After a brief chat about our head-vs.-heart processes in this round, we descend into the valley of the shadow of twos: struggling to come up with the word "metamorphosis," confronting the history of Auto-Tune, measuring levels of exposure to Britpop, and planning a community-college class on interpretive dance. Everybody's got their Limburger, we also learn -- what's yours? Grab a thesaurus and your most exhausting album title and have a listen.
Our intro is an LL Byrne J mash-up, and our outro is Everything But The Girl. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
Not sure what's going on here? Start at the beginning!
The Sonny-and-Cher scene from The Simpsons's "The Springfield Files"
The LA Times's LZ Granderson on Jann Wenner needing to eat a bee
Last week's episode sends a love note to "Tragedy"
Episode 131: The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," Ranked
Get it, Miz Sarkisian
"The tri-state area's most distinctive vehicle of non-stop music for your special event"
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


