Sodajerker On Songwriting

Ben Folds, Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge, known collectively as Ben Folds Five, sit down in person with Simon and Brian for a special edition of Sodajerker on Songwriting. In this audio version of the video podcast, the band talk about the writing of songs like 'Brick', 'Battle of Who Could Care Less', 'Philosophy', 'Steven's Last Night in Town' and songs from their new album The Sound of the Life of the Mind, such as 'Do it Anyway', 'Sky High' and 'Michael Praytor, Five Years Later'.

10cc's own Graham Gouldman joins Simon and Brian for episode 30 to talk about the writing of songs like 'For Your Love' (The Yardbirds), 'Bus Stop' (The Hollies), 'No Milk Today' (Herman's Hermits), 'Johnny Don't Do It', 'Wall Street Shuffle', 'I'm Not in Love', 'Iceberg' (10cc) and 'Bridge To Your Heart' (Wax). Graham talks in depth about his work with 10cc, the late Andrew Gold, and his latest solo album Love and Work.

Veteran singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop talks about the writing of songs like 'On and On', 'Save it for a Rainy Day', 'Looking for the Right One' (Art Garfunkel), 'Losing Myself in You', 'Red Cab to Manhattan' and his Academy Award-nominated song 'Separate Lives' (Phil Collins). Stephen also speaks about his work on a number of movie soundtracks, such as National Lampoon's Animal House, Tootsie and The Money Pit.

Valerie Simpson, one half of legendary songwriting team Ashford and Simpson, joins Sodajerker to talk about the writing of Motown classics like 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'You're All I Need to Get By' and 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing'. Valerie also speaks about 'I'm Every Woman' (Chaka Khan) and Ashford and Simpson's own hits including the seminal 'Solid (As A Rock)'.

Singer-songwriter and producer Brendan Benson provides Sodajerker with insights into his songwriting process and creative life by discussing songs like 'Spit it Out', 'What I'm Looking For', 'Broken Boy Soldier', 'Bad for Me' and 'Keep Me'. Brendan also speaks about his many collaborations with artists like Ashley Monroe and Jack White of The White Stripes in their band The Raconteurs.

Pianist, songwriter, musical director and vocalist Patrice Rushen sits down with Sodajerker to chat about the writing of songs like 'Hang it Up', 'Haven't You Heard', 'The Funk Won't Let You Down', 'This is All I Really Know', 'Remind Me' and her seminal dance floor hit 'Forget Me Nots'. Patrice talks about her early jazz-fusion work, the Elektra albums and her eclectic approach to sustaining a career in music.

Veteran singer-songwriter and pianist Neil Sedaka joins Simon and Brian to talk about the writing of songs like 'Oh! Carol', 'Stupid Cupid', 'Calendar Girl', 'Breaking Up is Hard To Do', 'Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen', 'Where the Boys Are', 'Amarillo', 'Solitaire' and 'Laughter in the Rain'. Neil also talks in detail about songs from his new acoustic solo piano record, The Real Neil.

Level 42 bassist, vocalist and songwriter Mark King is our guest for this episode of the podcast in which he talk about the writing of songs like 'Lessons in Love', 'Running in the Family', 'Something About You', 'The Chinese Way', 'Mr Pink', 'The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)' and 'Dune Tune'.

Singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw talks with Sodajerker about the writing of songs like 'Wouldn't It Be Good', 'I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', 'The Riddle', 'Dancing Girls', 'Don Quixote', 'Human Racing' and 'Wide Boy'. Nik also talks about penning hit songs like 'The One and Only' (Chesney Hawkes), 'The Woman I Love' (The Hollies) and 'Seventeen' (Let Loose) as well as his approach to writing his new solo album, Ei8ht.

Internationally renowned parodist, singer-songwriter, actor and accordionist "Weird Al" Yankovic takes some time out to chat with Simon and Brian about his approach to writing comedy songs and style parodies. Al discusses the processes behind songs like 'Trapped in the Drive-Thru', 'Hardware Store', 'The Night Santa Went Crazy', 'Pancreas' and 'Skipper Dan'.