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60 Songs That Explain the '90s
Description

First came '60 Songs That Explain the '90s.' (We did that.) Then came '60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s.' (We're doing that now—and yes, that's the actual name.) But whether you want to jump back to the Clinton years or join us as we reboot our old iPods, you can find all of the collected works of Rob Harvilla below. Come back each Wednesday for a new episode.

Episodes
  • 2026 / 5 / 20
    Bush — “Glycerine”

    We’re going back to our roots this week—back to our Toyota Corollas and Chrysler LeBarons or whatever other shitty cars we drove back in the ’90s—to blast some Bush. Rob ponders whether frontman Gavin...

  • 2026 / 5 / 13
    Shakira — “Hips Don’t Lie”

    This episode is for the ladies up in here tonight! Before her hips became internationally renowned, Shakira was making Spanish rock music from the age of 14. Today, Rob looks back at her crossover album...

  • 2026 / 5 / 6
    Feist — “1234”

    Imagine, you’re on the road with an indie sleaze band making sock puppets sing obscenities when Sesame Street gives you a call. Leslie Feist’s career can most similarly be compared to the life of Benjamin...

  • 2026 / 4 / 29
    Joanna Newsom — “Emily”

    This episode is for all of the people who don’t know the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite. Rob finally opens up about his hipster phase of life that nearly got him killed (his words, not...

  • 2026 / 4 / 22
    Wolf Parade — “I’ll Believe in Anything”

    Will you come to my cottage this summer and blast Canadian rock music? Rob is asking 
 for a friend! This week, we analyze the dramatic comeback of the Wolf Parade song “I’ll Believe in Anything” after its...

  • 2026 / 4 / 15
    Radiohead — “All I Need”

    Keep those negative thoughts to yourself! They are a parasite to those around you, and who knows that better than Thom Yorke? This week, Rob proves that Radiohead has the ability to sully the minds of even...

  • 2026 / 4 / 8
    TV On The Radio — “Wolf Like Me”

    This week, Rob takes a trip down memory lane, a.k.a. 2000s Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Now that we are in the dark ages of social media and virality, there is a set-in-stone Mount Rushmore of late-night TV band...

  • 2026 / 4 / 1
    Madvillain — “All Caps”

    This week, Rob makes a solid argument that the coolest thing a person can do is watch cartoons and play pretend. He breaks down the many personas of Daniel Dumile, starting with Zev Love X and ending with his...

  • 2026 / 3 / 25
    The White Stripes — “Seven Nation Army”

    You’ve heard the song a million times, and you can sing along with the crowd when it comes on. But come trivia, would you be able to name the artist and song title? Today, Rob is going to drill every jock jam...

  • 2026 / 3 / 18
    Kelis — “Milkshake”

    Today, Rob talks about the song that left him speechless upon his first listen—“Milkshake”. He retraces his steps back to the beginning of Kelis’s career when she was screaming at a Glastonbury crowd. He...

  • 2026 / 3 / 11
    Paramore — “Misery Business”

    Imagine the angstiest, cringiest art you made as a teenager. Now imagine the entire world singing to it in their cars and at karaoke forever. Today, Rob is breaking down the emotionally turbulent emo-bop...

  • 2026 / 3 / 4
    The Darkness — “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”

    There is a select handful of people who were never meant to step foot into an office due to their proclivity to screw around. Just like we sent Rob packing to Ohio to bother no one but himself, Lowestoft,...

  • 2026 / 2 / 25
    D’Angelo—“Untitled (How Does It Feel)”

    Today, Rob breaks down one of the many impossible expectations we have for our musical stars—the memorial performance. After years of staying out of the public eye, D’Angelo paid tribute to the artist he grew...

  • 2026 / 2 / 18
    Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”

    In the uncertain moments following 9/11, we were searching for comfort and someone to help us make sense of it all. Today, Rob discusses the one musician who was capable of stepping up and capturing the...

  • 2026 / 2 / 11
    Britney Spears – “Toxic”

    Before he vows to leave her alone, Rob breaks down the cataclysmic career of a pop star who did it for the love of the game and the disgust of the fame. Britney Spears had the power to shift culture with a...

  • 2026 / 2 / 4
    “Buy U a Drank”— T-Pain

    At long last, Rob has returned to your speakers and screens, triumphant in the face of his haters. In this way, he is no different than the subject of today’s episode: T-Pain. Even though he wrote, produced,...

  • 2025 / 12 / 3
    “Hallelujah” — Jeff Buckley

    Today, Rob returns with a gift in time for the holidays, breaking down what many would call the voice of an angel. He takes us back to the ’90s, when one of the most covered songs on the planet was merely a...

  • 2025 / 8 / 20
    “A-Punk” — Vampire Weekend

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  • 2025 / 8 / 13
    "Grindin’"— The Clipse

    This week, Rob explores the biblical complexities of brotherhood throughout popular song, and uses those musical examples to highlight this eternal dichotomy: Some days when you aren’t Abel, there is always...

  • 2025 / 8 / 6
    “Heavy Metal Drummer”—Wilco

    In this week’s episode, Rob uses the blueprint he learned from all of his favorite rock band movies, like 'Dig!' and 'The Great Muppet Caper,' to better understand the self-proclaimed misunderstood band...

  • 2025 / 7 / 30
    "The House That Built Me"— Miranda Lambert

    This week, Rob shines a light on the many ways singer-songwriters have utilized the concept of the word ‘home’ to convey where the heart and the human spirit truly reside. These musings serve as a springboard...

  • 2025 / 7 / 23
    “Live Like You Were Dying”— Tim McGraw

    This week, Rob puts his pretensions about country music aside with a closer look at Tim McGraw’s simple but moving song, “Live Like You Were Dying,” that encourages even the most sarcastic of...

  • 2025 / 7 / 16
    “Ms. Jackson”— Outkast

    Why would the best ever want to stop being the best? Rob tries to figure this out in this week's episode covering Outkast. He proves that Big Boi and André 3000 will always be better together by comparing the...

  • 2025 / 7 / 9
    “Can’t Stop”—The Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Rob initiates this week’s show by waxing poetic on the mortality of his musical idols and the treasure trove of emotional tribute songs that proliferated after the tragic passing of Nirvana frontman Kurt...

  • 2025 / 6 / 25
    “Since U Been Gone”— Kelly Clarkson

    Rob contemplates the art of making an ironic cover song sincere as he enters the dark realm of the 2000s hit TV show, ‘American Idol’. He follows the inevitable success of Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson, who...

  • 2025 / 6 / 18
    “How to Save a Life”—The Fray

    This week, Rob examines the hallowed art of employing songs within the soundtrack of a crucial TV scene to emotionally manipulate the viewing audience. Along the way, he evokes classic moments from ‘General...

  • 2025 / 6 / 12
    “Ether”—Nas

    This week, we’re breaking down the Nas vs. Jay-Z feud, and Rob has to argue, which makes him deeply uncomfortable. After he breaks down the basic contents of a diss track, he is joined by The Ringer’s Joel...

  • 2025 / 5 / 28
    “No One Knows”—Queens of the Stone Age

    It’s Queens of the Stone Age Day here at 60 Songs! Listen as Rob finds a way to juxtapose heavy metal and stand-up comedy like only he can on his journey to celebrate the song “No One Knows.” Later, Rob is...

  • 2025 / 5 / 21
    “Jenny From the Block”—Jennifer Lopez

    Rob peruses the limelight love story of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck while celebrating J.Lo’s 2002 smash hit, “Jenny From the Block.” Later, he is joined by writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd to discuss the...

  • 2025 / 5 / 14
    “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”—Toby Keith

    Rob homes in on the specific and strange political moment in which Toby Keith made "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." Then, he’s joined by New Yorker music writer Kelefa Sanneh to discuss the song’s...

  • 2025 / 5 / 7
    “Maps”—Yeah Yeah Yeahs

    Rob heads back to Brooklyn to explore the 2003 indie-rock staple “Maps” and the history of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Later, he is joined by Niko Stratis to further explore the indie jam’s success. Host: Rob...

  • 2025 / 4 / 30
    “Feel Good Inc.”—Gorillaz

    Rob is back from hiatus with a loaded episode! Join him as he straddles the line between real life and virtual reality when discussing the virtual band Gorillaz and the career of its creator, Damon Albarn....

  • 2025 / 4 / 16
    Proof of Life: 60 Songs is Back on April 30

    We know, it's been a while. But, Rob and his producer pals are working hard on the show. See you in two weeks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • 2025 / 2 / 6
    Poetic Justice: The Year of Kendrick Lamar

    Ahead of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance, Ringer senior staff writer Justin Charity explores some of the critical moments of Kendrick’s story: from a legendary come-up in the rap blog era of...

  • 2025 / 2 / 5
    The Soundtrack Draft | 60 Songs x Bandsplain LIVE

    Listen to Rob and Yasi, joined by Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey live from the Lodge Room in Los Angeles! In this song draft, the crew is picking between the best soundtracks of the 2000s. ï»żHosts: Rob...

  • 2025 / 1 / 29
    “How You Remind Me”—Nickelback

    This week, we’re celebrating the Canadian rock band Nickelback! Along the way, Rob discusses butt rock, anti-Nickelback memes, and his friend stealing his girlfriend in high school. Later, author and...

  • 2025 / 1 / 22
    “Umbrella”—Rihanna

    Rob celebrates pop icon Rihanna while looking back at her smash hit “Umbrella.” While combing through Rihanna’s expansive career, Rob also discusses whether Jay-Z’s guest verse on “Umbrella” is the worst of...

  • 2025 / 1 / 15
    “Amber”—311

    Rob explores the genre-fluid positive energy of rap/reggae/rock ‘90s holdovers 311 and their hit ‘Amber.’ Among other things, he also talks about them as a bridge from a previous era, the musicality of their...

  • 2025 / 1 / 8
    “Yeah!”—Usher

    Rob examines the crossroads of Usher’s pop star persona and Lil Jon’s unique vocal and musical genius this week when taking a look back at the smash hit “Yeah!” (1:00). Then, he is joined by Clover Hope to...

  • 2024 / 12 / 18
    “Complicated”—Avril Lavigne

    Rob looks back at the music career of pop star Avril Lavigne while celebrating her smash hit “Complicated.” Along the way, Rob dives deep into the idea of the anti-Britney Spears and much more! Later, he is...

  • 2024 / 12 / 11
    “Hurt”—Johnny Cash

    Listen as Rob celebrates the life and career of the music icon who is Johnny Cash and his 2002 legendary cover of “Hurt.” Along the way, Rob discusses Cash’s work with Rick Rubin and much more. Later, Rob is...

  • 2024 / 12 / 4
    “In the End”—Linkin Park

    Rob travels down memory lane and looks back at his not-so-kind review of Linkin Park’s diamond-selling debut album, 'Hybrid Theory,' before celebrating the band’s undeniable greatness. Along the way, he also...

  • 2024 / 11 / 20
    “Work It”—Missy Elliott

    Join us in a moment of 60 Songs history being made as Missy Elliott becomes the first artist with not one, but two songs in the 60 Songs hall of fame with “Work It” added to the mix. In celebration, Rob...

  • 2024 / 11 / 13
    “Kids”—MGMT

    This week, Rob assures you that yes, he was there, boots on the ground, for the indie rock (nay, indie sleaze?) boom that hit New York City in the 2000s. Rob sets the stage for the music scene that MGMT...

  • 2024 / 11 / 6
    “The Middle”—Jimmy Eat World

    It’s Jimmy Eat World Day here at '60 Songs,' and in typical Rob fashion, we take the scenic route to get to “The Middle.” Before we talk Jimmy Eat World’s smash hit, we discuss the time Rob’s friend got hit...

  • 2024 / 10 / 30
    “Paper Planes”—M.I.A

    Rob looks back at some major performances that came with pregnancy announcements, before focusing in on M.I.A and her 2008 hit “Paper Planes.” Along the way, Rob also touches upon the controversies that came...

  • 2024 / 10 / 23
    “Chop Suey”—System of a Down

    Join Rob in watching a mosh pit from a safe distance away while we celebrate System of a Down’s “Chop Suey.” Along the way, Rob discusses tension amongst band members, their potent political messages, and...

  • 2024 / 10 / 16
    “In da Club”—50 Cent

    Rob looks back at some of the greatest haters in the history of music in celebration of the legendary hater and rapper that is 50 Cent. Later, Rob guides us through the rise of 50 Cent in the early 2000s....

  • 2024 / 10 / 9
    “Back to Black”—Amy Winehouse

    Join Rob in celebrating Amy Winehouse, and missing her voice like the rest of us. Along the way, Rob discusses the biopic ‘Back to Black’ and ‘Amy’ before taking some time to cherish Amy Winehouse’s iconic...

  • 2024 / 10 / 2
    “Mr. Brightside”—The Killers

    Join us as Rob kicks off a new era of '60 Songs' with a deep dive into the 2000s anthem “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers. Of course, along the way, Rob brings the head-scratching tangents that you know and...