

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

May 2, 2022 • 49min
America's Damp 40, Episode 05: 25 For Fighting
It's getting real -- real soggy, that is -- as we wrestle with the next five songs in the America's Damp 40 countdown. William Joel, Kenny Rogers, Randy Vanwarmer, Bertie Higgins, and yet another Dan (Fogelberg) have us talking about emotional-labor issues, when vulnerability is actually wimpiness, songs that sound like karaoke stock videos look, whether the poor man's Jimmy Buffett is in fact Jimmy Buffett, and how to get fired from Hallmark for dysfunctional metaphorizing. How did these songs change the landscape of our Top 10? And could someone please find Randy Vanwarmer's ex-girlfriend's cat? Hang a bag of DampRid: it's Episode 05.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Donovan. Interstitial music provided by John Sebastian and the Sweathogs. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The Damp 40 homepage
Our Lovin' Spoonful episode
Our "songs with 'song' in the title" episode
Check out our sponsor, Noom
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Apr 25, 2022 • 52min
America's Damp 40, Episode 04: The Roaring 20
We've reached the halfway point in our America's Damp 40 countdown, and with Steely Dan, Ambrosia, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Olivia Newton-John, and 10cc entering the chart, it's getting dark AND damp in here. The condescension of older boyfriends, saying the quiet part out loud, sexual grift, calling the Seals family onto the (shag) carpet, vicarious embarrassment, and that time Sandy from Grease had too much tempranillo at the Christmas party and awked out big-time. We're chipping away at the layers of Casio that form an emotional carapace for Seventies Man, so grab an avocado-colored hard hat and join us: it's Episode 04.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Sir Elton John. Interstitial music provided by ONJ. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The Damp 40 homepage
Mr. Drake will now hear arguments
Check out our sponsor, Noom
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Apr 18, 2022 • 50min
America's Damp 40, Episode 03: The Sweet? 15
America's Damp 40 countdown "welcomes" another five songs to the fray, including selections from Orleans, Melissa Manchester, James Taylor, Lionel Richie, and Dolly Parton. Is Manchester the girl from "Chevy Van"? How do the paradigm challenges of drag relate to moisture levels? Was JT low-key hateful this whole time? And did Sarah crack the anti-moisture code of country music before the police arrived to arrest her for speculating on Mr. Richie's "alone time"? It's Episode 03, and it is NOT for kids.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by the Commodores. Interstitial music provided by Ol' Blue Eyes with an assist from Sarah's birthday-mate, Stephen Sondheim. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The Damp 40 homepage
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour's dance medley takes on "Dance With Me"
Lionel Richie's "Hello" video
Get 10% off from our sponsor, BetterHelp
And check out our other sponsor, Noom
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Apr 11, 2022 • 50min
America's Damp 40, Episode 02: The Next 5
The next 5 songs join the America's Damp 40 countdown, so buckle up for Gerry Rafferty, the Eagles, Todd Rundgren, Sammy Johns, and our old friend Paul Davis as we settle our first top 10. Penthouse letters gone feloniously awry, Glenn Frye-colepsy, predicting saxophone sales, the one time Sarah will let herself use the word "iconic," and a side of toasted nuts: it's Episode 02!
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by Stealers Wheel. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The Damp 40 homepage
More on "the 'Baker Street' phenomenon"
Jon Miltimore breaks down "Baker Street"'s lyrics at Intellectual Takeout
The making of "Best Of My Love"
MASTAS Episode 142: Don Henley, "The End Of The Innocence"
Episode 103: Meat Loaf, "Paradise By The Dashboard Light"
Todd Rundgren named one of his children "Rebop," and other times he was a jackwagon
1977's The Van
Episode 117 on the troubling sexual politics of Paul Davis
Get 10% off from our sponsor, BetterHelp
And check out our other sponsor, Noom
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 4, 2022 • 58min
America's Damp 40, Episode 01: The First 5
America's Damp 40 is now officially underway with our first 5 songs! Art Garfunkel, Juice Newton, Christopher Cross, Styx, and Player form the foundation of our moist pop-chart project. The mystery of Dudley Moore, Michael McDonald's mentholated support, the difference between longing and a boner, sonic butter, the Garfunkel/Midler Venn, and Ridge Forrester -- this episode's got something for everyone.
Our intro is by David G. Byrne, and our outro is by Thomas "Fats" Waller. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The Damp 40 homepage
Get 10% off from our sponsor, BetterHelp
Jimmy Webb on Wikipedia
Webb and Linda Ronstadt's version of "All I Know"
Ep 157 on Styx's "Come Sail Away"
Stereogum's Tom Breihan on "Baby Come Back"
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Mar 28, 2022 • 22min
America's Damp 40, Episode 00: An Introduction
Welcome to America's Damp 40, our season dedicated to ranking the moistest soft rock hits of all time. In this episode, we explain the premise, discuss how our rankings will work, reveal the songs in contention, and talk about all the shag carpeting on which a person can make love.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne, and our outro is by The Association. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
SHOW NOTES
The Damp 40 homepage
Check out Noom
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 6, 2021 • 1h 25min
Episode 250: Songs With "Song" In The Title, Ranked
In our most meta episode ever, we're ranking 13 songs with the word "song" in the title, which allows us to discuss everything from Weird Al to porpoises to the very best times to sound like Simon and Garfunkel.
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, Andrew Byrne, Laura Barger, AND Jack Baldelli. (Truly!) Our outro is by Soykus Paynoot. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 29, 2021 • 19min
Episode 249: Queen, "Don't Stop Me Now"
The ostentatious awesomeness of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” gets us talking about songs you can’t possibly sing along to and the various reasons Freddie Mercury is eternal.
Our intro is by Andrew Byrne and our outro is by PJ Harvey. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 22, 2021 • 26min
Episode 248: The Rolling Stones and the Sundays, "Wild Horses"
Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne and our outro is by Patsy Cline. To contact us or buy our books, visit MarkAndSarahTalkAboutSongs.com. To become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.
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Nov 8, 2021 • 17min
Episode 247: Julia Michaels, "All Your Exes"
Will this be Mark's favorite song of the year? And can he convert Sarah? The maturity ship sails with mentions of Alanis, Miranda Lambert, Hopkins (drink!), and the cool girl looming large.Our intro is by David Byrne (not that one), and our outro is by Ivy. For more episodes and/or to buy our book, visit our website at markandsarahtalkaboutsongs.com, and get even more eps and discussion on our Patreon page, patreon.com/mastas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


