Why “9 To 5” Still Resonates; New Music From Bon Iver
Plus, 'The Lion King' soundtrack; Sting and Shaggy at the Tiny Desk.
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It’s a karaoke staple, a girls’ night out singalong and even a presidential walk-out song. Now almost 40 years old, Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5” continues to resonate – especially with women who have ever felt overworked, underpaid and disrespected. This week, NPR’s ongoing American Anthem series highlights the way the track has endured over the years as new generations have found themselves drawn to the tune.
Over a catchy beat that begins with Parton clicking her nails to mimic the sound of typewriters clanking, the lyrics drive home a serious point, listing the ways the daily grind exploits and exhausts people. Those grievances have inspired activism, and there’s a reason why the song has such staying power. As writer Rebecca Traister says, "It is simultaneously a song of angry complaint and immense good cheer. And there is something about that combination that makes it kind of addictive and fun."
Pouring ourselves a cup of ambition, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna
New Music
Disney Music has dropped the soundtrack for its upcoming reboot of The Lion King, featuring vocal performances from Beyoncé and Donald Glover and a slew of Elton John compositions from the animated original. We're feeling the love already.
Warning: You may need a box of tissues on hand for this week’s All Songs Considered new music mix. After all, sad songs don’t take a break just because it’s summertime!
Last month, Bon Iver released a pair of new songs with little context. Now we know more: Justin Vernon and his band will release a new album, i,i,on August 30. Hear two more tracks, “Jelmore” and “Faith.”
Featuring
Two sets of federal prosecutors have handed down a total of 18 indictments against R. Kelly. It’s the first time that he has faced federal charges, though he already faces separate sexual assault charges in Illinois state court as well as multiple ongoing civil cases.
Last week, João Gilberto, one of the principal architects of the Brazilian musical style bossa nova, died at the age of 88. The legendary musician inverted the cacophony of samba, creating a worldwide sensation and forever changing the country’s sound.
To celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the reissue of Brian Eno’s Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks – now streaming on NPR Music ahead of its release next week – we asked an astronomer to answer one question: What do we think space should sound like?
Merck Foundation wants to empower infertile women in Africa – and it’s turning to music to achieve that aim. But the accompanying music videos are raising some concerns.
Sting and Shaggy might not be the most obvious musical pairing, but at the Tiny Desk, the sense of camaraderie between the two veteran performers was immediately obvious. The duo performed a track from its 2018 collaborative album, plus new versions of a couple Sting hits.
Two decades after a self-titled debut that featured one heartbroken mixtape-worthy song after another, American Football is writing some of the best music of its career. Who could have guessed that the band’s fruitful reunion would include a children’s choir at the Tiny Desk?
Incoming
“Too Much” Carly Rae Jepsen? Impossible, we say! Coming next week: Carly Rae Jepsen brings songs from Dedicated to the Tiny Desk.
One More Thing
You don't need to believe in astrology to believe in roséwave.
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