The B-Sides

Latest Episodes:

37. What's in a Feud? Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

In today's episode, we're trying to figure it out. Looking at the facts of a feud itself and how stories about it unfold can tell us a lot about power dynamics in the industry, who gets empathy and who doesn’t, and also? Talking about drama can be fun. The word "feud" seems to hold a lot of weight and draws people’s attention (again, drama is fun) but it often makes the actual circumstances seem far more superficial and balanced than they really are.

We each came to the table with a so-called feud we’d like to get into - but at a distance, from the safety of our podcast’s virtual space. Here are the feuds (?) we're looking at today:

Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez (5:00ish)
Lea Michele vs. the cast of Glee (22:30 ish)
Ariana Grande vs. Victoria Justice (45:50 ish)

Join us as we explore questions like: Can it be a feud if they’ve never spoken to each other directly? Can it be a feud if the playing field is so uneven? Can it be a feud if it’s actually just people in power being monsters to people who aren’t in power and can’t control the situation or the narrative?

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36. California Here We Come Chasing Cars... Mm, Whatcha Say? Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

When done well, a soundtrack can do so much for a show, audience, and featured artists - it enriches and even memorializes scenes, tells us how we’re supposed to feel and introduces artists and audiences to each other. And no one did it better than some of our fave shows from the 2000s: Grey’s Anatomy, the OC, and Gossip Girl.

Grey's Anatomy: 6:50ish

The OC: 31:10ish

Gossip Girl: 50minish

Some enjoyable links from today’s episode:

Grey's musical episode and its oral history.

The shot heard round the world AKA Marissa shoots Trey and launches a million memes.

Pitchfork review of The OC soundtrack.

Glamorous on Gossip Girl.

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35. Who Am I If Not Exploited: Olivia Rodrigo's Meteoric Rise to Fame and Where She Goes from Here Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

We are in an inflection point with Olivia Rodrigo's rise to fame. How we act now will determine not only her future as a celebrity, but the future of ~Celebrity~ in the US.

Here are some of the articles we referenced today:

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34. The Trials and Tribulations of GirlBossery Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

If you read the title of this episode then you know it's time to take a seat and buckle up. Today we're going in on a long-awaited topic, but also an undercurrent of a lot of our episodes and conversations, and that is...GirlBoss culture and its intersections with pop music.

What is GirlBoss really? What does it pretend to be? Where did this term come from? And mirror mirror on the wall, which pop songs are most GirlBoss of all? We'll assess some hits by some faves: from Taylor Swift to Arethra Franklin, from Ciara to Xtina Aguilera.

We're also discussing the latest on Britney Spears' conservatorship after her June 23 direct appeal. After all, the trajectory of Britney's life and career involved very hard work under a system that technically made her financially successful and the biggest pop star to ever exist, but also mistreated her to no end for profit and has done so with increasingly intensifying forms of exploitation. And nothing exposes the sham of GirlBoss philosophy quite like that.

This episode is brought to you by JK Zine!

JK Zine is digitally published by B Milder in Brooklyn, New York. Visit the website to learn more about the publication, jkzine.com or download the zine app in the Apple store by searching "jk zine."

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33. Let's Go Girls: Country-Pop and the Women Who Are Shaping It Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

Today we’re going to talk about Country-Pop. A genre that, for many, was once (and maybe still) isn’t taken seriously as “good” or welcome or authentic. Some folks are quick to dismiss country music say the lyrics are predictable (rotating around words and themes like girl, truck, liquor + jesus). Others who complain about country say, melodically, the songs are boring and repetitive. All that - and a little inherent classism too - makes country a no-go for many. On today’s episode we’re going to debunk these views, and learn about a few contemporary country pop stars who are breaking the honky-tonk mold.

This episode is sponsored by Chuan Skincare!

Chuan Skincare is an affordable, hand-crafted skincare line made from all natural ingredients.

They offer clay masks, powder cleansers, facial oils and self-care sets. Treat yourself or a friend! Use offer code BSIDES at chuanskincare.com for 15% off your purchase.

Follow Chuan Skincare on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest for free skincare tips, hot takes on the beauty industry and funny videos.

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32. Demi Lovato and the Heaviness of Fandom May 26, 2021

Show notes

Fandom is often seen as a frivolous identity or extra curricular, but it can be a heavy, heavy aspect of our lives. This is especially true for fans of Demi Lovato in the last few years.

Join us as we breakdown what fandom means through the lens of this incredible artist and public figure.

Their private struggles have taken on a public dimension as we all continue to learn about the pressures of celebrity and how they can contribute to a dark, dark situation for artists. We also discuss how complicated it is to be a Lovatic while hating Scooter Braun.

Link referenced:

And Introducing, episode 35 about Demi Lovato with guests Hannah and Becky from The B-Sides

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31. Our Star-Spangled Banner, Ourselves May 12, 2021

Show notes

The American national anthem AKA The Star-Spangled Banner is absurd — in terms of the lyrics, the music, and also the weight behind it as a performance piece. And we can't just never talk about that, can we? So we're going in on it today, exploring the origins of this song and some iconic performances from the past 50 years.

The national anthem is a very hard song to sing and a high stakes milestone/legacy song for a lot of artists because, to put it simply, nationalism is real and rampant. Performances of the anthem and their outcomes can tell us a lot about an artist and Where We're At, culturally. Our Star-Spangled Banner, Ourselves.

We promised to share some crucial links in the show notes, and here they are:

Vox, Why the US national anthem is terrible — and perfect

National Anthem performances (and remix):

This episode is sponsored by Nubian Vibes Yoga and Retreats. Get ready to de-clutter the mind, replenish the body, and revive the soul through yoga. Nubian Vibes Yoga and Retreats is excited to offer virtual and in-person yoga classes and yoga retreats. Connect with your favorite instructor and fellow yogis without all of the stressors of the world. The founder, Taja, might even host a beach yoga class at a location near you! Subscribe to their newsletter, issa Yoga Vibes, to be the first to know about their offerings and resources: tinyurl.com/issayogavibesretreats.

Check out Shared History, a history and comedy podcast about the overlooked and underrepresented people and events from ancient to modern history. Join comedians Cass and Natalie for an educational, entertaining and sometimes irreverent romp through history as they share the tales your textbooks glossed over, whitewashed, man-washed...or left out completely.

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30. Tik Tok on the Clock Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast we talk about our favorite frenemy app: Tik Tok. The app has had a major impact beyond just how we doom scroll the hour before bed. It has shaped the literal sound of pop music, what’s on our top chats, and even manufactured musicians. Listen to find out Hannah's beef with the app, and stay for Mimi's take on the Addison Rae/Britney Spears debacle.

Chuan Skincare is an affordable, hand-crafted skincare line made from all natural ingredients.

They offer clay masks, powder cleansers, facial oils and self-care sets. Treat yourself or a friend! Use offer code BSIDES at chuanskincare.com for 15% off your purchase.

Follow Chuan Skincare on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest for free skincare tips, hot takes on the beauty industry and funny videos.

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29. Lil Nas X, Big Conservative Backlash Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

"MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" dropped, and our thesis this fine day is that the world will never be the same.

Without the benefit of hindsight, we examine why this song and video has ushered in such a watershed moment. Then, we go into what the right-wing backlash means (22:43), why Lil Nas X is not babysitting in his free time for extra cash, and the surprising thing we have in common with F*x N*ws (31:10). To wrap up, we compare this backlash to other conservative vitriol aimed at pop stars in recent history (38:00).

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And Introducing is a podcast about words about music. In each episode, co-hosts Chris Wade and Molly O'Brien discuss a different musical artist through the lens of music writing.

They're currently in the midst of a miniseries about Michael Azzerad's Our Band Could Be Your Life, which chronicles the rise of indie rock and the DIY scene in America in the 1980s, with episodes featuring guests like Rob Sheffield and Maria Sherman. You can listen to And Introducing wherever fine podcasts are offered, and of course can always find them at soundcloud.com/and-intro-pod.

The Fun with Friends Podcast explores what happens when you stop overthinking and start doing. It’s a podcast about pushing yourself, trying new things, and getting out there. Whether it’s traveling to a new place, checking items off of your bucket list, or starting your own business, we cover it all. So get out there, try something new, and have some fun!

Links to articles cited today:

The Notes App Note from Lil Nas X

Breaking Down Symbolism In Lil Nas X's "Montero" Music Video (Buzzfeed)

Lil Nas X and the Anti-Pop Conservative Outrage Machine (Vulture)

Our Britney Spears episode

Our Chicks episode

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28. Free Britney Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

We are overdue for a (re)visit to our forever princess of pop, Britney Jean Spears. Imagine being the lightning rod for so much capitalistic, patriarchal ire and garbage, while also bringing so much joy and pop gold and cultural reset after cultural reset into the world. Can you even?

In one of our first ever episodes, we talked about how Britney had the weight of ~what it meant to be an American Girl~ on her shoulders and graciously carried us from one millennium to the next. Now we’re doing a quick catch-up on that episode and then going deep into more recent developments and discussions around her conservatorship, the years leading up to it, her Instagram account and the #FreeBritney movement. We hope it all resonates and we love you, Britney <3

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