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| title = Song Exploder
| image = Song Exploder.png
| caption = ''A podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made''
| hosting = {{ubl|[[Hrishikesh Hirway]] <br><small>(2014–18, 2019–present)</small>|[[Thao Nguyen]] <br><small>(2018–19)</small>}}
| language = English
| updates = Biweekly
| length =
| production = {{ubl|Christian Koons|Hrishikesh Hirway (Exec.)}}
| audio format =
| began = {{Start date|2014|1|1}}
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| genre = [[Music podcast]]
| url = {{URL|http://www.songexploder.net|''Song Exploder''}}
| num_episodes = <!-- As of 23 February 2022: --><onlyinclude>228297</onlyinclude><!--This was added so all pages with this data will be updated and synchronized all at the same time with the convenience of only making a single edit that is made right here. --> (as of August 6, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net|title=Song Exploder|website=Song Exploder}}</ref>{{efn|309, including Bonus episodes, Specials, and "Key Change", etc.}}
| list_episodes = List of Song Exploder episodes
| provider = {{ubl|[[Maximum Fun]] (2014–15)|[[Radiotopia]] (2015–present)}}
}}
'''''Song Exploder''''' is a [[music podcast]] created and hosted by [[Hrishikesh Hirway]], whowhich hosteddebuted itin from itsJanuary 2014. inceptionIt untilis latepart 2018of and again from December 2019 onwards. In January 2019,the [[Thao NguyenRadiotopia]] becamepodcast anetwork guestfrom host[[Public forRadio the year, with Christian Koons serving as producer, and Hirway moving to executive producerExchange|PRX]]. The [[biweekly]] show features musicians talking about the creative process behind an individual song while "deconstructing"breaking down the song into its component parts. AsIn of 20212020, the show'spodcast teamwas isadapted composedinto ofa host[[Netflix]] and[https://www.netflix.com/title/80992997 produceroriginal Hirway,series]. illustrator Carlos Lerma, and Music Clearance Director Kathleen Smith.
 
The podcast launched on the [[Maximum Fun]] network, became independent in February 2015 and joined [[Radiotopia]] in June 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thanks to Song Exploder & The Memory Palace|url=http://jessethorn.tumblr.com/post/111237056756/thanks-to-song-exploder-the-memory-palace|work=Jesse Thorn: Tumbler|date=February 16, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite webnews|title=Song Exploder Joins Radiotopia - PRX|url=https://blog.prx.org/2015/06/song-exploder-joins-radiotopia/|work=[[Public Radio Exchange]]|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2016|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706191632/https://blog.prx.org/2015/06/song-exploder-joins-radiotopia/|archive-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>
 
==Format==
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==Subjects==
''Song Exploder'' has taken a deep-dive into more than 200 tracks, including: [[Kiss from a Rose]] with [[Seal (musician)|Seal]] and [[Trevor Horn]] and into [[Blue Monday (New Order song)|Blue Monday]] with [[Peter Hook]]—formerly of [[New Order (band)|New Order]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/seal|title=Episode 250: Seal|date=22 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/new-order|title=Episode 252: New Order|date=3 May 2023 }}</ref>
''Song Exploder'' has explored the music of: [[U2]], [[Metallica]], [[Norah Jones]], [[Fleet Foxes]], [[R.E.M.]], [[Arcade Fire]], [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[Sheryl Crow]], and [[Dua Lipa]], among many more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/u2|title=Episode 42: U2|date=June 30, 2015|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/metallica|title=Episode 93: Metallica|date=January 6, 2017|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/norah-jones|title=Episode 101: Norah Jones|date=March 30, 2017|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/fleet-foxes|title=Episode 109: Fleet Foxes|date=June 22, 2017|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/rem|title=Episode 125: R.E.M.|date=December 20, 2017|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/arcade-fire|title=Episode 134: Arcade Fire|date=April 25, 2018|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/fleetwood-mac|title=Episode 150: Fleetwood Mac|date=December 5, 2018|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/sheryl-crow|title=Episode 161: Sheryl Crow|date=June 12, 2019|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/dua-lipa|title=Episode 194: Dua Lipa|date=October 7, 2020|website=Song Exploder}}</ref>
 
TheFurthermore, the podcast has also deconstructed theanalysed [[theme music]] of:from ''[[HouseDownton ofAbbey]]'' Cardsand (American TV series)|House''[[Game of CardsThrones]]'', as well as music from ''[[DowntonLa AbbeyLa Land]]'', and ''[[GameMoonlight of(2016 Thronesfilm)|Moonlight]]''.<ref>{{Citecite web|url=https://songexploder.net/jeffdownton-bealabbey|title=Episode 737: HouseDownton of CardsAbbey|date=April6 1,May 2014|website=Song2015 Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Citecite web|url=https://songexploder.net/downtonramin-abbeydjawadi|title=Episode 3740: DowntonGame of AbbeyThrones|date=May11 6,June 2015|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Citecite web|url=https://songexploder.net/raminla-djawadila-land|title=Episode 4092: GameLa ofLa ThronesLand|date=June21 11,December 20152016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|websiteurl=Songhttps://songexploder.net/moonlight|title=Episode 95: Moonlight|date=30 January 2017 Exploder}}</ref>
 
==Reception==
Furthermore, ''Song Exploder'' has analysed the ''[[La La Land]]'', ''[[Moonlight (2016 film)|Moonlight]]'', and ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' [[film score|film scores]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/la-la-land|title=Episode 92: La La Land|date=December 21, 2016|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/moonlight|title=Episode 95: Moonlight|date=January 30, 2017|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/black-panther|title=Episode 131: Black Panther|date=March 14, 2018|website=Song Exploder}}</ref>
The show receives generally positive reception and has been featured at the [[Sundance Film Festival]], [[SXSW]], [[Noise Pop Festival]], and [[Moogfest]].''[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]'' said, "''Song Exploder'' is probably the best use of the podcast format ever," and named it one of the Top 10 Podcasts of 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|title=The 10 Best Podcasts and 10 Best Podcast Episodes of 2015|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/10-best-podcasts-2015.html|work=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|date=December 11, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019}}</ref> It was also named Best of iTunes in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kelley|first=Seth|title=Apple's iTunes Best of 2015 list for podcasts includes a ton of LA-based favorites|url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/blog/apples-itunes-best-of-2015-list-for-podcasts-includes-a-ton-of-la-based-favorites-120915|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]'' named it the Best Podcast of 2015, saying, "It is possibly the most perfect podcast, really."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Quartz|title=The Casties: Quartz's awards for the best podcasts of 2015|url=https://qz.com/580076/the-casties-quartzs-awards-for-the-best-podcasts-of-2015/|work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|date=December 30, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|language=en}}</ref> Pete Naughton of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' called ''Song Exploder'' an "excellent podcast" and placed it on his list of top music podcasts in August 2014.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|last=Naughton|first=Pete|title=The best music podcasts|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10765719/The-best-music-podcasts.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=August 26, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221012606/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10765719/the-best-music-podcasts.html|archive-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' praised the podcast's "beautiful production and thoughtful editing" in June 2014.<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|title=Ice T's Final Level joins the 'masses, talks Manslaughter and Maya Angelou|url=https://auxwww.avclub.com/ice-t-s-final-level-joins-the-masses-talks-manslaught-1798269531|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion]]|date=June 16, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> It has also received favorable reviews from ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', ''[[Gizmodo]]'', ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', and ''[[The Atlantic]]''.<ref name="press">{{cite web|title=Press|url=http://songexploder.net/press/|work=Song Exploder|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
 
Creator Hirway has mentioneddiscussed ''Song Exploder'' at prestigious conferences like the Google Design Conference and AIGA Design Conference. In 2016, the [[Sydney Opera House]] hosted a ''Song Exploder'' Residency.
In addition to theme music and film scores, the podcast has taken an in-depth look at the ''[[Watch Dogs (video game)|Watch Dogs]]'' [[video game music]] and ''[[The Daily (podcast)|The Daily]]'' podcast theme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/brian-reitzell|title=Episode 15: Brian Reitzell|date=August 6, 2014|website=Song Exploder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://songexploder.net/the-daily|title=Bonus Episode: The Daily from The New York Times|date=February 6, 2019|website=Song Exploder}}</ref>
 
The show won the 2016 and 2017 Academy of Podcasters award for best music podcast.
==Reception==
The show receives generally positive reception and has been featured at the [[Sundance Film Festival]], [[SXSW]], [[Noise Pop Festival]], and [[Moogfest]].''[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]'' said, "''Song Exploder'' is probably the best use of the podcast format ever," and named it one of the Top 10 Podcasts of 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|title=The 10 Best Podcasts and 10 Best Podcast Episodes of 2015|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/10-best-podcasts-2015.html|work=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|date=December 11, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019}}</ref> It was also named Best of iTunes in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kelley|first=Seth|title=Apple's iTunes Best of 2015 list for podcasts includes a ton of LA-based favorites|url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/blog/apples-itunes-best-of-2015-list-for-podcasts-includes-a-ton-of-la-based-favorites-120915|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]'' named it the Best Podcast of 2015, saying, "It is possibly the most perfect podcast, really."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Quartz|title=The Casties: Quartz's awards for the best podcasts of 2015|url=https://qz.com/580076/the-casties-quartzs-awards-for-the-best-podcasts-of-2015/|work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|date=December 30, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|language=en}}</ref> Pete Naughton of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' called ''Song Exploder'' an "excellent podcast" and placed it on his list of top music podcasts in August 2014.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|last=Naughton|first=Pete|title=The best music podcasts|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10765719/The-best-music-podcasts.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=August 26, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221012606/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10765719/the-best-music-podcasts.html|archive-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' praised the podcast's "beautiful production and thoughtful editing" in June 2014.<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|title=Ice T's Final Level joins the 'masses, talks Manslaughter and Maya Angelou|url=https://aux.avclub.com/ice-t-s-final-level-joins-the-masses-talks-manslaught-1798269531|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion]]|date=June 16, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> It has also received favorable reviews from ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', ''[[Gizmodo]]'', ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', and ''[[The Atlantic]]''.<ref name="press">{{cite web|title=Press|url=http://songexploder.net/press/|work=Song Exploder|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
 
=== Awards ===
Creator Hirway has mentioned ''Song Exploder'' at prestigious conferences like the Google Design Conference and AIGA Design Conference. In 2016, the [[Sydney Opera House]] hosted a ''Song Exploder'' Residency.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Award
!Year
!Category
!Result
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan="3" |''Academy of Podcasters''
|2015
| rowspan="2" |Music & Commentary
|{{CFinalist}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=2015 AofP Winners and Finalists |url=http://academyofpodcasters.com/2015winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014050853/http://academyofpodcasters.com/2015winners/ |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |website=Academy of Podcasters |publisher=[[Podcast Movement]]}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|{{Won}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academy of Podcasters: Past Winners |url=http://academyofpodcasters.com/past-winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003154507/http://academyofpodcasters.com/past-winners/ |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |website=Academy of Podcasters}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|Music
|{{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |''[[iHeartRadio Podcast Awards]]''
|2019
| rowspan="4" |Best Music Podcast
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-01-18-2019-iheartradio-podcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-01-17-2020-iheartradio-podcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|{{Nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-01-21-2021-iheartradio-podcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: See The Full List of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-02-03-2022-iheartradio-podcast-awards-see-the-full-list-of-winners/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Adweek|''Adweek Podcast Awards'']]
|2021
|Best Creativity Podcast
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins|first=Kennyatta |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Podcasts of the Year: Here Are Adweek's 2021 Winners |url=https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/here-are-2021s-adweek-podcast-of-the-year-winners/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Webby Awards]]
|2022
| rowspan="2" |Best Music Podcast
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Song Exploder |website=The Webby Awards |url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/2022/podcasts/general-series/music/209886/song-exploder |access-date=2022-09-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
 
==TV show==
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| caption = Series overview
 
| color1 = #88B94400AF89
| link1 = #Volume 1 (2020)
| linkT1 = Volume 1
| episodes1 = 4
| start1 released1 = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| end1 = start
 
| color2 = #F157E619A98A
| link2 = #Volume 2 (2020)
| linkT2 = Volume 2
| episodes2 = 4
| start2 released2 = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| end2 = start
}}
 
===Volume 1 (2020)===
{{Episode table |background=#88B94400AF89 |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
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| Title = [[Alicia Keys]]: [[Alicia (album)|3 Hour Drive]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 88B94400AF89
| ShortSummary = Far from her newborn son, Alicia Keys collaborates with [[Sampha]], who has just lost his mother. Together, they give a longing melody life.
}}
Line 75 ⟶ 122:
| Title = [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]]: [[Wait for It (song)|Wait for It]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 88B94400AF89
| ShortSummary = In his quest to capture [[Aaron Burr|Aaron Burr's]] voice, Lin-Manuel Miranda finds his lines on the subway. Many breathless choruses later, can he relate to Burr?
}}
Line 83 ⟶ 130:
| Title = [[R.E.M.|R.E.M]]: [[Losing My Religion]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 88B94400AF89
| ShortSummary = No obvious chorus plus a lead mandolin and handclaps equals the least likely chart-topper of the '90s. R.E.M. looks back at the life-changing track.
}}
Line 91 ⟶ 138:
| Title = [[Ty Dolla Sign|Ty Dolla $ign]]: [[Free TC|LA]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|2}}
| LineColor = 88B94400AF89
| ShortSummary = Ty Dolla $ign pens a verse in minutes, picks up multiple instruments and brings in [[Kendrick Lamar]] and [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]] for this moving love song to his city.
}}
Line 97 ⟶ 144:
 
===Volume 2 (2020)===
{{Episode table |background=#F157E619A98A |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
Line 103 ⟶ 150:
| Title = [[Dua Lipa]]: [[Love Again (Dua Lipa song)|Love Again]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = F157E619A98A
| ShortSummary = When a bad breakup spills into the studio, Dua Lipa finds release in high-drama strings, throwback analog synths and memories of her parents' faves.
}}
Line 111 ⟶ 158:
| Title = [[The Killers]]: [[When You Were Young]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = F157E619A98A
| ShortSummary = Eager to beat the sophomore album slump, the Killers dusted off three chords to capture their desert home of Las Vegas — and mine for pop anthem gold.
}}
Line 119 ⟶ 166:
| Title = [[Nine Inch Nails]]: [[Hurt (Nine Inch Nails song)|Hurt]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = F157E619A98A
| ShortSummary = Broken-down sounds, damaged vocals and naked emotion make a chilling coda to a blockbuster LP as [[Trent Reznor]] talks about transforming pain into art.
}}
Line 127 ⟶ 174:
| Title = [[Natalia Lafourcade]]: [[Hasta la Raíz (song)|Hasta la Raíz]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|15}}
| LineColor = F157E619A98A
| ShortSummary = After stepping back from stardom, Natalia Lafourcade rediscovers her roots, which are planted deep in Veracruz and the rhythm of huapango folk music.
}}
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==References==
{{reflist}}
 
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
 
==External links==