And Introducing – Details, episodes & analysis

And Introducing film correspondent, Blank Check pod & the Atlantic’s David Sims returns for two more recent musician biopics: James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown & Michael Gracey’s Better Man. Two very different movies about very different musicians that nonetheless explore similar themes on the nature of fame, talent & musicianship. We talk Timmy, Bobby, Robbie & more, and see if there’s still juice to squeeze from the biopic genre. Plus of course: does the monkey play? Listen to David on Blank Check wherever you get pods and subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/blankcheck Check out David’s writing in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-sims/ Read Molly’s music blog: https://www.ienjoymusic.net/

Welcome to the Willenium, baby! We’re joined by YouTube’s Todd in the Shadows to look at the musical career of Will Smith. From growing up under the influence of his demanding father, to discovering his performing (and lying) abilities in school, clicking with Jazzy Jeff, indulging in “chicken wings,” his super-star turn to acting & extremely self-conscious return to hip-hop, we track Will’s music & celebrity up to “the slap” and beyond from his 2021 memoir Will. As Todd says, may be one of the weirdest guys he’s ever encountered. Check out Todd’s Trainwerckords video on Will Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNm0HDCRdnc&ab_channel=ToddintheShadows Plus Todd’s always great year-end videos, Worst Songs of 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ssUcZSqV8&ab_channel=ToddintheShadows Best songs of 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkXpvScL94Q&ab_channel=ToddintheShadows Songs in order: DJ Jazzy Jeff - Peter Piper Routine DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime Will Smith - Don’t Say Nothing Will Smith & Joyner Lucas - Tantrum Neil Cicierega - Wow Wow

We're joined by musician Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Divine Fits, Handsome Furs, Operators, Arcade Fire) to chat about his life and career in music. We touch on everything from terrible tour stews, leveling up to arena shows, burning CD-Rs in hotel rooms, telemarketing, too much fog machine and more. We also spend a good deal of time on the constantly shifting landscape of online and digital music distribution, how it's affected his career, and why it's so difficult to buy a simple dang .WAV file. Finally, Dan teases some upcoming projects that the Boeckner! heads will really enjoy. Dan's back on social media, please follow him so he can promote his stuff: Twitter: @d_boeckner Insta: @boec_kner Also, if you're not listening to Pretty Dim Wonder, the narrative fiction comedy podcast Dan does with Charles from Episode 1, you absolutely should. I think most And Intro heads would get a kick out of it: https://pod.link/1618321478

And introducing…on guitar, it’s Brian Head Welch! We’re joined by Street Fight Radio’s Bryan Quinby to take a look at the Korn guitarist’s rise to nu-metal stardom, struggle with hardcore substance abuse, and equally hardcore turn to born-again christianity. We discuss the enduring appeal of nü-metal, the frustrating lack of diversity in Christian Rock stardom, and return to one of our all-time favorite topics: Woodstock ’99. Listen to Street Fight: http://www.streetfightradio.com/ SONGS: L.A.P.D. - Don’t Label Me Korn - Ball Tongue Korn - Good God Brian Head Welch - Save Me From Myself

And introducing, on trumpet, it’s Louis Armstrong! One of the most influential and longest reigning jazzmen, Louie was instrumental in taking jazz mainstream and in doing so became one of THE most iconic American musicians of the 20th century. And today we’ll be learning all about his life, well his early years, through his book “SATCHMO: My Life in New Orleans”. SONGS: Chris Wade - Muskrat Ramble (remix) Kid Ory - Ory’s Creole Trombone Kid Ory’s Creole Jazzband - Panama Rag Fate Marable’s Society Syncopators - Franky

And introducing, in da club and on the mic, it’s 50 Cent! After a childhood in Queens spent selling coke, crack and heroin, and just barely avoiding the long arm of the law, 50’s club ready rap brought him to dominate popular music in the early aughts. And it also brought him enough notoriety to catch nine bullets. Today we’ll be learning all about his life, those bullets and his music through his book “From Pieces To Weight: Once Upon A Time Southside Queens”. SONGS Notorious B.I.G. - Warning Jam Master Jay - Show Intro (9/25/1984 - Capitol Theater) 50 Cent - How To Rob 50 Cent - Ghetto Quran 50 Cent - In Da Club 50 Cent - Candy Shop

Chris and Molly are joined by writer and possessor of infinite Godney knowledge Rhian Sasseen to examine how Britney Spears was the symbolic canary in the coal mine for the boom and bust of all of American society in the Aughts. The Tragedy of Britney Spears: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-tragedy-of-britney-spears-rolling-stones-2008-cover-story-254735/ Rhian’s Twitter: @RhianSasseen SONGS: Chris Wade - Gimme More (poddub) DEV2.0 - That’s Good Britney Spears - …Baby One More Time Britney Spears - Email My Heart Britney Spears - Lucky Britney Spears - Slave 4 U (Live at MTV VMA’s 2001) Britney Spears - Mona Lisa Britney Spears - Everytime Britney Spears - Gimme More (Live at MTV VMA’s 2007) Britney Spears - Piece of Me Britney Spears - Get Naked (I Got A Plan)

And introducing, on bass guitar and with his name on the lease…it’s Peter Hook! We’re joined by Sarah Fonder to discuss the infamous Manchester club The Hacienda, a notorious den of poor management decisions and the cradle of rave culture and house music. We learning all about the club, MADCHESTER, the various ways to not make money on beer sales through New Order bassist Peter Hook’s memoir “The Hacienda: How NOT To Run A Club.” Songs in Order: Chris Wade - Blue Monday (pod dub) D Train - You’re The One For Me Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It New Order - Temptation (Live @ the Hacienda) Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro Einstürzende Neubauten - Sehnsucht (Live, 1982) LCD Soundsystem - Losing My Edge New Order - Fine Time Moombahton Mix 2018 | The Best of Moombhaton 2018 by Adrian Noble Orch5 Vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A1Aj1_EF9Y Mike Pickering Hacienda DJ Set, 05/10/1989 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gk1RJgcyw

And introducing, on bass guitar: it’s Mr. Alex James, bassist for BLUR! With an up-close view of Cool Brittania, perhaps no person more typifies the playful extravagance of end-of-the-millennium London than Alex James. And today, we learn all about him, Blur and cheese through his book, “Bit of a Blur”. SONGS: Chris Wade - Song 2 (poddub) New Order - Blue Monday Blur - She’s So High Blur - No Other Way Blur - Bang (alternate version) Blur - Girls and Boys Blur - Parklife Arsenal “We’re On You’re Side” Fat Lez - Vindaloo Fat Lez - Jerusalem

And Introducing…Lorde and Jack Antonoff! We’re joined by by twitter user @BuzzKillary, a.k.a. Hillary Benton to discuss her deeply researched powerpoint theory that postulates Lorde’s second album, Melodrama, is about her secret, torrid affair with older producer Jack Antonoff…an affair that ended his 5 year relationship with Lena Dunham. Hillary’s Powerpoint is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rFJuHw8zQ0iBkcYQNr6FABPvW0Rm4RW2/view Songs: Chris Wade - Green Light (pod dub) Lorde - Royals Bruce Springseen - Royals Lorde - Green Light Bleachers - Don’t Take The Money Lorde - Liability Lorde - Sober