Black Sun
The podcast by Karel Veselý maps the history of sadness, melancholy and anxiety in western popular music and shows how the mood of pop culture is connected to the context of its times.
Collaboration:
Author: Karel Veselý
Voice: John Comer and Michael Pitthan
Sound design: Jiří Špičák
English translation: Guy Tabachnick
Episodes details:
Episode 1: Unknown Pleasures
The first part, called Unknown Pleasures, examines the theme of sadness in British music from the post-punk of the late 70s to contemporary electronic music. We follow the stories of Joy Division, The Smiths, Manic Street Preachers, and Burial to the particular political situation of their times.
Episode 2: Just Dance
The second part, called Just Dance, examines the reaction of American pop music to a financial crisis of 2008 until the Trump victory in the 2016 elections. We follow the music of Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift as the pop music went through the cycle of getting over to the shock of collapsing economy.
Episode 3: Coldest Winter
The third episode entitled Coldest Winter will focus on sadness in rap music of the last decade.
Episode 4: Come As You Are
The fourth episode of Black Sun called Come As You Are covers the topic of sadness in rock music of the nineties and noughties. From Nirvana and Radiohead to Arcade Fire, we also follow the change in an image of masculinity in mainstream rock.
Episode 5: Little Earthquakes
The fifth part of the podcast series Black Sun is called Little Earthquakes. It deals with unique female sadness, which is connected to her secondary role in society, but also her ability to express emotions more freely than man. Black Sun follows the history of female emotions in music from the queen of sadness Billie Holiday through a melancholic reflection of female emancipation in songs of Joni Mitchell to nineties rock singer-songwriters PJ Harvey a Tori Amos, who tried to redefine female sexuality
Episode 6: Feelings Like Razor Blades
Last part of the podcast series Black Sun will focus on Czech music of the 1990s. Melancholia of the transformation era will be introduced by the local bands Psí vojáci, Mňága a Žďorp a singer-songwriter Jaromír Nohavica.
The first part examines the theme of sadness in British music from the post-punk of the late 70s to contemporary electronic music.
The second part examines the reaction of American pop music to a financial crisis of 2008.
The third episode entitled Coldest Winter will focus on sadness in rap music of the last decade.
The fourth episode of Black Sun called Come As You Are covers the topic of sadness in rock music of the nineties and noughties.
The fifth part deals with unique female sadness,
Last part will focus on Czech music of the 1990s.