Episodes

TitleFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
20161101

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Two: Family
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

2016110120200928 (R4)

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Two: Family
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

20161102

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Three: Vulnerability
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

2016110220201005 (R4)

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Three: Vulnerability
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

20161103

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Four: Lust
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

2016110320201012 (R4)

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Four: Lust
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

20161104

Nick Berkeley explores the world of the song lyric and the ways they can help us articulate and negotiate different aspects of our lives: from hedonist joy to dealing with loss.

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth, or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Five: Absence
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

2016110420201019 (R4)

Nick Berkeley explores the world of the song lyric and the ways they can help us articulate and negotiate different aspects of our lives: from hedonist joy to dealing with loss.

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth, or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to songwriters and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme Five: Absence
Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

Solitude20161031

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to song writers and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme One: Solitude

Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.

Solitude2016103120200921 (R4)

From teenage alienation to middle-aged loss and regret, lyrics from popular music can escape their song to become an anthem of our youth or a lifeline through loss and solitude. Nick Berkeley speaks to song writers and musicians about how the words of a three minute pop song can come to have such impact on us all.

He dissects the craft of the song in a quest to understand the alchemy that converts seemingly simple words into thoughts of great impact and meaning. From Noel Coward to Kylie Minogue, seminal folk songs to outsider hip hop, there are words and phrases that the music fan can cling to, and remember, forever.

Contributors include: Hanif Kureishi, Brett Anderson, Cathy Dennis, Green Gartside, Benjamin Clementine, Christopher Ricks and Sid Griffin.

Programme One: Solitude

Producer: Emma Jarvis
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics can help articulate and negotiate our lives.

Nick Berkeley shows how song lyrics help us articulate and negotiate aspects of our lives.