Unfortified Castle

In Olivia Rodrigo's smash summer hit, I hear what may be an inflection point for pop music in terms of sound and the business of crediting.

Steve Winwood struck a balance between older R&B and soul and his own era's pop rock on one of his biggest songs.

It's a powerful reminder of the wide-ranging consequences of not taking care of oneself.

The song doesn't even have the word "rain" in it, but its presence is undoubted, as is that of Jim Morrison's most personal character.

I'm far too young to truly appreciate the meaning this song carries, but I'll take a stab at discussing it anyway.

The nostalgia the Smashing Pumpkins evoke isn't rose-colored, but that's fine, if not good; it means their song helps me honestly reflect.

A lyrical analysis displays why and then some.

Nico & Vinz were all over the radio in my early teens with this song, but only now did I finally put a closer lens to it.

Yes, it's a cover, and yes, they made a couple small changes that really make their version superior to its predecessors.

I celebrate and tell the story of my very favorite track from the Starman on the golden anniversary of its initial release.

The memories will always be there, and Zara Larsson and MNEK's presentation of working through them really resonates with me.

Elliot Lurie and Looking Glass relay just enough to the listener to make their story both succinct and rich.

The R&B and jazz virtuoso's artistic voice is shaped by multiple iconic inspirations — including some from his hometown.

Who knew that a house track could breed such philosophical discussion?

Bear with me, because this is actually pretty cool in the context of this song.

...but the song has more than just that to offer. It ends up lending itself to a discussion on risk taking in pop writing and production.

Amidst the stress of finals prep, small gestures and acts of kindness can go a long way. Today I managed to grind out my English final...

A R I Z O N A sonically track their narrator's heart opening up as they unexpectedly feel love.

Through lead singer Karen O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs find a balance between soft, heartfelt vocals and a powerful alt rock instrumental.

The Kinks' beautiful psychedelic pop rock track has a narrator who just can't let himself enjoy life to the fullest.