132. Megan Mayhew Bergman Discusses The Audacity of Kenny Loggins

Send us Fan MailThis week’s episode isn’t about an album, but rather about a particular artist’s legacy. Author and professor Megan Mayhew Bergman makes her return to YMAAA (she had been the show’s guest on Ep 93) to make the case for reexamining the career of Kenny Loggins. Megan also argues that Loggins’ musical career has been marked by audacious decisions, including choices made regarding his arrangements, lyrics, collaborations and music videos. She and Al explore the theme of audacity through a discussion of several of Loggins’ better-known songs that span the various eras of his career.Al made note of Megan’s recent piece in The Atlantic on this summer’s flooding in Vermont. You can read it here (subscription required): https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/07/climate-change-safe-states-vermont-floods/674780/1:14 Megan joins the show1:24 Why are Megan and Al talking about Kenny Loggins?2:27 Megan and Al put their Kenny Loggins game faces on for this episode3:47 Megan recounts the moment when she realized Loggins needed a deeper examinationSong-by-song analysis6:31 Danny’s Song9:38 Whenever I Call You “Friend”13:15 Was Loggins a trend-setter or trend-follower?17:16 Celebrate Me Home22:34 This Is It/What A Fool Believes, and a discussion of “yacht rock” and “blue-eyed soul”31:06 I’m Alright34:26 Don’t Fight It35:47 Heart to Heart38:16 Megan reveals another aspect of Kenny Loggins’ audacity40:54 Footloose/I’m Free42:41 Danger Zone49:07 Meet Me Half Way52:17 Conviction of the Heart54:16 We’ve lost track of how much of pop music’s foundation Loggins is responsible for59:04 Megan updates us on her latest projectsSupport the show