Episodes
-
178: "Season of the Witch" vs. "Witchy Woman"
SPOOKY SEASON! What's the most witchy song, or at least the witchiest song not by Stevie Nicks, definitive hippie Donovan's "Season of the Witch" or definitive non-hippies The Eagles' "Witchy Woman"? Song vs. Song Patreon here! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you have the time and...
-
177: "Peg" vs. "What a Fool Believes" (ft. Altamira!)
Song vs. Song enters the Michael McDonald-iverse! It's Yacht vs. Yacht as we take on two of the smoothest white-boy tracks of the '70s, but will the kings of snark Steely Dan win with "Peg," or will the Doobie Brothers take them down a peg with "What a Fool Believes"? And much thanks to super Dan...
-
BONUS EPISODE: Please put the VMAs out of its misery
The VMAs are now a zombie I.P. that only exists to give tribute to the old and dead, and has never felt more like an afterthought.
-
176: "Shut Up and Dance" vs. "Cake by the Ocean" (w/Molly Mary O'Brien!)
They were two of the biggest one-hit wonders of the mid-2010s, but do these vaguely throwback-y pop rock songs hold up, and which does it better? Pitchfork's Molly Mary O'Brien joins us to help us take sides between Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance" and DNCE's "Cake by the Ocean"! Song vs. Song...
-
175: "White Rabbit" vs. "White Room" (w/Steven Hyden!)
We're back and we're taking a hit of the bad acid as we head back to the '60s and cover two towering hippie classics with suspiciously similar names! But which of the two tracks will get us to Wonderland, will we follow the "White Rabbit" with Jefferson Airplane or will we get locked in the…
more -
Bonus Episode: The Muppets (2011) with Dan Olson!
While we are on break, a little taste of our bonus episodes on Patreon! And much thanks to Dan Olson for helping untangle the attempted, only partially successful Jim Henson reboot "The Muppets" from 2011! Song vs. Song Patreon here! Please donate, we need you And as always — if you have the time...
-
174: "Hung Up" vs. "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (w/Jason Lipshutz!)
Two of the biggest international pop stars of the '80s and '90s ascended into world-conquering dance divas in the '00s, but which will shall reign supreme, Madonna's "Hung Up" or Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head"? Billboard's Jason Lipshutz joins us to help get us less hung up. Song...
-
173: "Hungry Heart" vs. "Uptown Girl"
Two guys from the suburbs of NYC loved old doo-wop and '60s girl groups! Which bridge-and-tunnel legend's catchiest song is the better classic pop song, Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" or Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl"? Song vs. Song Patreon here! Please donate, we need you. And as always — if you...
-
172: "Lovefool" vs. "Kiss Me"
Teen movies of the '90s needed a cute little twee song for teenagers to kiss to, but which was the most romantic of the two? Todd and Lina argue between "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer and "Lovefool" by the Cardigans! Song vs. Song Patreon here! Please donate, we need you. And as always —…
more -
171: "Dreams" vs. "You're So Vain" (w/Andrew Unterberger!)
Two of the finest and most devastating kiss-off tracks of the '70s, the songs that basically created the Main Pop Girl era five decades ahead of time, but which of these is the most heartbreakingly brutal burns of the '70s, "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac or "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon? Song vs.…
more -
170: "Say So" vs. "Levitating" (w/AJ Marks!)
It's the pandemic and the dance floors are all closed but disco lives on! We invite Main Pod Girl's AJ Marks into the studio to help us debate which is the finest of the 2020 dance songs with the problematic optional guest rapper, Doja Cat's "Say So" (ft. Nicki Minaj) or Dua Lipa's "Levitating"...
-
169: "Shout" vs. "Relax" (w/Justin Lewis)!
It's the mid-'80s and two bands have figured out that what people want is British guys giving commands in two-note chanting choruses. Which is the best more-chorus-than-song song of the mid-'80s, "Shout" by Tears for Fears or "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood? Thank you to special guest Justin...
-
168: "Best of You" vs. "Like a Stone" (w/Pat Finnerty!)
If there's one thing we liked in rock in the 2000s, it was the '90s, and those who managed to survive it. But which band starring former members of grunge bands really made the '00s RAWK and feel emotions. Well we've got pod best friend and '00s rock expert Pat Finnerty to help us decode this…
more -
167: "Breaking the Law" vs. "Ace of Spades"
What is the best metal song of 1980???? Is Lemmy God? Is he better than the Metal God Rob Halford? Is there a better song to wash your dog to??? Put on your studded metal because we're debating "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest vs. "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead! And as always — if you have the…
more -
166: "Party Rock Anthem" vs. "Give Me Everything" (w/Mic the Snare)
Dale! Party rock is in the house tonight! The year is 2011 and nothing will ever feel bad ever again! But someone in the non-stop party has to be the party king so we're debating the best song about having a good time because we might not have tomorrow. Who will reign supreme, "Party Rock Anthem"...
-
165: "Lay Lady Lay" vs. "Sweet Jane" (w/Spencer Breslin!)
Two of the greatest, mumbliest songwriters of the '60s decide to write sweet love songs! But only one can succeed between Dylan and Lou Reed, and we've brought star of "Disney's The Kid" and "The Santa Clause" 2 and 3 Spencer Breslin to help us decide which of the rambly hipsters makes the…
more -
BONUS EPISODE: "Wicked" (w/Sarah Z!)
To make up for a minor scheduling snafu, we are unlocking the vault and releasing one of our bonus episodes! We invite Wicked megafan Sarah Z into the studio to talk about the two movies and whether they fix or worsen one of the most popular musicals of all time
-
164: "Grace Kelly" vs. "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"
Let us pick the best neo-glam rock song of the mid-00s! Who shall win, the faux-Queen belting of Mika's "Grace Kelly" or the Elton John-approved disco of the Scissor Sisters' "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"? And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of...
-
SPECIAL: The Grammys! Can they stay good?? (w/Mic the Snare!)
2026! Not as good as last year's Grammys, but what could be? So how did everyone do, and can this trend keep up? Also: Fuck ICE?
-
163: "Good Vibrations" vs. "A Day in the Life"
In the mid-1960s, two bands thought, what if rock and roll could be ART?? And so we got two masterpieces, but only one can stand as the greatest of all time, so who made the greatest rock mini-symphony of all time, And as always — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating…
more -
162: "sports car" vs. "Fame is a Gun" (w/Andrew Unterberger!)
It's 2026 and we're doing our real 2025 in review, with double the Rae. Which of the two dancing hot girl pop stars is gonna be the one to lead us into the new year, do you prefer Tate McRae's "sports car" or Addison Rae's "Fame is a Gun"? And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts —…
more -
161: "Beautiful Things" vs. "Lose Control" (ft. Kevin Anderson)
They were the biggest songs of 2025 and unfortunately they were from 2024 but they just wouldn't go away, so much so that we had to use our 2025 in review year-end podcast to talk about them! Which overplayed song of the year AND the year before made you do backflips and/or lose control, Benson...
-
160: "Blue Christmas" vs. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (with Chris Dalla Riva!)
Once upon a time there were no songs about being lonely at Christmas. And then, two early rock-and-roll legends, the King of Rock and Roll Elvis, and lifelong backup singer Darlene Love (overshadowed by megaproducer Phil Spector) released two songs to hit the hearts of people missing their baby…
more -
159: "Dancing on My Own" vs. "Run Away with Me" (with Josh from Target Audience)
The two great "justice for" pop songs of the 2010s. The two songs that created the lane of popheads' cult heroes that dominates the forums. But only one can stand supreme so which one shall rule, Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" or Carly Rae Jepsen's "Run Away with Me"? And if you have the time and...
-
158: "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" vs. "Sunny Came Home"
Did y'all see that Lilith Fair documentary on Hulu? We did, and we have thoughts about two of its biggest stars -- or at least, the two who will always be associated with Lilith Fair first and foremost. But who shall be the victor? Is it Paula Cole's sad-marriage lament "Where Have All the…
more -
157: "Werewolves of London" vs. "Godzilla"
Aooooooooo... there goes Godzilla? We're adding songs about monsters to the ol' Halloween party playlist and we need to know which of the late '70s weirdos is going on there first? Do we admire the perfect hair and tailoring of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" or do we go scream "My god!" as...
-
156: "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" vs. "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" (with Angela Collier!)
When did country music get so dumb? We've pinpointed it down to two points along the path that changed country music forever, and we've invited physics expert and '90s country fan Dr. Angela Collier to help us decide which of the proto-bro country songs actually holds up, "She Thinks My Tractor's...
-
155: "Kryptonite" vs. "Hanging by a Moment" (with Chris Payne!)
It's the year 2000, mom is taking you to soccer practice and the radio station is playing two quasi-rock adult contemporary songs over and over and over again! But which minivan rock song of Y2K still holds a dear place in our hearts, 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite" or Lifehouse's "Hanging by a...
-
154: "The Whole of the Moon" vs. "Under the Milky Way" (with Andrew Unterberger!)
Song vs. Song is back from our unscheduled hiatus!! We finally cover two songs you might not know but your favorite artists definitely know and probably covered at one point. What is the best celestial and vaguely Celtic college rock song of the '80s, The Waterboys' "The Whole of the Moon" or The...
-
BONUS: The MTV VMAs weren't even on MTV this year
We keep saying this is the worst VMAs ever, and we're always right. This year hit new lows of being both irrelevant and unwatchable, thank god for Sabrina.
-
A Josie and the Pussycats bonus episode!
While Todd and Lina wind down their break, a special Bonus Episode released from the vault! Enjoy the greatness of Josie and the Pussycats!
-
A special High School Musical episode (with Big Joel!)
While we take our break, a little taste of what you can get on our Patreon! We invited Big Joel to do one of our special Patreon bonus episodes, this time about the High School Musical trilogy!
-
153: "Manchild" vs. "The Giver"
Our follow-up to last year's "Espresso" vs. "HOT TO GO!" episode! How are the two big pop starlets of 2024 faring in 2025? We debate the weird reactions and rollouts of Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" vs. Chappell Roan's "The Giver"!
-
152: "Old Town Road" vs. "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" (w/Mark Grondin!)
America loves hip-hop/country mashups that top the charts for 19 weeks! One was a TikTok fluke that changed the culture, one a legitimate country song from an outsider who rode a Beyonce cosign into Nashville, but which is better, Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" vs. Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"?
-
151: "Takeover" vs. "Ether" (with FDSignifier!!)
It is time to revisit one of the most storied rap beefs of all time! Between Pac vs. Biggie and Kendrick vs. Drake, we had Jay-Z vs. Nas, an absolutely vicious rap battle that seems almost quaint now. This was already debated to death in 2001 but we're going to relitigate it, so who actually had...
-
150: "Let's Stay Together" vs. "Let's Get It On" (w/Marc Avery of WOLVES!)
Two of the greatest soul songs -- heck, maybe *the* two greatest soul songs -- of the '70s??! And they both begin with the word "let's"? Well this is a matchup we have to do, so let's vote now, which preacher's son made the better classic lovemaking song, Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" or…
more -
149: "Back to Black" vs. "Someone Like You"
Amy Winehouse and Adele. Two of the greatest vocalists who ever lived who also both happen to be British white girls. And they absolutely tore your guts out with the saddest song in their respective catalogs. So who did it better, Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" or Adele's "Someone Like You"?
-
148: "One Headlight" vs. "The Way" (w/Niko Stratis!)
If you listened to the radio in the late '90s, two rock bands had songs about driving and losing loved ones, and seemed to disappear immediately once the '90s ended. And we have Niko Stratis, author of "The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman," to help up choose the best! What's the greatest adult...
-
147: "Wake Me Up" vs. "Don't You Worry Child" (w/Kevin Anderson!)
Get ready to feel the pulse and ride the wave because we're doing our EDM megahit matchup. But which of the biggest hits of 2013 from Swedish megastars drops the beat hardest, Avicii's "Wake Me Up" or Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child"?
-
146: "Vogue" vs. "Rhythm Nation"
Strike a pose! Two of the biggest pop divas have a message for the world, but do we unite for Janet or do we move to the music for Madonna? Only one pop diva can be the biggest star of 1990, so let us debate which it is, is it Madonna's "Vogue" or Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation"?
-
145: "Machinehead" vs. "Interstate Love Song" (w/Pat Finnerty!!)
The second-wave of grunge arrives, and "What Makes This Song Stink"'s Pat Finnerty is here to explain if they stink! Bush were considered the poor man's Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots were the poor man's Pearl Jam, but has time shifted people's opinions? Let us decide if these songs stink as we...
-
144: "Billie Jean" vs. "When Doves Cry"
THE EPIC MATCHUP. THE KING OF POP, vs. THE PURPLE ONE. Only one can be the reigning royalty, the titan of pop music of all time. So we are finally hashing it out for ever, WHO'S BAD, Michael Jackson or Prince, and whose biggest hit will reign supreme over the entirety of music, "Billie Jean" or...
-
143: "Royals" vs. "bad guy"
In the 2010s, a teenage girl songwriter came out of nowhere to completely redefine cool for the decade, upend the pop landscape and inspire legions of imitators. Twice. But only one of them can reign, so which teen anthem of the decade overwhelms you more with its effortless above-it-all...
-
BONUS EPISODE: The 2025 Grammys were... GOOD?? Like, really good?! What??
We're as shocked as you are, but the 2025 Grammys were actually worth watching this year.
-
142: "My Sweet Lord" vs. "Spirit in the Sky"
Remember when God was cool? In the early '70s, we had one legend and one nobody storm the charts about the greatness of the higher power, and we're going to see how gave glory to the Lord better? What's the better hippie-dippy religious song, George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" or Norman…
more -
141: "Friday" vs. "Miracles" (with Andrew Unterberger)
It's the meme songs of the early 2010s, made by people we look at very differently now! Did they deserve the derision they got? We dive into the agony and ecstasy of Rebecca Black's "Friday" vs. Insane Clown Posse's "Miracles"!
-
140: "Espresso" vs. "HOT TO GO!"
The two biggest pop girls of 2024 face off!! E-S-P-R-E-S-S-O, is it better than Hot To Go? Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" vs. Chappell Roan's "HOT TO GO!", who will win?
-
139: "Santa Baby" vs. "Baby It's Cold Outside"
Let's turn up the heat for Christmas. If you want something sultry and/or problematic for Christmas, there's only two songs available to you so pick your favorite, "Santa Baby" or "Baby It's Cold Outside"!
-
138: "Fuck the Police" vs. "Fight the Power"
Song vs. Song has announced the podcast's official political stance: Down with The Man! And we have two great late '80s hip-hop songs to help us take down the establishment, but which makes us angrier, N.W.A.'s "Fuck the Police" or Public Enemy's "Fight the Power"?
-
137: Best rain song?
Lina takes over the pod and gives us our first open-ended poll!! So it's time to determine -- what is the best rain song???