Tragedy, cover songs, and a surprising tagline: I Can’t Make You Love Me (George Michael)

Bootlegs, minimalism, and a songwriting legacy: A Place in Heaven (Prince)

Prince’s “A Place in Heaven” stands out as a hidden gem in his vast catalog. This episode dives deep into its unique musical structure, production history, and the artist’s experimental genius. We unpack the song’s waltz-like 3/4 time signature, unexpected chord changes, and minimalist instrumentation, discussing how Prince’s prolific creativity led to a vault of unreleased tracks. We also analyze the song’s lyrical themes, exploring motifs of longing, innocence, and social commentary rooted in the 1980s, and discuss how Prince’s vocal delivery and compositional choices reflect both vulnerability and innovation. In the mailbag section, we discuss the importance of kindness, collaboration, and relationship-building in the music industry, drawing from audience messages and personal experience. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG6MSmPbX2Y [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG6MSmPbX2Y] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4aJNQt6O0cYHFJU7aDAhRi?si=09e55632804a4f4f [https://open.spotify.com/track/4aJNQt6O0cYHFJU7aDAhRi?si=09e55632804a4f4f] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/a-place-in-heaven-prince-vocal-2020-remaster/1544308811 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/a-place-in-heaven-prince-vocal-2020-remaster/1544308811] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08Q8SDHRJ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_pOy6j4aLaKcic7q220Hewt8V4&trackAsin=B08QB1MNPY [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08Q8SDHRJ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_pOy6j4aLaKcic7q220Hewt8V4&trackAsin=B08QB1MNPY] Other links * Wikipedia article on Wendy & Lisa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_%26_Lisa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_%26_Lisa] * Lisa version of “A Place in Heaven”: https://youtu.be/vz9DMBoCTVc [https://youtu.be/vz9DMBoCTVc] * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

Vocal effects, a toxic relationship, and emotional stasis: Worst Thing I Could Do (ARORA)

A cappella electronica? This episode covers “Worst Thing I Could Do,” from contemporary a cappella group ARORA’s groundbreaking album, Bioluminescence. The group leverages advanced vocal effects and processing, creating ethereal, electronic textures that blur the line between human voice and synthesizer. In this week’s conversation, Trist and Elaine rave over the chord changes, dynamic arrangements, and clever use of half-choruses and rhythmic effects. They also analyze the song's poignant lyrics, which depict a toxic, unresolved relationship, and discuss how the unresolved musical ending mirrors the emotional stasis described in the words. In the Mailbag segment, Elaine and Trist discuss a real-world example from Threads illustrating the dramatic shift in songwriter earnings from the CD era to the streaming era, highlighting the challenges and reduced royalties faced by modern songwriters. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://youtu.be/2GAbXRIu6v8 [https://youtu.be/2GAbXRIu6v8] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/1gxzmqDNAILcvi0iOp5BOl?si=e78fa631505b4805 [https://open.spotify.com/track/1gxzmqDNAILcvi0iOp5BOl?si=e78fa631505b4805] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/worst-thing-i-could-do/681276513 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/worst-thing-i-could-do/681276513] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00E8WEALQ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_1cRxsNHQ8PyoK0o8vZFxFlOAk&trackAsin=B00E8WEJTO [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00E8WEALQ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_1cRxsNHQ8PyoK0o8vZFxFlOAk&trackAsin=B00E8WEJTO] Other links * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

A breakup, musical stops, and a dismissive complimentary close: Best (Theo Katzman)

Listen to the song * YouTube - https://youtu.be/h1ATm0c6AxA [https://youtu.be/h1ATm0c6AxA] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/1n11viwoaXFWfC9uZ1NFqb?si=d490e74dbe7f4994 [https://open.spotify.com/track/1n11viwoaXFWfC9uZ1NFqb?si=d490e74dbe7f4994] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/best/1493029104 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/best/1493029104] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0837KZQLD?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_E9l5274gs9HHbWiawDsognJWu&trackAsin=B0837LFF1R [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0837KZQLD?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_E9l5274gs9HHbWiawDsognJWu&trackAsin=B0837LFF1R] Other links * How to End a Letter: 10 Formal Letter Closings [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-tips/how-to-end-a-letter/] (Grammarly) * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] Key takeaways * Trist and Elaine review Theo Katzman’s clever 2020 song “Best,” which focuses on the emotional impact of a letter's complimentary close * Elaine and Trist discuss the usage of breaks as accents and vocal delay for a choral effect, delving into how production techniques can make vocals sound bigger and more expressive. * In the Mailbag segment, Trist and Elaine cover how musicians often balance several part-time gigs, and how professional groups maintain a pool of substitute performers to ensure coverage when conflicts arise About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

Big Band, Baseball, and AM Radio: On the Sunny Side of the Street (Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, featuring the Sentamentalists)

This week, we review a classic big band arrangement of “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” highlighting the delayed entrance of the vocal group and other elements that make it a classic 1940s big band tune. This song has a vintage sound, and we jump into both the recording and playback technology that influenced that era of music. In the Mailbag segment, we discuss the relationship between an artist and social media, reinforcing that it’s now a core component of one’s marketing. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_8gXFgBkNY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_8gXFgBkNY] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/5qGUC3y9NXTpA6n5k3W5Fm?si=b4c10179b4454fe7 [https://open.spotify.com/track/5qGUC3y9NXTpA6n5k3W5Fm?si=b4c10179b4454fe7] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/on-the-sunny-side-of-the-street-from-is-everybody-happy/304824058 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/on-the-sunny-side-of-the-street-from-is-everybody-happy/304824058] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0G2BQ5JBV?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_KBQ1NdkP5cnECpS0K5QV7w1gT&trackAsin=B0G2BKFNQH [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0G2BQ5JBV?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_KBQ1NdkP5cnECpS0K5QV7w1gT&trackAsin=B0G2BKFNQH] Other links * The Manhattan Transfer’s version of “On the Sunny Side of the Street” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2e_xX6kfGo] * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

Tragedy, cover songs, and a surprising tagline: I Can’t Make You Love Me (George Michael)

This episode reviews George Michael’s cover of “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” the classic Bonnie Raitt hit, covering the differences between the vocal delivery and instrumentation. But there's a mystery: the surprising tag that George Michael added to the end of his version, which takes a tragic song and gives a surprising twist of hope on it. In the mailbag portion of the segment, Trist and Elaine discuss the importance of music in schools, especially at the elementary school level, in shaping lifelong musical engagement, both as creators and as consumers. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://youtu.be/2_lpN31PmD8 [https://youtu.be/2_lpN31PmD8] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/3dQVWKuUMjxtuyflV4tzHV?si=9cded47836ed433c [https://open.spotify.com/track/3dQVWKuUMjxtuyflV4tzHV?si=9cded47836ed433c] (may not having ending) * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/i-cant-make-you-love-me-studio-version/429945624 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/i-cant-make-you-love-me-studio-version/429945624] (may not have ending) * Amazon - https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B011QPB5MO?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_q2daXareM97Nqr2K4FngIftPl&trackAsin=B011QPCN5W [https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B011QPB5MO?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_q2daXareM97Nqr2K4FngIftPl&trackAsin=B011QPCN5W] Other links * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer