All Songs Considered

We share more reimagined and reinterpreted songs that rival the originals, including Janis Joplin’s iconic take on Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” a reggae version of The Beatles song “Don’t Let Me Down,” and more.

NPR Music’s Dora Levite and Lars Gotrich rejoin host Robin Hilton for another round.

Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(04:30) Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris: Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush”

(09:31) Frodus: Devo’s “Explosions” 

(12:58) Janis Joplin: Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee”

(17:12) Jai Paul: Jennifer Paige’s “Crush”

(22:26) Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey: Lionel Richie & Diana Ross's “Endless Love”

(27:40) Nico: Jackson Browne’s “These Days”

(32:34) Tricky: Public Enemy’s “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”

(35:29) Cassandra Wilson: Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”

(40:04) Phoebe Bridgers: The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love”

(43:56) Marcia Griffiths: The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down”

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

After nearly two decades of producing works by other musicians, including Kendrick Lamar and Vampire Weekend, the artist known as Dahi has just released his debut solo album. He describes it as “African Radiohead,” with kaleidoscopic soundscapes, intricate polyrhythms and a breathtaking list of collaborators. We open this week’s show with the song “How to Pray,” featuring both Kendrick Lamar and singer Amber Mark.

Our other picks for the best new tracks of the week include Dominic Fike’s heady “Wallflower,” dancefloor beats from singer Jorja Smith, an 8-bit instrumental from composer Emily A. Sprague and more.

NPR Music writer and editor Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.

Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured artists and songs:
(00:00) Intro
(02:00) Dahi, Kenrick Lamar & Amber Mark: “How To Pray”
(10:08) OHMA: “Ever Expanding”
(18:46) Dominic Fike: “Wallflower”
(25:20) Jorja Smith: “I Lied, You Lied”
(33:20) Emily A. Sprague: “Noon Liquid Ore”
(41:50) Osamu Fukuzawa & IYAMAH: “Butterflies (feat. edbl)”

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Is Sunday morning the best time for music? Whether you prefer solitude, get-togethers with family or friends, or steeling yourself for the week to come, we’ve got the perfect album to score your early hours.  

NPR Music’s Hazel Cills and Lars Gotrich join host Robin Hilton.

Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured songs and artists:

(00:00) Intro / Miles Davis: “So What”

(02:32) Astrud Gilberto: “Once I Loved”

(06:29) The Congos: “Fisherman”

(08:48) Madredeus: “Três Ilusoses - Amargura”

(13:02) Laurie Spiegel: “Patchwork”

(17:03) BAD OPERATION: “Bagel Rooks”

(20:10) Django Reinhardt: “Exactly Like You”

(24:05) Tirzah: “Holding On”

(28:13) Margo Guryan: “Sunday Morning”

(33:32) Ishman Williams & the William Singers: “The Old Ship Zion”

(37:42) Electrelane: “Gone Under Sea”

(41:35) Woo: “Make Me Tea”

(45:17) St. Germain: “So Flute”

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

Note: A version of this episode originally ran in 2025

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

On this week’s show, Weezer gives the people what they want, plus a breathless “dirt dance” from saxophonist Colin Stetson and bagpiper Brìghde Chaimbeul, the scruffy cello-pop of yeemz, works by composer and vocalist Meredith Monk, electronic artist Jlin and more.  

NPR Music’s Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton as we share our picks for the best new songs of the week.

Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(00:51) Weezer: “C.E.O.”

(08:24) Colin Stetson, Brìghde Chaimbeul: “Dirt dance”

(18:16) slimdan: “Let’s Start A Cult!”

(25:09) Phaedra Ensemble: “Phantom Strings” (Meredith Monk)

(31:43) yeemz: “Brace for Impact” (single)

(37:36) PUBLIQuartet: “Baobab” (Jlin)

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Sometimes a cover song is so good, so singular that it completely eclipses the original version.  Think Sinéad O'Connor doing The Family's “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Jimmy Hendrix lighting up Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” or, of course, Whitney Houston’s defining take on Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”  On this week’s show, we share some of our picks for cover songs that are better than the originals, talk about why, and what, exactly, a cover song needs to become a classic.

NPR Music’s Dora Levite and Lars Gotrich join host Robin Hilton.

Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro and the G.O.A.T.s 

(06:06) Al Green: “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”

(09:58) Björk: “It’s Oh So Quiet”

(12:28) Aretha Franklin: “Respect”

(16:22) Low: “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”

(19:45) Andrew Paul Woodworth: “Fight For Your Right to Party”

(25:10) Yaeji: “Passionfruit”

(28:13) Shonen Knife: “Top of the World”

(32:06) Wednesday: “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double)”

(34:54) Low: “Fearless”

(36:37) Harry Nilsson: “Without You”

(39:57) Beyonce: “Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live Bonus Track)”

(42:35) Gary Jules: “Mad World”

(49:19) Chaka Khan: “I Feel For You”

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy