Malcolm Breaks Down the Perfect Break Up Song

Malcolm Breaks Down the Perfect Break Up Song

Author: Pushkin Industries February 14, 2025 Duration: 36:07

In this Valentine’s Day special from Pushkin Industries, Malcolm breaks down the perfect break up song. But first, Broken Record hosts Justin Richmond and Leah Rose make their cases: is R&B the undisputed sound of love? Are sad songs more romantic? Can country win the day?

Plus, Ben Naddaff-Hafrey writes a love song of his own, and the legendary songwriter Babyface talks about how young love shaped his most enduring ballads.

Whether you're mid-swoon or nursing a broken heart, this episode is Pushkin’s Valentine to you.

Listen to Broken Record’s interview with Babyface

Listen to a Revisionist History episode about sad songs.

And hear more from Ben’s band, Rookin.

Plus, our battle of the playlists continues… here’s Leah’s sad songs playlist. And Justin’s for love songs. Pick your fighter and… enjoy!

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Revisionist History
Podcast Episodes
The Alabama Murders - Part 1: The True Church [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:36
In a small town in the northwest corner of Alabama, a cascade begins with a man and an affair. Get early, ad-free access to the full season of The Alabama Murders by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.f…
The Alabama Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:37
Florence, Alabama. 1988. A preacher has an affair. A woman is murdered. One death cascades into more, stretching across decades and leaving no one untouched — victims, bystanders, perpetrators, and those just trying to h…
Americana Music Live with Drew Holcomb and Malcolm Gladwell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:11
Wrapping up our summer music series, the Memphis-born, East Nashville-based singer songwriter Drew Holcomb talks with Malcolm in front of a live audience at the Cherry Lane Theater in Greenwich Village. Drew plays origin…
Encore: Good Old Boys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:01
In 2019, Malcolm just wanted an excuse to hang out with Randy Newman so they sat down at the piano together and tried to answer the question: If you disagree with someone — if you find what they think appalling — is ther…
Encore: Analysis, Parapraxis, Elvis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:20
Malcolm’s habit of reading footnotes leads him to the psychologist Alan Elms, which leads him to the one song Elvis couldn’t sing. We revisit this 2018 episode as part of our encore music series. Get ad-free episodes to…
Encore: The King of Tears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:31
Why does country music make you cry, but rock and roll doesn’t? We revisit a musical interpretation of a divided America in this episode from 2017. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ o…
Encore: Hallelujah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:14
How does genius emerge? Kicking off our summer series, Malcolm digs into the Revisionist History archive to revisit Elvis Costello’s song “Deportee” and explore the power of innovation. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionis…
Encores [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47
Starting next week, we revisit four of Malcolm’s favorite episodes from the Revisionist History archives, all about music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Formula [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
In our season finale, we team up with the Culinary Institute of America to reverse engineer the secret recipe for Thomas’s English Muffins. You can read our top secret muffin recipe here. Get ad-free episodes to Revision…
Nooks & Crannies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:27
Seven people knew the recipe for a half-a-billion dollar muffin. Then, one of them tried to leave. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscrib…