422 - The Ronettes - Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes - Zainab Johnson
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EPISODE SUMMARY:
While some might reduce the golden age of doo-wop as nothing more than bright-eyed pop starlets slinging sugar coated love songs, there is no denying that there is power in those voices and an undeniable appeal in a seemingly formulaic approach to songwriting. Few better examples of that power exist than the Ronettes, who despite only ever releasing one album, have a look and sound that resonates with lovesick listeners across generations. 1964's Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica instantly appealed to comedian and actress Zainab Johnson as a child, hearing it as a rallying cry for girls getting their first lessons in the ways of the heart. Many years later, Zainab still sees those early influences of strong femininity as having helped push her forward in life towards a successful career as a co-host of Netflix's 100 Humans and part of the cast of Amazon Prime's Upload.
SHOW NOTES:
00:00 – Intro
05:45 – A neighbor with a record player
08:30 – Growing up in Spanish Harlem
12:45 – Women get shit done
16:30 – Phil Spector is crazy as hell
25:15 – The Wall of Sound
32:00 – Sudden romance (weather-permitting)
36:30 – No boyfriends in this house
46:00 – Don’t stop for anyone
48:00 – The bad side of love songs
57:45 – No one wants to beta-test immortality
1:00:00 – Facts!
1:03:30 – The rhythm of the night
1:05:15 – Outro