MusicMusic Commentary

Soul Music

BBC Radio 4

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

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24 episodes
weekly
Avg 28 min
English

Episodes 24

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Saturday · 27 min
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
The enduring song of quiet courage and acceptance in the face of passing time.
September 7 · 27 min
Wild Mountain Thyme
Will Ye Go Lassie Go?
August 22 · 27 min
Sweet Caroline
Piecing together how a song released in 1969 became a sport anthem.
August 15 · 27 min
Rasputin by Boney M
Why a disco song about a Russian priest still brings joy today.
January 24 · 27 min
Make You Feel My Love
A huge hit for Adele, the song was written by Bob Dylan and has rapidly become a standard.
January 17 · 27 min
Cranes in the Sky by Solange
Solange's hit song from 2016 muses on themes of isolation and depression.
January 10 · 27 min
Yellow by Coldplay
Stories of what Yellow, one of Coldplay's most iconic songs, means to people 25 years on.
January 3 · 27 min
Porcelain by Moby
The ethereal sound of Moby's massive hit from 2000.
Dec 27, 2025 · 56 min
Soul Music at 25
A special programme marking 25 years of the award-winning series.
Apr 26, 2025 · 27 min
Bésame Mucho
Stories of one of the most recorded Spanish-language songs of all time.
Apr 19, 2025 · 27 min
May You Never
John Martyn's most enduring song, from 1971.
Apr 12, 2025 · 27 min
Ae Fond Kiss by Robert Burns
Ae Fond Kiss: one of Robert Burns' most famous poems set to music.
Apr 5, 2025 · 27 min
I Feel Love
Stories of love, loss and legacy surrounding Donna Summer's iconic 1977 hit I Feel Love.
Jan 1, 2025 · 27 min
Sailing By
Stories about a piece of light music which became interwoven with the Shipping Forecast.
Nov 9, 2024 · 27 min
Benedictus
With its message of peace, Karl Jenkins's Benedictus brings solace in hard times.
Oct 26, 2024 · 27 min
Lovely Day by Bill Withers
The deceptively simple song that is a mantra for people.
Oct 19, 2024 · 28 min
Tender
Stories of what Tender, from Blur's 1999 album 13, means to people around the world.
Oct 12, 2024 · 27 min
Diamonds and Rust
Stories of love and loss surrounding the song Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez.
May 4, 2024 · 27 min
Tiny Dancer
Elton John's slow burner of a song is now one of his most loved tracks.
Apr 27, 2024 · 27 min
Northern Sky
Exploring why Nick Drake's song from the album Bryter Layter means so much to so many.

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes