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PODCAST

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars

Tom Thompson, Tyler Ralston

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars seeks to unravel the stories behind some of pop"s most unlikely hits. From simple curiosities to songs that changed the world, we examine the sociopolitical and cultural factors that contributed to the success of these surprising outliers, and the impact these songs had on society.

music music history

All Episodes

63:14

Ghost Town - The Specials

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/10/30

Send us a text In this very special Hallowe'en episode, our beloved rude boys put on their drainpipe trousers and kick back to the spooky sounds of The Specials' #1 hit "Ghost Town." As they skank down the streets of Coventry they make a stop at Elvis Costello's bordello before clashing with the locals in Brixton. While they are by no means condemning the condom, they marvel at the many, MANY special public service announcements imploring the youth to keep a generation gap...by wearing ...

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54:44

Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/09/09

Send us a text In this episode, the lads uncover a song...within a song...within a song...within a song as they excavate the layers of The Verve's 1997 hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony". As they descend into the musical mine they find The Rolling Stones, The Staples Singers, discuss magical musical moments in London, marvel at the bittersweet results of an international hit, and wretch at the often inequitable distribution of royalties. Put your hard hats on, light your headlamps up and join the bo...

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52:33

Chant - The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/07/22

Send us a text In this episode our devilish monks walk the not-so fine line between self-discipline and self-pleasure as they ponder the mysteries of the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos' most unlikely double-platinum success Chant, which gently rocked the world in 1994 and changed the way we think about music. On their journey to a simpler, more monastic life our friends are tempted by Snoop Dogg, reunite with Suzanne Vega, experience unspeakable "Sadeness" with Enigma, and rage a...

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59:30

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum (Listener Pick!)

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/06/26

Send us a text In this episode, featuring a listener pick, our kindred spirits ponder the deeper questions of earthly existence and the afterlife, as they examine Norman Greenbaum's 1969 classic "Spirit in the Sky". Things get downright fuzzy as they nerd-out on classic guitar tones and jimmy (Jimi?) open the caskets of the guitar greats in search of clarity. Join the fellas on their journey of redemption as they seek to understand how a Jewish-American came up with the best Christian spiritu...

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45:29

I Touch Myself - Divinyls

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/05/15

Send us a text In this touching episode, the boyz go way down south and get down and dirty down under with Divinyls' classic hit "I Touch Myself." In their journey of self discovery, they learn that women have always led the charge when it comes to songs about self-pleasure, leaving men in the dark. Join Tommy Two Tones and Titillating Ty as they work hand-in-glove to put their finger on the reasons for this shocking discrepancy. Songs: The Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Tech...

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51:10

Cannonball - The Breeders

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/04/09

Send us a text In this episode, the lads take the plunge off the deep end, diving into The Breeder's 1993 surprise hit "Cannonball." On their journey through 1990s alternative space, they consider the innovation of the era, including off-key intros, sado-masochistic lyrics, and the rhythmic beauty of bong water bubbles. Join the boyz as they make a divine splash into one of the most interesting eras of rock. Songs: The Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology Billy Joel - We Didn'...

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0:54

Special Announcement

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/03/07

Send us a text Connect with us: Instagram

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58:34

Metal Health - Quiet Riot

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2025/01/25

Send us a textIn this episode the lads take a stab at the darkness and aim to keep spirits up, all the while taking care of your metal health. Speaking of spirits, they finally get around to the "whisky challenge" making for a wobbly trip down memory lane. Along the way they go down some randy roads and engage in a heart-felt orgy with the Van Halen brothers. Put your headbands and studded wristbands on and bang your heads with the boys for this Whisky a Go Go of TnT episodes!Songs:The Reverb...

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51:41

Do They Know it's Christmas? - Band Aid

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/12/15

Send us a textIn the 40th episode of TnT's Hit Songs From Mars, our little elves wonder if "they really know it's Christmas" as they take a 40-year dive into Band Aid's 1984 song of a similar name. Tom reveals his vulnerable side by commending the stars of the day for putting their egos aside and coming together for a humanitarian cause, while Ty remains the same cynical scrooge as ever. The boyz reconcile, in the true spirit of Christmas, by agreeing that "We are the World" sucked and for "N...

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49:38

Tom's Diner - D.N.A. (feat. Suzanne Vega)

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/11/19

Send us a textDa da da da DA da da DA da DA duh DUH duh DAT duh duhIn this week's ep-i-sodeTnT do Suz-anne Ve-gaThe lads go a-ca-pell-a with her hit song Tom's Di-nerIn the midst of their dis-cuss-ion they find their way to Rich-ard Buck-nerWho leaves and tra-vels well as he sings so-lo in the for-estDa da da da DA da da DA da DA duh DUH duh DAT duh duhFrom there they meet with Lu-ka, who is on the se-cond floorThe boyz aren't really sure, but they think they've seen him be-foreIn the form of...

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60:34

Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/10/23

Send us a textIn this very special Halloween episode, Tom and Ty get out their protective eyewear, turn around, and stare into the bright eyes of Bonnie Tyler's 1983 "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Nearly blinded by Jim Steinman's over-the-top songwriting, the two marvel at how he and Bonnie Tyler make the song work (in spite of Tom almost purging his Halloween candy over the multitudinous key changes...or maybe it was the meatloaf? Another slice, anyone?). The boys dig deep into how pion...

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60:32

They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/09/23

Send us a textIn this episode, the lads pay homage to Michael Jackson's 1996 sleeper hit "They Don't Care About Us." On their pilgrimage (by llama of course), they are joined by the likes of Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Thomas Dolby Notorious B.I.G., and Spike Lee as they march to the other-worldly rhythms of Olodum. With the help of this braintrust, the fellas get down and dirty in the favelas of Rio and attempt to unravel how this combative musical offering became an ...

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56:36

She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/08/20

Send us a Text Message.In this episode the TnT Dork Collective get their nerd on with the geeky 1982 classic "She Blinded Me With Science." Tom blows Ty's mind with some little-known (and nerdy) Thomas Dolby trivia, including his associations with Foreigner, Joni Mitchell and Michael Jackson and then spazzes out when Ty nails his I'll-bet-you-didn't-know questions with the greatest of ease (like a true geek). Tape up those glasses, pop that floppy disk into the Commodore 64 and adjust your po...

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69:42

In Dreams - Roy Orbison

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/07/16

Send us a Text Message.In this episode the fellas dream their way back to 1963 and stare in disbelief (and delight) as the legendary Roy Orbison upstages the Beatles not once but twice with his top ten hit "In Dreams." Little did Roy know that as Orbi-mania faded that the Candy Colored Clown was sound asleep aboard the HSFM mothership, existing in a state of suspended animation for 23 years, only to be awoken by illustrious film director David Lynch. Lynch proceeded to revive not ...

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56:38

It's Oh So Quiet - Björk

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/06/16

Send us a Text Message.In this episode Tom goes berserk for Björk while Ty is blasé on her quirk. While Tom tries to convince Ty to not be a “jörk” about her work, the boys discuss the annoyingly unrepresentative hits that sometimes define an artist. While figuratively walking in the forest with Björk they manage to get into a discussion about primal guitar rock and the urge to jump off a cliff. Join the gentlemen as they not so quietly discuss the artist from Mars who came down to earth brie...

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61:19

Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2 - Pink Floyd

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/05/14

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, the lads travel back to the disco era where they shake their boo-tays to none other than...Pink Floyd? As they try to dig the dark Floydian disco groove, they critique some hits (and misses) of rock bands attempting disco and marvel at how the genre penetrated every nook and cranny of the era that bears its name. Ty also offers Tom an olive branch for his unrelenting dissing of producers, which Tom preempts...with a gift. All and all, it's j...

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65:16

Tubular Bells (Pt. 1) - Theme From "The Exorcist"

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/04/10

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62:43

Love Shack - The B-52s

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/03/04

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58:45

Ball of Confusion - Love and Rockets

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/02/05

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48:59

Trololo - Eduard Khil

TnT"s Hit Songs From Mars ·

2024/01/06

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