Cover Story is a podcast that uncovers the covers — that is, the stories, meanings, and histories behind our most classic songs. Each episode features host and musicologist Stephanie Shonekan and one guest. Together they take one classic song, two popular renditions, and discuss: Who did it better, and why?
This is a show about the music we love. But the conversations uncover intimate stories about our own personal connections with the songs. Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan reconnects us with great music and the diverse perspectives, histories, and identities of the artists and the fans who enjoy that music.
Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan is produced by Katelynn McIlwain, Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay, Nat Kuhn and Stephanie Shonekan. The series was edited by Ryan Famuliner (Season 1-3), Aaron Hay (Season 2-3) and Rehman Tungekar (Season 1).
This podcast is a collaboration between KBIA and Vox Magazine, with funding from the University of Maryland College of Arts and Humanities, MU’s College of Arts & Science, and the Missouri School of Journalism.
You can follow the podcast and other special projects on Twitter at @VoxMag, and @KBIA, and on Instagram at @voxmagazine and @kbianews.
“Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan” Season 2 was produced by Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay, and Stephanie Shonekan. Season Two was edited by Aaron Hay and Ryan Famuliner.
“Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan” Season 1 was produced by Janet Saidi, Kristofor Husted, Fernando Narro, Rehman Tungekar, and Ryan Famuliner, with host and producer Stephanie Shonekan.
-
In this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," University of Maryland graduate Mekhi Abbott joined Stephanie to discuss the thematic differences between “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and “Bound 2” by Kanye West. The original song, released in 1969, is full of affection and yearning, and was relatively unknown until Kanye West sampled it in 2013. But Kanye's interpretation of the song is a lot more coarse, and it’s often viewed as a dark twist on a love song. -
University of Maryland Associate Director of Bands Andrea Brown joins Stephanie Shonekan on this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan" to discuss "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand and Beyoncé. The tear-jerking ballad was produced for a film by the same name in 1973, and the feeling of longing for a love gone by is still just as touching decades later.
-
In this season premiere of Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan, Stephanie sits down with KBIA Morning Edition host Darren Hellwege to discuss "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest. It's a rebellious track about running amok under the cover of night. The Donnas covered it in 2001.
-
On this special season finale of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," Cheryl Henson and Nick Raposo join the podcast to discuss "Bein' Green," a song from our beloved childhood friend Kermit the Frog. Cheryl Henson is the daughter of Jim Henson, Kermit’s original voice actor and creator of The Muppets. And Nick Raposo is the son of Joe Raposo, a songwriter and composer who was one of the producers for Sesame Street. Together, they break down the cultural significance of Kermit’s song and how Ray Charles interpreted the universal ode to self-acceptance just a few years later.
-
Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," released in 1964, is both a personal plea for acceptance and a collective cry for justice. The Animals' version of the song — released just a few months later — maintains the same lyrics, but has a much lighter sound. On this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," Craig Thompson joins Stephanie to discuss the two versions and how they reflect the cultural landscape of the 1960s.
-
Kelvin McIlwain joins Stephanie Shonekan on this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan" to discuss the song "Superstar." It was originally released in 1969 by Delaney & Bonnie under the name "Groupie," a word that describes someone who follows around a celebrity in the hopes of one day meeting them. The Carpenters released their own version of the song in 1971 and named it "Superstar." Luther Vandross released a cover of "Superstar" in 1983. Shonekan and McIlwain unpack the differences in the Carpenters and Vandross versions of the song, as well as the legacy the artists have left behind.
-
In this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," Michelle Appel joins Shonekan to discuss Peter Gabriel's "Biko." They explore the song's embodiment of the anti-apartheid movement and how Joan Baez's version resonated with Appel's story as a young activist in the 80s.
-
The fourth season of Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan is kicking off with "Jolene," a song by Dolly Parton that burst back into the forefront of our minds when Beyoncé released her own version of the song earlier this year on her album "Cowboy Carter." Susan Rivera, the dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland, sits down with Stephanie Shonekan to discuss how the song has evolved across 50 years.
-
On this final episode of the season, Stephanie Shonekan brought in a special guest: her daughter, Ojurere Shonekan. Together, they unpack “Emotion,” a song by the Bee Gees released in 1994. Destiny’s Child covered it in 2001. The song is a vulnerable confession that the loss of a relationship is taking a serious emotional toll. As Stephanie and Ojurere discuss the song and its reinterpretation from disco to R&B, they take some time to reflect on their own shared memories of loss.
-
Stephanie Shonekan sat down with her sister dean, Kimberly Griffin, to talk about “Lately,” a classic breakup song that Stevie Wonder released in 1980. The song itself is a crushing glimpse into a relationship that’s slowly becoming one-sided. And when Jodeci covered the song in 1993, the group members infused it with their own range of emotion (because there’s lots of it to go around during a breakup, even the one-sided kind). In this episode, Stephanie and Kimberly break down the artists’ different approaches to “Lately” and reminisce over the era of ‘90s boy groups.