Latest articles by Ethan Hein
A music professor breaks down the theory behind Prince's When Doves Cry
Best of 2024: As Purple Rain celebrates its 40th anniversary, we put one of Prince's best-loved songs under the musical microscope
The flawed genius of pop's biggest anthems, from Hey Jude to Hey Ya!
Our resident music professor explains why it's the weird, unexpected, and slightly annoying details that turn great songs into timeless classics
“He was one of the weirdest bass players in the history of rock”: 5 basslines that capture the genius of The Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh
We take a backwards glance at 5 of Lesh's greatest moments with The Grateful Dead
"He sounds like an alien": A music professor breaks down the theory behind Jeff Buckley's Lilac Wine
In recognition of Grace's 30th anniversary, we put one of the album's highlights under the musical microscope
"An effortless command of musical time”: A music professor breaks down Amy Winehouse's Back to Black
With Winehouse's biopic in the cinemas, we put her best-loved song under the musical microscope
The borrowed hooks and unstable grooves behind Michael Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
We put one of MJ's best-loved tunes under the musical microscope and explore the unlikely origins of its iconic hook
What makes an Oscar-winning song? We break down the music theory behind Billie Eilish's What Was I Made For?
We put Eilish's haunting contribution to the star-studded Barbie soundtrack under the musical microscope
"The verse melody is subtly strange, and it took me a while to figure out why": A music professor breaks down the theory and production behind Tracy Chapman's Fast Car
We put Chapman's moving 1988 single under the musical microscope after Luke Combs' Grammy-nominated cover thrusts it back into the charts
