All Songs Considered

Our No. 1 songs: 2019

November 24, 2025

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  • The hosts of *All Songs Considered*, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson, are revisiting their favorite songs from 2019 as part of a series celebrating the show's 25th anniversary. 
  • Stephen Thompson's number one song for 2019 was "bury a friend" by Billie Eilish, praised for its immaculate production by Phineas, which earned him the Grammy for Producer of the Year. 
  • Robin Hilton's top pick for 2019 was "School of Design" by Tiny Ruins, an artist from New Zealand, and the discussion also highlighted the country supergroup The High Women's song "Crowded Table" as an A-material effort. 

Segments

Episode Context and 2019 Review
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(00:00:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The All Songs Considered episode focuses on the hosts’ number one songs from 2019 as part of a 25th-anniversary retrospective series.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson introduce the segment dedicated to their favorite songs from 2019. This is part of an ongoing weekly look back at the past 25 years of the show. The hosts note that their initial picks for the year did not include many obvious, big hits.
Billie Eilish’s “bury a friend”
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(00:00:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Billie Eilish’s album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? was a massive success, highlighted by the track “bury a friend” and its producer Phineas winning Producer of the Year at the 2020 Grammys for that single album.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson selects “bury a friend” by Billie Eilish, noting the album felt like it came out of nowhere. The production quality, particularly the clarity in the mix, is highly praised. The segment points out that Phineas won Producer of the Year for producing this one album.
Tiny Ruins’ “School of Design”
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(00:03:26)
  • Key Takeaway: “School of Design” by Tiny Ruins, a band from New Zealand, is highlighted for its transporting imagery and beautiful vocal performance.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton presents “School of Design” by Tiny Ruins from their album Olympic Girls. The song is described as transporting and evocative, with a voice that listeners could ’live in.’ Tiny Ruins also has a highly regarded song from the decade called “Me at the Museum, You in the Winter Gardens.”
Sponsor Messages Break
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(00:06:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast pauses for advertisements from NYU Langone Health, Vital Farms, and DSW.
  • Summary: The show takes a break to feature sponsor messages before continuing the discussion of 2019 music. NYU Langone Health discusses data analytics in cardiovascular care. Vital Farms promotes their pasture-raised eggs and commitment to land stewardship. DSW advertises its wide selection of shoes.
Ashley McBryde and Wise Blood
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(00:09:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Ashley McBryde’s song “One Night Standards” is lauded as a perfect country song with incredibly smart lyricism, while Wise Blood’s “Andromeda” is mentioned as another track from 2019.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson shares his appreciation for Ashley McBryde’s “One Night Standards,” calling it a perfect three-minute country song with clever wordplay. The segment also briefly mentions “Andromeda” by Wise Blood from the host’s personal top 10 list.
Lana Del Rey and Microwave
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(00:13:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Lana Del Rey’s epic album Norman F*ing Rockwell, produced by Jack Antonoff, showcased her range, contrasting with the more intimate sound of other 2019 favorites.
  • Summary: Lana Del Rey’s song “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have” is played, noted for its long title and raw lyrical content. The album Norman F*ing Rockwell is described as sprawling and ambitious. The band Microwave’s song “Leather Daddy” is also mentioned as a 2019 track.
Big Thief and The High Women
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(00:15:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The country supergroup The High Women, featuring Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, and others, released their self-titled album featuring the gorgeous song “Crowded Table,” which featured A-material from all contributors.
  • Summary: Big Thief’s song “Not” is played, featuring a three-minute guitar solo that obsessed the music team. The hosts celebrate The High Women’s self-titled album, specifically highlighting “Crowded Table” for its theme of communal support. The quality of the material from this supergroup exceeded typical expectations.
Ariana Grande and Final Thoughts
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(00:17:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” is cited as her best song, leading to a reflection on how quickly the musical landscape of 2019 feels distant.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson names Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” as her best song. The hosts express surprise at how much the music discussed feels like it belongs to a distant era, despite being only six years prior. The episode concludes with closing remarks from Robin Hilton.