All Songs Considered: Our No. 1 Songs – 2017

Host: Robin Hilton (NPR) with Stephen Thompson
Date: November 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson continue their retrospective journey, highlighting their picks for the best song of each year from the past quarter-century. This week, 2017 takes center stage. The hosts enthusiastically trade notes, not only sharing their number one, but diving deep into the year’s unforgettable music—from mainstream cultural touchstones like Kendrick Lamar and Lorde, to deeply affecting indie releases and personal picks. The episode offers both critical reflection and warm music-nerd camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unanimous Song of 2017: Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA.” (00:46–02:11)

• Both hosts instantly agree that Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. dominates 2017, particularly the track “DNA.”
• Robin describes his instant infatuation:

  “I remember when this record first came out. I listened to it and then I just started it all over again. … I listened to this four times all the way through … it just blew my mind apart.” (01:27)

• Stephen calls “DNA” a “perfect jam,” but also acknowledges the album is packed with replayable tracks: “You could play that one. You could play ‘Loyalty.’ You could play so many songs…” (01:59)

2. “Once-in-a-Generation” Albums (02:22–02:49)

• Robin compares DAMN. to Beyoncé’s Lemonade (2016), labeling both as singular artistic achievements:

  “Once in a generation album.” (02:22)

• Stephen, with wry humor, contends:

  “Many years have once in a generation albums.” (02:28)

• They discuss DAMN.’s landmark status, including its Pulitzer Prize win.

3. Stephen’s Deep Cut: Close Talker – “Afterthought” (03:06–05:39)

• For a more personal pick, Stephen highlights “Afterthought” by Close Talker—a song he loves intensely but believes is overlooked.
• He introduces it as:

  “A song that I cannot believe more people are not as obsessed with as I am.” (03:46)

• After playing a snippet, Robin admits he’s unfamiliar with the band.
• Stephen gushes:

  “It gives me goosebumps. … There is something so sly that just like slides under your skin … I cannot get enough of this song.” (05:02)

• They compare Close Talker’s sound to Sylvan Esso.

4. Other Notable Songs & Albums from 2017 (08:15–16:35)

a. Mount Eerie – “Real Death” (Album: A Crow Looked at Me) (08:15–10:38)

• Robin highlights the album’s opener, “Real Death,” describing it as “devastating.”
• Stephen provides moving context:

  “Not just songs about death, but songs about a death. Phil Elverum from Mount Eerie lost his wife … and then wrote these albums reflecting on just these deeply vivid details of her life, her death, and her absence in some of the most vivid and haunting and beautiful ways.” (09:50)

b. Feist – “Pleasure”

• Robin recalls Feist’s major comeback after six years with the album’s title track.
• He notes:

  “It was a big one for 2017.” (11:43)

c. Kesha – “Praying”

• Stephen notes 2017 as the year of Kesha’s comeback:

  “Everybody had to stop and kind of redefine Ke$ha in their minds … was able to make a grand statement that felt really big and important in 2017.” (12:50)

d. Phoebe Bridgers – “Motion Sickness” (Album: Stranger in the Alps)

• Both hosts celebrate the impact of Bridgers’ debut, with Robin calling out “Motion Sickness” as a highlight. (13:18–14:35)

e. Lorde – “Green Light” (Album: Melodrama)

• Robin sets up Lorde’s “Green Light” as the near-miss for his song of the year:

  “If not for Kendrick … I would have picked [this].” (14:40)

• Stephen exclaims,

  “Oh Lord, this song is so good.” (14:58)

• Robin explains its lasting power:

  “She showed a real gift for turning anxiety and turmoil and loss into a complete celebration. And I was so there for it.” (16:35)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Robin (on DAMN.):
  “I listened to this four times all the way through without … before I took a break from it … it just blew my mind apart.” (01:54)

• Stephen (on Close Talker):
  “I feel like, doesn’t everybody love this song?” (05:19)
  Robin: “I don’t think anybody else knows this song the way that you know this song.” (05:29)

• Robin (on Mount Eerie):
  “One of the greatest works of art about grief, I think of all time.” (10:38)

• Stephen (on Kesha):
  “Everybody kind of knew her from TikTok and these kind of delightful, silly, stupid songs … but also was able to make a grand statement that felt really big and important in 2017.” (12:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:46–02:11 — Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA.” and the impact of DAMN.
• 02:22–02:49 — “Once-in-a-generation” albums: comparing DAMN. and Lemonade
• 03:06–05:39 — Stephen’s deep cut: Close Talker – “Afterthought”
• 08:15–10:38 — Mount Eerie – “Real Death” and exploring grief in music
• 10:53–11:59 — Feist – “Pleasure” and her return
• 12:03–12:50 — Kesha – “Praying” and redefinition as an artist
• 13:18–14:35 — Phoebe Bridgers – “Motion Sickness” and her debut
• 14:40–16:35 — Lorde – “Green Light” and celebration through turmoil

Overall Tone & Vibe

• Warm, enthusiastic, music-obsessed banter: Hosts trade memories and favorite tracks with genuine excitement, mixing critical appreciation and personal stories.
• Deep and vulnerable at moments: Especially discussing Mount Eerie and music about grief.
• Inclusive and inviting: Even when referencing lesser-known artists, there’s an open invitation for listeners to explore along with the hosts.

Summary

This episode of All Songs Considered honors 2017 as a powerhouse year for music, led indisputably by Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN., but also filled with a diverse array of emotionally potent and stylistically varied works. Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson offer a blend of universally acclaimed singles and hidden gems, from the cathartic poetry of Mount Eerie to the exuberant pop of Lorde and the career redefining return of Kesha. The show stands as a celebration of both shared favorites and the thrill of personal discovery—reminding listeners that, for music-lovers, every year is rich with revelations and resonance.