All Songs Considered (NPR)
Episode: Our No. 1 Songs: 2018
Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson
Episode Overview
In this episode, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson celebrate NPR Music’s 25th anniversary by looking back at their top songs from 2018. Using the show’s signature blend of music discovery, friendly competition, and thoughtful commentary, they discuss their favorite tracks, reflect on the cultural impact of these songs, and explore what made 2018 a uniquely resonant year in music. The episode is packed with snippets of the year’s most significant tracks and rich analysis touching on themes of innovation, social commentary, and genre experimentation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. “Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monáe
[01:04–02:41]
- Stephen chooses “Make Me Feel” as his 2018 pick, immediately recognized by Robin as “a great pick.”
- Janelle Monáe’s Artistic Evolution: They highlight how her 2018 album was a “great leveling up and this great mission statement for Janelle Monae as this remarkably inventive, versatile…polymath actor, singer, shape shifting musical superstar.” (Stephen, 02:01)
- Prince’s Influence: The duo reflects on the “huge reservoir of love for Prince” (Stephen, 02:17) that still lingered after his death in 2016, noting the song’s “perfect timing.”
2. “This Is America” by Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)
[03:00–06:44]
- Robin’s pick is the seismic “This Is America,” a song Stephen admits he also considered.
- Cultural Impact: Robin reflects on his initial underestimation of Glover as “just a comedian to me and a very sharp, sharp wit, very funny, smart guy. And then this comes out and you realize, oh, these waters go very, very deep.” (Robin, 04:57)
- Addressing Urgent Issues: Both hosts acknowledge how the song “really spoke to a lot of people and spoke to the moment in ways…people are looking for music that is speaking to this moment in maybe the same way.” (Stephen, 05:20)
- Memorable Reaction: Robin recounts watching viral reaction videos: “people are going, like, yeah, yeah. What? Oh, my God, yeah.” (Robin, 06:17)
3. “Quiet” by MILCK
[08:42–10:05]
- Robin spotlights MILCK’s “Quiet,” noting its viral flash mob performance during the 2017 Women’s March, though the recording was released in 2018.
- Theme of Empowerment: Robin calls it “a song that just really resonated back then and I think still does.” (Robin, 10:04)
4. Kacey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour”
[10:18–11:53]
- Stephen highlights Musgraves’ 2018 Grammy-winning album Golden Hour as “the culmination of her rise.”
- Blurring Genre Lines: Stephen notes, “calling that a country album is a stretch. You know, it is a psychedelic folk record in a lot of ways, but kind of a perfect record that really summed up a lot of what she’d been trying to do.” (Stephen, 11:38)
5. Foxwarren’s “Everything Apart”
[11:53–14:03]
- Robin selects Foxwarren’s debut, led by Andy Shauf, especially the track “Everything Apart.”
- Musical Complexity: Robin loves “all these little sonic flourishes and cool sounds to get lost in…this song in particular, I think, it’s got a pretty wild beat…like two different things happening at the same time.” (Robin, 13:02)
- Comeback Note: He enthusiastically notes Foxwarren’s return after seven years.
- Rapid-fire Mentions: Robin and Stephen quickly list other notables: Tierra Whack (“Pet Sematary”), Meg Myers (“Tear Me to Pieces”), Robyn (“Missing U”).
6. Lucy Dacus’ “Night Shift”
[14:03–15:13]
- Stephen calls out “Night Shift,” with Robin (and both hosts) agreeing it’s a fitting close.
- Emotional Resonance: The hosts let the track play out, signifying the emotional punch and lasting impact of Dacus’ songwriting.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Janelle Monáe’s Prince Vibe:
“Tap[ped] into a little bit of the huge reservoir of love for Prince that everyone was still feeling in the aftermath of his death.”
—Stephen Thompson, [02:17] -
On Donald Glover’s Depth:
“Then this comes out and you realize, oh, these waters go very, very deep.”
—Robin Hilton, [04:57] -
On “This Is America”:
“It is impossible for us to really have an adequate conversation about this one song in just a couple of minute exchange…a staggering, important work of art on so many different levels.”
—Robin Hilton, [03:46] -
On MILCK’s “Quiet”:
“A song that just really resonated back then and I think still does.”
—Robin Hilton, [10:04] -
On Kacey Musgraves:
“Calling that a country album is a stretch. You know, it is a psychedelic folk record in a lot of ways, but kind of a perfect record that really summed up a lot of what she’d been trying to do.”
—Stephen Thompson, [11:38] -
On 2018’s Richness:
“Not a bad year for music. No. We could just keep going here, but this is a good one to end on from Lucy Dacus.”
—Robin Hilton, [15:00]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:15: Episode introduction
- 01:04–02:41: Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel” discussion
- 03:00–06:44: Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” discussion
- 08:42–10:05: MILCK’s “Quiet” and its resonance
- 10:18–11:53: Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour
- 11:53–14:03: Foxwarren and 2018 honorable mentions
- 14:03–15:13: Lucy Dacus’ “Night Shift” as a closer
Additional Notes
- The hosts’ dynamic is playful and nostalgic, maintaining NPR’s signature warmth and musical curiosity.
- Their selections reflect songs not just with musical merit but deep cultural relevance and emotional impact.
- The episode leans into the challenges of summing up an entire year in a handful of songs, reinforcing how prolific and genre-blending 2018 was.
Conclusion
“All Songs Considered: Our No. 1 Songs: 2018” is a rich, heartfelt walk through a transformative year in music, deftly balancing in-depth analysis with the emotional pull of songs that defined the American cultural moment. Robin and Stephen highlight not only the hits but also the stories, surprises, and societal shifts that made 2018 unforgettable for music lovers.