Podcast Summary: All Songs Considered – Our No. 1 Songs: 2020
Host: Robin Hilton
Guest: Stephen Thompson
Date: December 1, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson of NPR's All Songs Considered reflect on the music landscape of 2020, sharing their top picks for the year's best songs and albums. Despite the challenges and upheaval of the year, they highlight standout tracks and albums—particularly those that offered comfort, catharsis, or humor. The episode weaves together personal reflections, musical analysis, and a tour of some of the year’s most memorable releases.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Challenges of Picking a Favorite from 2020
- The hosts note the difficulty in selecting a single standout song from 2020 despite being closer to the present day.
- Robin Hilton: “I really struggled trying to come up with what my number one song of 2020 would be... It's not gotten any easier, actually. Harder.” (00:35)
- Stephen Thompson humorously acknowledges 2020 was a “nice, quiet, uneventful year.” (00:28)
Major Releases and Top Picks
Phoebe Bridgers – "Kyoto" [Punisher]
- The hosts play “Kyoto,” quickly recognizing its significance.
- Stephen Thompson: “That song Kyoto… has this amazing line. ‘I wanted to see the world through your eyes until it happened. Then I changed my mind.’” (03:15)
- Robin Hilton calls Punisher one of the “most gorgeous records I’d ever heard in my life.” (03:00)
- Both hosts highlight the quotability and depth of Bridgers’ songwriting.
- Stephen Thompson: “It [the album] is so gorgeous and so insightful and so quotable.” (03:15)
Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
- Recognized as Robin’s favorite album of the year.
- Robin Hilton: “The Fiona Apple record was my number one album… I didn’t have a song from it that I would pick as my number one song...” (03:00)
- The record is praised as a creative and powerful work, with a “slow burn” standout in “I Know the End.” (03:41)
Megan Thee Stallion (and "WAP")
- Multiple mentions of the cultural impact of “WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion, and Megan’s overall presence with “Savage” (with Beyoncé).
- Stephen Thompson: “Musically speaking, 2020 was full of bangers. Not only WAP, you had, you know, Savage. It was a big year for Megan Thee Stallion.” (02:32)
Bad Moves – “Local Radio” [Untenable]
- Robin’s pick for the number one song of 2020; band includes longtime NPR colleague Dawoud Tyler Amin on drums.
- Robin Hilton: “That’s so catchy, so infectious, so hooky. Great power pop, Bad Moves.”
- Both hosts acknowledge possible bias but stress the album’s genuine quality:
- Stephen Thompson: “A bias absolutely exists because we loved our personality.” (05:46)
- Robin Hilton: “The album was called Untenable, which, by the way, felt like the perfect word for 2020.” (06:00)
- Both lament the band’s breakup in 2025, highlighting what fans will miss.
- Robin Hilton: “Heartbroken to know that the band has just this year announced that they're breaking up.” (06:08)
Other Notable Songs & Albums of 2020
Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”
- Stephen Thompson’s country pick for the year, emphasizing Stapleton’s continued strong run:
- Robin Hilton: “What a run he had these last five, ten years too… releasing his own staggering works.” (10:10)
- Stephen Thompson: “He has not. The quality has not faded.” (10:20)
Max Richter – Voices
- Mentioned as an “incredibly powerful” record, though not dissected in detail. (10:24)
Christian Lee Hutson – “Atheist” [Beginners]
- Produced by Phoebe Bridgers, the track almost made Robin’s top spot.
Rafiq Bhatia – Standards Vol. 1 EP
- A haunting version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” noted by Robin for its impact. (10:38–11:28)
Njimale – “To Meet You There”
- Cited among Robin’s favorite discoveries of the year, appreciated for its haunting quality. (11:28–12:30)
The Chicks – “Gaslighter” [Gaslighter]
- Noted for their return under their new name and for the strong impact of their comeback album.
- Stephen Thompson: “They took Dixie out of their name and came back as The Chicks and put out a record called Gaslighter that I heard in my car probably 350 times in 2020.” (12:35)
- Robin Hilton recalls the realities of 2020: “When I finally came back to the building… there was a postcard in it from someone that said, here's to a great 2020. I just thought, yeah, about that.” (13:27)
Memorable Quotes
-
On Phoebe Bridgers’ lyricism:
“Every song on that record has some great line that kind of stops you in your tracks... ‘I wanted to see the world through your eyes until it happened. Then I changed my mind.’”
—Stephen Thompson (03:15) -
On 2020’s Power Pop:
“That’s so catchy, so infectious, so hooky. Great power pop, Bad Moves.”
—Robin Hilton (05:15) -
On country excellence:
“Boy, what a run he had these last five, 10 years too… while releasing his own staggering works.”
—Robin Hilton (10:10) -
On 2020’s unfulfilled optimism:
“Here’s to a great 2020. I just thought, yeah, about that.”
—Robin Hilton (13:27)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:23–01:15: Opening jokes and acknowledgement of 2020’s difficulty; struggle to pick favorites
- 01:39–03:53: Phoebe Bridgers – “Kyoto” and discussion of Punisher
- 03:53–06:22: Bad Moves – "Local Radio," band praise and NPR connection
- 08:37–10:24: Chris Stapleton – "Starting Over" and country music reflections
- 10:24–12:30: Other highlights: Max Richter, Christian Lee Hutson, Rafiq Bhatia, Njimale
- 12:30–13:27: The Chicks – “Gaslighter” and memories of their return
- 13:27–14:01: Reflections on the surreal year that was 2020
- 14:06–End: Outro music ("Gaslighter" by The Chicks)
Final Thoughts
This episode offers a candid, nostalgic, and sometimes humorous look back at the music of 2020. Bridgers and Fiona Apple are lauded for their artistic achievements, while the hosts’ personal connections to songs and artists add warmth and authenticity. The discussion balances critical insight with the emotional resonance music provided during a turbulent year, making for an engaging listen and a fitting tribute to 2020’s musical landscape.