Kenneth Partridge

Joined: Jul 4, 2016

Kenneth Partridge is a music and pop-culture writer based in Brooklyn. He's written for such publications as Billboard, The AV Club, Pitchfork, and Refinery29. His hobbies include reading, running, shopping for records, and attempting to justify his love of ska.

Unraveling the Many Mysteries of New Order's "Blue Monday"

Swedish rockers Rednex perform in Hamburg, Germany.

The Murky Origins and Controversial History Behind the Song “Cotton Eye Joe”

Point of No Return: How 1980s Hitmakers Exposé Endured to Become One of the Most Successful Girl Groups of All Time

James Blunt at Chicago's Riviera Theater in 2006.

How James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" Became the Most Misunderstood—and Hated—Song of the 2000s

George Michael performs during his "Faith World Tour."

10 Facts About George Michael's 'Faith' for Its 35th Anniversary

The idea of pop stardom fundamentally changed in the 1980s, in part because of George Michael and his blockbuster solo album debut, 'Faith.'

Aerosmith and Run-DMC broke down walls—and musical barriers—with "Walk This Way."

How Aerosmith and Run-DMC's "Walk This Way" Forever Altered the Landscape of American Music

In the '80s, the destruction of two walls changed the course of human events. One was the Berlin Wall, which came down on November 9, 1989. The other was the wall separating Aerosmith from Run-DMC in the 1986 music video for "Walk This Way."

11 Wild Urban Legends Surrounding Popular Songs

From Tom Petty to The Eagles, fans have concocted some pretty bizarre—and very, very dark—theories about hit songs.

How Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" Inadvertently Became a Hollywood Soundtrack Staple

"Solsbury Hill," Peter Gabriel's solo artist debut, peaked at No. 68 when it was originally released in 1977. Then Hollywood came calling.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performs during the halftime show at 1999's Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami.

Flipping Out: Revisiting the 1990s Swing Revival

In the late ’90s, young people across America fell hard for swing, a musical genre that hadn’t been popular since before their parents were born.

Kate Bush's Haunting "Running Up That Hill" Has Been Connecting With New Generations for Nearly 40 Years

Kate Bush’s 1985 synth-pop classic “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” is running up the charts decades after its release—and not for the first time.

Thank You for the Music: Unpacking ABBA's Everlasting Appeal

When ABBA took an indefinite hiatus in 1982, they couldn’t have predicted the goodwill they’d garner over the next several decades.

How Kenny Loggins Became The King of '80s Movie Soundtracks

After helping to invent the supremely chill, lightly funky sound known as “yacht rock” in the ’70s, Kenny Loggins went full speed into the ’80s and took the highway to the danger zone of movie soundtracks.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in 'Titanic' (1997).

How Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On,' a Song No One Wanted, Became a Titanic Hit

Even 25 years later, "My Heart Will Go On"—the love theme from 'Titanic'—can still make audiences weep. But it's a miracle it got made, as James Cameron wasn't interested in including a pop song in his historical drama and Celine Dion hated the song.

If You Knew: The Short, Brilliant Life—and Lasting Legacy—of Jeff Buckley

If the only thing Jeff Buckley ever did was record his 1994 cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” he would still have a permanent spot in music history.

Nirvana artifacts and exhibits are seen at the opening of 'In Bloom: The Nirvana Exhibition,' a 2011 exhibition in London.

11 Surprising Facts About Nirvana's 'Nevermind'

On September 24, 1991, Nirvana released their second album—and radically changed the face of pop music and altered the cultural landscape for years to come.

25 Surprising Facts About John Lennon

Before he was one of the world's most iconic musicians, John Lennon was a choir boy and a Boy Scout.