You probably don’t know his face or his voice, but you definitely know his music. In this episode of 'Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs', hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield take a deep dive into iconic songs like Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” and the enigmatic writer-producer behind them: Max Martin, the Swedish genius responsible for so many hits of the past quarter-century.

Martin has always been an elusive figure, remaining behind the scenes. He refuses to become any kind of celebrity, yet he has helped create so many classics, from Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space" to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way” (both featured on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs list).

In this episode Brittany and Rob aim to shed light on the mysteries of Max Martin: How does he do it? What’s his secret recipe? How can one mastermind keep creating so many hits, over so many years, without losing his magic touch? How does he have so many famous songs, while remaining out of the spotlight?

This week our hosts are also joined by a Rolling Stone legend, Senior Writer Brian Hiatt. The trio go deep into how Spears made “…Baby One More Time” into a classic debut single and how Kelly Clarkson turned "Since U Been Gone" into a classic break-up anthem, all while exploring the long and unique career of pop’s ultimate mystery man.

You probably don’t know his face or his voice, but you definitely know his music. In this episode of 'Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs', hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield take a deep dive into iconic songs like Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” and the enigmatic writer-producer behind them: Max Martin, the Swedish genius responsible for so many hits of the past quarter-century.
Martin has always been an elusive figure, remaining behind the scenes. He refuses to become any kind of celebrity, yet he has helped create so many classics, from Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space" to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way” (both featured on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs list).
In this episode Brittany and Rob aim to shed light on the mysteries of Max Martin: How does he do it? What’s his secret recipe? How can one mastermind keep creating so many hits, over so many years, without losing his magic touch? How does he have so many famous songs, while remaining out of the spotlight?
This week our hosts are also joined by a Rolling Stone legend, Senior Writer Brian Hiatt. The trio go deep into how Spears made “…Baby One More Time” into a classic debut single and how Kelly Clarkson turned "Since U Been Gone" into a classic break-up anthem, all while exploring the long and unique career of pop’s ultimate mystery man.

This exclusive podcast from Rolling Stone tells the stories behind the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield dissect Rolling Stone's iconic list and explore the magic and mythology behind the songs on this in-depth new series. From classics like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” to The Ronettes' “Be My Baby,” and modern-era hits like The Killers' “Mr. Brightside,” and Britney Spears' “...Baby One More Time," we talk to artists and insiders about what makes these the greatest songs of all time.

This exclusive podcast from Rolling Stone tells the stories behind the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield dissect Rolling Stone's iconic list and explore the magic and mythology behind the songs on this in-depth new series. From classics like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” to The Ronettes' “Be My Baby,” and modern-era hits like The Killers' “Mr. Brightside,” and Britney Spears' “...Baby One More Time," we talk to artists and insiders about what makes these the greatest songs of all time.

Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs

Britney Spears 'Baby One More Time,' and The Story of Producer Max Martin, Pop’s Mystery Man

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