The songs that last — Robyn's "Dancing on My Own," Beyoncé's "Love On Top," Mariah Carey's "Fly Like a Bird," Raye's recent "I Know You're Hurting" — share something essential: they are honest to the point of discomfort. They reveal longing, desperation, and loneliness without the usual sheen of celebrity protection. Featuring a live DJ set, interactive stations, a panel discussion, and an after-event dance party, this program explores why vulnerability in song is not just an artistic choice but the mechanism by which art lasts and legacy is born.

This program curated and hosted by Britt Julious, 2023 Chicago Critics Table Cohort member.

This is part of a series of public programs co-designed between Chicago Critics Table alumni and the APL team to provide more public access to the deeper critical conversations our critics are having. You can learn more about CCT here

About Britt Julious

Britt Julious is a writer, editor, essayist, and storyteller, writing about subjects that intersect the worlds of art, culture, race, feminism and politics. A firm believer in the underground, the avant-garde and the underdog, Britt currently serves as the music critic for the Chicago Tribune and is the Director of Content for Thoughtful, a new wellness startup. As a journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Vogue, Glamour, The Cut, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and many others. In 2019, Britt won the Studs Terkel award in journalism for her work spotlighting underserved communities.