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558 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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The Sound of Silence from Unexplainable
30 december 2025 · 31 min
A scientist asked people to sit in a silent room for 15 minutes. Almost half of them decided to give themselves a painful electric shock instead. What is it about our brains that makes our relationship with silence so strange? And should we learn how to listen to it? Lees meer
This is the third episode of the four-part Unexplainable series, The Sound Barrier.
Links: Newsletter, YouTube
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Naughty or nice? The 2025 holiday music round up
23 december 2025 · 37 min
Every Christmas season, pop stars far and wide throw their Santa hats into the ring to see who has the next "All I Want for Christmas Is You," and this year is no exception. It's a yearly tradition on Switched On Pop to explore the deluge of holiday hits, and 2025 sees formidable entries to the canon from folks like Kylie Minogue, Leon Bridges, and Willie Nelson. Lees meer
Links: Newsletter, YouTube
Songs discussed:
Ariana Grande – Santa Tell Me
Kelly Clarkson – Underneath the Tree
Cher – Christmas Is Here
Cher – Believe
Kylie Minogue – Hot in December
Zach Top – For You For Christmas
Willie Nelson – Christmas Love Song
Mickey Guyton – Sugar Cookie
Meghan Trainor – Gifts For Me
The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride
Gwen Stefani – Hot Cocoa
Train – Let's Stay in Tonight
Brenda Lee – Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Leon Bridges, Norah Jones – This Christmas I'm Coming Home
Elysia Biro – The Christmas Song
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The year that killed music (best and worst of 2025)
16 december 2025 · 47 min
From big-ticket albums by Taylor and Gaga, to a revival of the stomp-clap revival – 2025 had it all, for better and for worse. Now that the year has come to a close, it's time to take a look back at the past twelve months: what happened in the zeitgeist, what we loved listening to, and what we missed here on the show. Reanna, Charlie, and Nate talk about it all, including a look back at our predictions from January to check off boxes for Switched On Pop bingo. Lees meer
Links: Newsletter, YouTube
Songs discussed:
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
Alex Warren – Ordinary
HUNTR/X – Golden
Morgan Wallen – I'm The Problem
Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga – Die With A Smile
Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
ROSÉ, Bruno Mars – APT.
Olivia Dean – Man I Need
Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not
Justin Bieber, Dijon – DEVOTION
Bon Iver, Dijon, Flock of Dimes – Day One
Dijon – Baby!
Dijon – Yamaha
CA7RIEL – SHIPEA2
Paco Amoroso – Viuda Negra
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – EL ÚNICO - Live at NPR MUSIC's Tiny Desk
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – EL DÍA DEL AMIGO
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – #TETAS
Breaking Rust – Walk My Walk
Jack Black – Steve's Lava Chicken
Saja Boys – Soda Pop
Snocaps – Coast
Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
Bad Bunny – DtMF
MOLIY, Shenseea, Silent Addy, Skillibeng – Shake It To The Max (FLY) - Remix
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Why pop songwriters break the rules (ft. Amy Allen)
12 december 2025 · 57 min
Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen joins NYU Steinhardt students live to trace her path from early pitch songs to co-writing some of the decade's defining hits. She explains why Halsey's "Without Me" needed an extended chorus but no pre-made chord loops, how Harry Styles' "Matilda" required character-driven writing for emotional safety, and what made the hypnotic groove of Tate McRae's "Greedy" demand a rare third verse. Allen also unpacks the spoken hook in Rosé and Bruno Mars' "APT" and the three-step key change powering Sabrina Carpenter's recent work. The result is a masterclass in why songs work—and why the rules worth breaking are the ones you've already learned. Lees meer
SONGS DISCUSSED
Halsey "Without Me"
Harry Styles "Adore You"
Harry Styles "Matilda"
Tate McRae "greedy"
Rosé and Bruno Mars "ATA"
Sabrina Carpenter "Please, please, please"
Selena Gomez "Back to You"
Justin Timberlake "Cry Me A River" (Interpolated in "Without Me")
Olivia Rodrigo "Driver's License"
Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso"
Sabrina Carpenter Short and Sweet (Album)
Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend (Album)
Beyoncé "Love on Top"
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How Sombr’s bedroom recordings became his biggest hits
9 december 2025 · 39 min
Sombr went from crafting raw, reverb soaked songs alone in his Lower East Side bedroom to finding his life shifting in ways he never could have predicted across 2024 and 2025. His biggest tracks kept their imperfections even as world class players at Sound City added new layers, and a disco groove he began as a late night joke transformed into a breakout moment that changed his career’s trajectory. He explains how he writes, why distortion carries emotional weight for him, how he navigates the pull between bedroom recordings and studio polish, and what it felt like to watch childhood dreams come true on national stages. The result is a portrait of an artist whose rise has been so quick and so unlikely that even Sombr is still piecing together how it all happened. Lees meer
Watch the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Switched-On-Pop
Songs Discussed
Sombr “12 to 12”
Sombr “Back to Friends”
Sombr “Undressed”
Lizzo “About Damn Time”
Chic “Good Times”
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"It’s a Hail Mary every time" (ft. Marc Rebillet)
2 december 2025 · 52 min
When it comes to improvisational loop jams, few have gone as viral as Marc Rebillet. From his 2020 lockdown-era video “How to Funk in Two Minutes,” which features him wearing nothing but a bathrobe, to unsuspecting New York street corners, and eventually the Coachella main stage, Rebillet has come to be known as “loop daddy” for his gifted ability to harness spontaneous funk. Lees meer
On this episode of Switched On Pop, Charlie interviews Marc about his process, inspiration, and pandemic success, witnessing his flow state firsthand as he graces us with some live improvisation.
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Quitting Spotify (ft. Deerhoof)
25 november 2025 · 44 min
In June 2025, indie veterans Deerhoof scrubbed their entire catalog from the world’s dominant streaming platform. The catalyst wasn't low royalties, but Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek’s investment in AI military technology through his investment firm Prima Materia. Greg Saunier and Satomi Matsuzaki explain why they are prioritizing their ethics over exposure. They argue that the "convenience" of streaming traps us in harmful systems. They’d prefer listeners explore alternative paths to hear their music. That’s why the band premiered their latest single on Craigslist. And it’s they half jokingly say they "would rather our fans steal our music than stream our music at this point." Lees meer
SONGS DISCUSSED
Deerhoof: Immigrant Song, Scarcity is Manufactured, Life is Suffering, Return of the Return of the Fire Trick Star
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Is there a Disney curse?: Demi, Selena, and Miley
18 november 2025 · 48 min
This year, there were a few records that delivered less-than-optimal returns on either the Hot 100 or the Billboard 200 – and they all came from former Disney pop stars. Lees meer
Demi Lovato’s latest album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, where it spent one week and then fell off; Selena Gomez’s record with Benny Blanco peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, but no songs cracked the top 40; and Miley Cyrus’s album is her shortest charting project to date. On this episode of Switched On Pop, Nate and Reanna try to get to the bottom of the so-called “Disney curse,” and why these artists are unable to recapture their past commercial success.
Songs discussed:
Demi Lovato – Here All Night
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – Sunset Blvd
Miley Cyrus – End of the World
Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry
Demi Lovato – Heart Attack
Demi Lovato – Skin of my Teeth
Demi Lovato – Fast
Kesha – JOYRIDE.
Demi Lovato – Frequency
Demi Lovato – Kiss
Todd Terry, Martha Wash – Keep On Jumpin'
Demi Lovato – Sorry To Myself
Selena Gomez, A$AP Rocky – Good For You
Kygo, Selena Gomez – It Ain't Me
Selena Gomez, Marshmallo – Wolves
Selena Gomez, benny blanco, Gracie Abrams – Call Me When You Break Up
benny blanco, Selena Gomez, J Balvin, Tainy – I Can't Get Enough
J Balvin, Willy William – Mi Gente
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – Bluest Flame
Selena Gomez, benny blanco, The Marías – Ojos Tristes
Miley Cyrus, Big Sean – Love Money Party
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Miley Cyrus – Easy Lover
Miley Cyrus, Naomi Campbell – Every Girl You've Ever Loved
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Rosalía's 'LUX' brings the symphony to the club
11 november 2025 · 44 min
Spanish pop star Rosalía is back with her new album, Lux. Over eighteen tracks, she trades in the dembow beats that filled her last record Motomami for maximalist orchestral sounds more in line with Björk than Bad Bunny. Lees meer
The album is dense: there's four movements, thirteen languages, arrangements by Caroline Shaw, and a wide breadth of influences – from Benedictine saints to Patti Smith. But despite (or because) all of this, Rosalía has gone on record referring to Lux as, ultimately, a pop album.
That's where we come in. On this episode of Switched On Pop, Nate and Reanna put on their tour guide hats to talk all things Lux: its sonic genre-bending, Rosalía’s poetic lyricism, and her hyper-local flamenco influence.
Check out Bella Freud's interview with Rosalia on Fashion Neurosis
Songs discussed:
Rosalía – Berghain
Rosalía – Bizcochito
Rosalía – De Madrugá
Rosalía – Mio Cristo
Rosalía – La Yugular
Björk – Joga
Caroline Shaw, Roomful of Teeth – Partita for 8 Voices
Rosalía – Sexo, Violencia y Llantas
Rosalía – Divinize
Rosalía – Porcelana
Rosalía – Dios Es Un Stalker
The Police – Every Breath You Take
Rosalía – La Perla
Johann Strauss II – The Blue Danube
Drake – Push Ups
Rosalía – Sauvignon Blanc
Lady Gaga – Grigio Girls
Adele – I Drink Wine
Rosalía – Focu ‘Ranni
Rosalía – Novia Robot
Rosalía – La Rumba del Perdón
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Lily Allen and Tate McRae revive the revenge anthem
4 november 2025 · 34 min
They say the best revenge is living well, but if you’re a pop star going through a break up, that’s false. The best revenge is releasing a searing scorched-earth revenge banger that calls out your ex and, ideally, rides that vengeance to the top of the Billboard charts. Lees meer
That’s exactly what Tate McRae and Lily Allen have done in the wake of their high profile break ups; McRae with the track “TIT FOR TAT” and Allen with an entire album, West End Girl. On this episode of Switched On Pop, Charlie and Nate use these tracks to explore the art of the revenge song.
Songs Discussed
Tate McRae – TIT FOR TAT
The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY
Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks Theme
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
Bizarrap, Shakira – Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53
Lilly Allen — West End Girl, Madeline, 4chanstan
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Can “professor” Charlie Puth pass our qualifying exam?
28 oktober 2025 · 38 min
Charlie Puth breaks down his new single "Changes," a maximalist eighties production hiding a melancholy story about drifting friendships. As he prepares for fatherhood, the singer-songwriter reflects on how relationships evolve from deep conversations to small talk, why he listens to lyrics last, and his belief that music should offer a three-minute escape from life's exhaustion. Between demonstrating vocal techniques, championing forgotten producer Rod Temperton, and turning "You Are My Sunshine" into a minor-key lullaby, Puth makes his case for earning the title "Professor," with one simple lesson: stop overthinking and just feel the music. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth "See You Again"Charlie Puth "Attention"Charlie Puth "Changes"Charlie Puth "Hero"The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"Dua Lipa "Physical"Olivia Newton-John "Physical"Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight"Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"Heatwave "The Groove Line"Tamia "You Put a Move on My Heart"Heatwave "All You Do Is Dial"Michael Jackson "Thriller"Traditional "You Are My Sunshine"
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How D'Angelo changed music, in three songs
21 oktober 2025 · 37 min
On October 14th, the visionary musician D’Angelo passed away at 51 years old. Only releasing three albums during his lifetime, he synthesized influences from gospel, jazz, rock, and hip-hop to create a singular and transcendent sound artists still try – and fail – to emulate today. Lees meer
On this special episode of Switched On Pop, Charlie and Nate are joined by producer Reanna and engineer Brandon to celebrate D’Angelo through his music, discussing one song from each of his albums and highlighting his musical genius.
Songs Discussed
D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel)
D’Angelo – Brown Sugar
The Hawkins Family – What Is This?
D’Angelo – Feel Like Makin’ Love
Roberta Flack – Feel Like Makin’ Love
Parliament – Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
D’Angelo – Cruisin’
Smokey Robinson – Cruisin’
D’Angelo – The Charade
Curtis Mayfield – (Don’t Worry) If There Is A Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go
Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
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What do John C. Reilly and Taylor Swift have in common? The Great American Songbook
14 oktober 2025 · 57 min
John C. Reilly joins to discuss Mr. Romantic, his theatrical tribute to the Great American Songbook that treats Irving Berlin and Tom Waits as equals in the canon of timeless American song. Reilly recorded live in one room with his band using vintage ribbon microphones, embracing the squeaks and imperfections while layering in cinematic sound effects—crickets outside a lover's window, a collect call from prison—to transform each standard into an immersive scene. But what makes a song from the 1920s feel eternal? Music data scientist Chris Dalla Riva, author of the forthcoming Uncharted Territory and the newsletter Can't Get Much Higher, breaks down how composers like the Gershwins wrote for amateur musicians playing sheet music at home, creating universal lyrics and AABA structures where the hook comes first. That accessibility is precisely what draws Reilly to this repertoire. He sees himself in the lineage of interpreters like Sinatra, not selling his own story but passing along music that already belongs to all of us, like holding up a seashell and saying, "Isn't this one beautiful?" Lees meer
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Get Chris Dalla Riva's book Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves
Subscribe to Chris Dalla Riva's Can't Get Much Higher
Songs Discussed
Taylor Swift "The Last Great American Dynasty"
George Gershwin "I Got Rhythm"
Village People "Y.M.C.A."
Billie Eilish "Bad Guy"
Frank Sinatra "On the Sunny Side of the Street"
Judy Garland "Over the Rainbow"
Ella Fitzgerald "My Romance"
George Gershwin "But Not for Me"
Elvis Presley "Are You Lonesome Tonight"
The Beatles "We Can Work It Out"
The Beatles "Get Back"
The Beatles "Yesterday"
John C. Reilly "Moonlight Serenade"
John C. Reilly "Dreams"
John C. Reilly "Johnsburg, Illinois"
John C. Reilly "Falling in Love Again"
John C. Reilly "What'll I Do"
John C. Reilly "Picture in a Frame"
John C. Reilly "Just Another Sucker on the Vine"
Randy Newman "Ragtime"
John C. Reilly & D…
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Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Sound: How to actually listen to the album
7 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 9 min
Taylor Swift's twelfth album has sparked endless speculation about who each song is "really about," but that might be the wrong question entirely. The Life of a Showgirl isn’t biography, it’s polyphonic auto-fiction, where Swift writes from multiple character perspectives while blurring the lines between autobiography and theatrical performance. The album's "showgirl sound" traces from Shakespearean tragedy (Ophelia's drowning rewritten as salvation) through Golden Age Hollywood orchestration to contemporary pop production with Max Martin and Shellback. Unusual musical choices like the jarring five-measure phrase in "Fate of Ophelia" reinforce the album's central theme: the tension between public performance and private reality. By treating the album as a theatrical show rather than a celebrity tell-all, listeners can finally hear what Swift is actually saying… or can they? Lees meer
Vote for Switched On Pop in this year's Signal Awards! We're nominated for Best Music Podcast and Best Original Score/Music, linked here. Thank you!
Songs Discussed
Taylor Swift "Love Story"
Taylor Swift "Blank Space"
Taylor Swift "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift "Elizabeth Taylor"
Irving Berlin "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody"
Fred Astaire "Puttin' on the Ritz"
Taylor Swift "Opalite"
George Michael "Father Figure"
Taylor Swift "Father Figure"
Taylor Swift "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift "Tim McGraw"
Taylor Swift "Ruined the Friendship"
Weezer "Beverly Hills"
Pixies "Where Is My Mind"
Charli XCX "Sympathy Is a Knife"
Charli XCX "Everything Is Romantic"
Taylor Swift "Actually Romantic"
Mean Girls "Meet the Plastics"
Taylor Swift "Wi$h Li$t"
Stevie Wonder "Superstition"
The Jackson 5 "I Want You Back"
Taylor Swift "Wood"
Nirvana "Lithium"
Nirvana "Something in the Way"
Taylor Swift "Canceled"
Taylor Swift "Honey"
Taylor Swift feat. Sabrina Carpenter "Life of a Showgirl"
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The Power of the Trio (ft. Trousdale live at USC)
3 oktober 2025 · 49 min
There's no lead singer in Trousdale. The trio of Quinn D'Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones, has shared vocal duties equally since they started singing together as students at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. Since then, they've touring the world and released a sophomore album, Growing Pains, that features the trio's impeccable harmonies over 70s-inflected country-rock grooves. In this episode, Trousdale returns to their alma mater to play acoustic versions of "Growing Pains" and "Secondhand Smoke" and then speak to Professor Nate (plus an audience of music students) about how they forged their indivisible sound. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Trousdale - Growing Pains, Over and Over, Lonely Nights, Movie Star
Jackson Browne - Doctor My Eyes
MIKA - Grace Kelly
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Doja Cat is the new Janet
30 september 2025 · 36 min
This summer, one singular artist could be heard everywhere from the new Cardi B album to the TikTok charts: Janet Jackson. The incomparable Queen of Pop has had her fingerprints all over pop music for the past few months, and it’s never been more apparent than on Doja Cat’s “Jealous Type.” The lead single from Doja’s new album Vie has all the hallmarks of the Janet Jackson sound, from breathy and percussive vocals to nods to iconic production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Lees meer
This episode of Switched on Pop, we go on a journey guided by Janet, and discover the implicit connections to Doja Cat – the so-called “queen of pop-rap” – in the process.
Vote for Switched On Pop in this year's Signal Awards! We're nominated for Best Music Podcast and Best Original Score/Music, linked here. Thank you!
Songs discussed:
Janet Jackson – Someone To Call My Lover
Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour
Cardi B, Janet Jackson – Principal (feat. Janet Jackson)
Doja Cat – Jealous Type
Janet Jackson – What Have You Done For Me Lately
Janet Jackson – Nasty
Janet Jackson – Feedback
Janet Jackson – What About
Prince – 1999
Janet Jackson – Throb
Janet Jackson – Control
Janet Jackson – When I Think Of You
Janet Jackson – Go Deep
Doja Cat – Cyber Sex
Doja Cat – Rules
Doja Cat – Boss Bitch
Doja Cat – Woman
Doja Cat – Agora Hills
Janet Jackson – Let’s Wait Awhile
Janet Jackson – Escapade
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Stockholm syndrome: Why we can't resist Swedish pop (ft. Zara Larsson)
23 september 2025 · 43 min
How does a country of 10 million people dominate the global pop charts? From ABBA's Eurovision breakthrough to Max Martin's methodical hit-making, Sweden has quietly engineered a kind of musical Stockholm Syndrome: we've all become captives to their sound without realizing it. Listen to the crystalline vocal production and deceptively simple chord progressions in tracks by Lisa, Childish Gambino, and Addison Rae, and you're hearing Sweden's sonic fingerprint so embedded in pop's DNA that it now defines the genre itself. We sit down with pop star Zara Larsson to explore her love letter to home, "Midnight Sun." As she puts it, "I can't really leave Sweden; it's just something that's like a part of who I am," a sentiment that captures how Swedish pop's unique blend of melancholy and euphoria, mirroring the country's extreme seasons, has made us all willing prisoners of Stockholm's musical empire. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Lisa ft. Rosalia: "New Woman"
Childish Gambino: "Lithonia"
Addison Rae: "Fame Is a Gun"
Bleachers: "Tiny Moves"
Zara Larsson: "Midnight Sun"
Robyn: "Show Me Love"
Robyn: "Dancing on My Own"
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Brad Mehldau "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
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The music theory behind K Pop Demon Hunters' chart dominance
17 september 2025 · 42 min
It's time. Nate and Charlie break down the K Pop Demonhunters soundtrack to uncover the musical secrets behind its unprecedented success. From West Side Story to Gregorian chant, Phrygian modes to musical theater clichés, we 'll explain why you can't stop listening to the sounds of Huntr/x and Saja Boys. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Huntr/x - How It's Done, Golden, What it Sounds Like
Saja Boys - Soda Pop, Your Idol
Aldred Deller and the Deller Consort - Dies Irae
West Side Story - Jet Song
Aespa - Drama
Riize - Get a Guitar
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The architecture of the album with Djo (Joe Keery live at NYU)
15 september 2025 · 55 min
Halfway through the opening track of Joe Keery's The Crux, a line emerges that sounds like casual conversation: "My dog is at my house again, but I live somewhere else." The song refuses to settle into predictable pop architecture, drifting from whispered confession to baroque strings that recall Pachelbel more than indie rock. Recorded live at NYU, Charlie explores how this structural restlessness reflects broader questions about authenticity in contemporary music, examining how Keery's creative process emerged from practical constraints like writing in Stranger Things trailers and stripping back arrangements to work live. The album's hotel metaphor isn't marketing concept but lived displacement: temporary rooms, fractured domesticity, the search for stability. From the snarky dismissiveness of "Basic Being Basic" to a stadium-rock anthem written for his sisters, The Crux demonstrates how eclectic influences can serve cohesive emotional architecture, trusting listeners to follow sophisticated progressions while never losing sight of why these songs matter to people finding their way back to their own hearts. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Djo - "End of Beginning"
Djo - "Lonesome is a State of Mind"
Djo - "Basic Being Basic"
Djo - "Potion"
Djo - "Charlie's Garden"
Djo - "Back On You"
Djo - "Carry the Name"
Djo - "Crux"
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Finneas and Ashe want you to start a band
9 september 2025 · 52 min
Everyone should be in a band at some point—and Finneas and Ashe prove why. The Grammy-winning producer and rising singer-songwriter discuss how their friendship evolved into The Favors, a new band debuting their album The Dream on September 19th, 2025. We explore what it means to create as a band, how stepping back from confessional songwriting freed them creatively, and why sometimes the best way forward is embracing older ways of making music. Lees meer
SONGS DISCUSSED
The Favors - "The Little Mess You Made"
Ashe - "Moral of the Story"
Ashe & Finneas - "Till Forever Falls Apart"
Billie Eilish - "What Was I Made For?"
The Favors - "Home Sweet Home"
The Favors - "The Dream"
The Favors - "Lake George"
Billie Eilish - "bad guy"
Simon and Garfunkel - "Old Friends"
Simon and Garfunkel - "The Only Living Boy in New York"
Simon and Garfunkel - "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright"
Simon and Garfunkel - "America"
Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl"
The Favors - "David's Brother"
The Favors - "The Hudson"
Fleetwood Mac - "Landslide"
Fleetwood Mac - "Dreams"
Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill"
Olivia Rodrigo - "drivers license"
Sabrina Carpenter - "emails i can't send"
Miley Cyrus - "Flowers"
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Fleetwood Mac's Missing Link Album Returns After 50 Years
2 september 2025 · 54 min
Fleetwood Mac has had a phenomenal resurgence in recent years, from TikTok viral fame to Broadway plays and streaming TV series inspired by the band. Their growing fandom among a new generation has created demand for the long out-of-print album Buckingham Nicks, the 1973 album by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks recorded before they joined Fleetwood Mac. The vinyl record is a collector's item, as this pre-band album helped secure the duo their spot in Fleetwood Mac. Now after four decades, on September 19th, the album is being reissued by Rhino Records. A few months back we looked at the legacy of Fleetwood Mac and spoke with Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham about their reinterpretation of the beloved Buckingham Nicks. Given the timing, we want to share that episode with you now to help you get ready for the re-release of this adored album. I hope you enjoy it.
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The classical rebel who infiltrated pop music
26 augustus 2025 · 52 min
You've heard those shimmering disco strings in Miley Cyrus's "Flowers," the cinematic arrangements on Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher, and the orchestral flourishes across Taylor Swift's catalog, but you probably didn't know they're all the work of one person: Rob Moose. The violinist and multi-instrumentalist has contributed to nearly 1,000 albums, quietly becoming pop music's most prolific string architect. In this conversation, Moose reveals how he translates classical training into contemporary pop language, working with everyone from Sufjan Stevens to Bon Iver to create arrangements that feel both intimate and epic. We dive into his process, explore how he's reshaped what strings can do in popular music, and uncover the craft behind those arrangements you can't get out of your head. Lees meer
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Songs Discussed
Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
Phoebe Bridgers Copycat Killer (EP, includes re-arranged versions of “Punisher,” “Kyoto,” “Savior Complex,” “Chinese Satellite”)
Sufjan Stevens “Chicago”
Bon Iver “Everything Is Peaceful Love”
RINI “Miracle”
Bon Iver “Short Story”
Bon Iver “Speyside”
Phoebe Bridgers “Chinese Satellite”
Phoebe Bridgers “Savior Complex”
Phoebe Bridgers “Kyoto”
Lizzy McAlpine “Ceilings”
Gracie Abrams “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Rob Moose “I Bend But Never Break” ft Brittany Howard
Alabama Shakes “Sound & Color”
Taylor Swift “Hoax”
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All roads lead to Pharrell: Tyler, Clipse, and Cardi
19 augustus 2025 · 53 min
The conversation around the new music this summer has been a dour one. Some of the biggest songs in the country right now are downtempo stomp-clap anthems and wistful Cranberries pastiche. Even on this very show, Nate and Charlie have asked: where's the fun? Lees meer
As it turns out, the party (as always) is happening in hip-hop, led by a formidable influence: Pharrell.. On this episode of Switched On Pop, producer Reanna and engineer Brandon join Charlie for a tour through rap music's latest sweaty offerings, including the new album by Tyler, the Creator, Clipse's return to music, and catchphrase worthy singles by Cardi B, PLUTO, and Drake.
Songs discussed:
Tyler, The Creator, Pharrell Williams – Big Poe
Nelly – Hot in Herre
Noreaga – Superthug
Kelis – Milkshake
Tyler, The Creator, Cole Alexander – Deathcamp
N.E.R.D. – Rockstar
Tyler, The Creator – Ring Ring Ring
Tyler, The Creator, Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy – 911 / Mr. Lonely
Tyler, The Creator – I THINK
Mr. Fingers – Mystery of Love
Michael Jackson – Off the Wall
N.E.R.D., Nelly Furtado – Hot-n-Fun
N.E.R.D. – Things Are Getting Better
Pharrell, Nelly – Baby
Clipse – So Be It
Clipse – Virginia
Clipse – Intro
Talal Madah – Maza Akoulou
Beastie Boys – Paul Revere
Clipse – Ace Trumpets
Clipse, John Legend, Voices of Fire – The Birds Don't Sing
Cardi B – Outside
Cardi B – Bodak Yellow
Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin – I Like It
Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion – WAP
Cardi B – Up
PLUTO, YK Niece – WHIM WHAMIEE
OJ Da Juiceman, Gucci Mane – Make tha Trap Say Aye
Roxanne Shante – Roxanne's Revenge
Drake, Central Cee – Which One?
Drake, Rihanna – Too Good
Rihanna, Drake – Work
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A brief history of terrible lyrics (with Sam Sanders)
12 augustus 2025 · 43 min
Why do bad lyrics happen to good people? From "suckin' on a chili dog" to "making love to his tonic and gin," even the biggest hits from our favorite artists can feature lyrical turns that make us feel quizzical, offended, or even downright nauseated. With the help of Sam Sanders, brilliant host of The Sam Sanders Show, we plumb the depths of the worst pop lyrics of all time—culled from hundreds of submissions form Switched on Pop listeners—to try categorize, historicize, and, perhaps, celebrate the art of the lyrical faux pas. Lees meer
Follow Sam on Instagram and check out The Sam Sanders Show for more hot takes on entertainment and culture. We recommend you start here.
Songs Discussed
Benson Boone - Mystical Magical
Velvet Sundown - Rebel Shout
Live - Lightning Crashes
Captain and Tennille - Muskrat Love
John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane
Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry, London Bridge
Katy Perry - Firework
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Richard Harris - MacArthur Park
Imagine Dragons - Sharks
Des'ree - Life, You Gotta Be
One Direction - Don't Forget Where You Belong, Little Things
Taylor Swift - Willow, Anti Hero, I Hate it Here, ME!
Train - Hey Soul Sister, Meet Virginia, Drops of Jupiter
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Summer Bummer (with Commotion’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud)
5 augustus 2025 · 37 min
Every music critic seems to agree: 2025 has no true song of summer. Last August, Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominated the charts. This year…Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominates the charts. What’s going on? Why is there no new summer song to unite us in collective listening, and will there ever be again? Lees meer
Elamin Abdelmahmoud, host of the CBC’s daily culture podcast Commotion, joins Nate and Charlie to discuss the dearth of seasonal bops, and suggest some possible contenders for sleeper summer hits, from the soundtrack of the anime film KPop Demon Hunters to the latest from the Haim sisters. Despite the moribund status of the Hot 100, there is no shortage of great music to be found in the dog days of summer if you’re willing to listen closely.
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Check out more music commentary from Elamin and Commotion, like their dive into Bruce Springsteen’s unreleased albums, or their dissection of Bieber’s latest with our very own Reanna Cruz.
Songs Discussed
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA - Golden
Tyler Childers - Eatin’ Big Time
Haim - Relationships
Ravyn Lenae - Love Me Not
Amber Mark - Sweet Seratonin
Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf)
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Justin Bieber's Lo-fi Bedroom Swag
29 juli 2025 · 44 min
Justin Bieber is back with his seventh studio album: the aptly-titled SWAG. The lo-fi, reverb-laden record is a remarkably candid look inside the world of Bieber, using the palette of both underground pop and 90's R&B to accentuate lyrics about his wife, his struggles, and his "standing on business." Lees meer
Notably, it's his first album post-split with manager Scooter Braun, and the first where Bieber has been in full artistic control. On this episode of Switched On Pop, we tap into the SWAG mindset and attempt to understand Bieber's newfound vision, what it's saying, and ultimately, if it even still matters.
Songs discussed:
Justin Bieber – DAISIES
Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar, Giveon – Peaches
Justin Bieber, Sexyy Red – SWEET SPOT
The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY
Justin Bieber, Druski – STANDING ON BUSINESS
Justin Bieber – ALL I CAN TAKE
Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes
Justin Bieber – GO BABY
Justin Bieber – TOO LONG
Justin Bieber, Gunna – WAY IT IS
Justin Bieber, Dominic Fike – Die For You
Justin Bieber, Burna Boy – Loved By You
Justin Bieber, Lil B – DADZ LOVE
Mk.gee – Alesis
Mk.gee – Are You Looking Up
Dijon – The Dress
Justin Bieber – WALKING AWAY
Haim – Don't Wanna
Justin Bieber, Dijon – DEVOTION
Justin Bieber – One Less Lonely Girl
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How podcasting got its sound ft. Breakmaster Cylinder
22 juli 2025 · 46 min
What if the entire sound of modern podcasting can be traced back to a single Grateful Dead song uploaded in 2001? We uncover the musical lineage that connects NPR's classical gravitas to dubstep wobbles, from the very first RSS feed experiment to the mysterious masked composer who's scored over 200 podcast themes and shaped what millions of people hear when they hit play. This deep dive reveals how podcast music evolved from classical public radio strings into today's signature blend of plinking pianos, breakbeats, and irreverent sampling—plus an exclusive interview with the enigmatic Breakmaster Cylinder, the "Hans Zimmer of podcasting" who's been hiding behind a robot helmet for over a decade. Lees meer
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SONGS DISCUSSED
Grateful Dead "Truckin'"
Adam Curry "Daily Source Code" theme
NPR "All Things Considered" theme
Don Voegeli "All Things Considered" original theme (1971)
Don Voegeli "All Things Considered" jazz funk version (1976)
NPR "All Things Considered" orchestral version (1983/1995)
The Daily theme
WNYC "On the Media" theme by Ben Allison "Disposable Genius"
Christopher Lydon "Radio Open Source" theme by Dafnis Prieto
Disparition "The Ballad of Fiedler and Mundt," (Welcome to Night Vale theme)
Serial theme
Joe Rogan Experience theme
Call Her Daddy theme
Snap Judgment theme
The Breakfast Club theme
WTF with Marc Maron theme by John Montagna "Lock the Gate"
Reply All theme by Breakmaster Cylinder
Breakmaster Cylinder "Outside In" theme
Breakmaster Cylinder "Bird Note" (Claire de Lune with loon calls)
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Is that new song you like AI? Here’s how you can tell
15 juli 2025 · 50 min
The robots have arrived, and they're making protest songs about boots on the ground. When an AI band called The Velvet Sundown fooled over a million Spotify listeners with their psychedelic folk anthems, it raised an unsettling question: have the machines gotten so good we can no longer hear the difference? Charlie puts Nate to the test with a game of "AI or Human?" featuring Wu-Tang deepfakes, phantom instruments, and songs that sound like Dire Straits and Tom Petty had a baby. Along the way, they uncover the five telltale signs that expose artificial music, from juvenile rhyming patterns to voices that shapeshift between tracks. But here's the terrifying part: just six months ago, AI music was unlistenable chaos. Now it's disturbingly competent. And it's only getting better. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
The Velvet Sundown - "Dust on the Wind"
Post Malone - "Chemical"
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - "Ohio"
The Velvet Sundown - "Freedom Song"
Kansas - "Dust in the Wind"
The Animals - "House of the Rising Sun"
Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"
The Velvet Sundown - "Where War Remains"
Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here"
The Velvet Sundown - "Ash and Velvet"
Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth"
The Velvet Sundown - "For the Ones We Couldn't Keep"
The Velvet Sundown - "Mirrors in the Smoke"
Pink Floyd - "Breathe"
The Velvet Sundown - "Rebel Shout"
The Velvet Sundown - "Smoke in Silence"
The Velvet Sundown - "Marching Shadows"
The Velvet Sundown - "As the Silence Falls"
The Velvet Sundown - "How Did This Go Wrong?"
Hip Hop Intelligence - "Bar Fight" (AI Wu-Tang)
Hip Hop Intelligence - "Party with Me" (AI Eminem)
Temple of the Acid Fist Records - "Woman Gone Blues" (AI)
"Echoes of Twilight" (AI student example)
The Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane"
"Whispers of Chaos" (Charlie's AI generation)
Mungo Jerry - "In the Summertime"
Almost Vinyl - "Phil Wildo's Door to Door Dildos" (AI)
Joey Two Legs - "I Shouldn't Have Done That…
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The Benson Boone-Doggle
8 juli 2025 · 32 min
In which we explore the unlikely rise, and surprising backlash against, one Benson Boone.
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Can Recession Pop predict the market?
1 juli 2025 · 32 min
Why does the economy look great on paper but feel terrible in your wallet? There might be a more revealing economic indicator hiding in your Spotify queue. "Recession Pop" first emerged during the Great Recession and exploded into playlists, radio formats, and DJ sets in 2024. From melancholy indie anthems to escapist dance tracks, the songs we gravitate toward during uncertain times might predict where the economy is headed next. Host Jonquilin Hill explores this musical phenomenon on Vox's "Explain it To Me," with Charlie joining in the second half to decode what our streaming habits reveal about financial anxiety and economic forecasting.
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How Americana helped mainstream country find its soul
27 juni 2025 · 35 min
As we've been examining over the course of Country Week, country music has found a larger audience, in part by widening its sonic palette. For the final episode of this series, we take a look at a genre on the outskirts of country – Americana music – and how it's being used to connect to the scene's musical roots. Lees meer
Historically, Americana has embraced an acoustic sound, traditional repertoire, and an appetite for virtuosic technique. In bluegrass artists like Billy Strings and roots musicians like Sierra Ferrell, Nate and Charlie see if there's an antidote to be found for the issues that plague modern, mainstream country music.
Songs discussed:
The Punch Brothers – Rye Whiskey
Sierra Ferrell – In Dreams
Dolly Parton – Jolene
Sierra Ferrell – I Could Drive You Crazy
Sierra Ferrell, Zach Bryan – Holy Roller
Billy Strings – Dust in a Baggie
Billy Strings, Willie Nelson – California Sober
Tyler Childers – In Your Love
Tyler Childers – Phone Calls and Emails
Tyler Childers – Rustin' In The Rain
Don Gibson – Oh, Lonesome Me
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson – Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys
The Chicks – Long Time Gone
The Steeldrivers – Higher Than the Wall
Beyoncé – Texas Hold'em
I'm With Her – Espresso
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Country music is Mexican (Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera)
26 juni 2025 · 33 min
More often than not, country music is seen as an "American" genre – meaning that the music is seen as strictly from the United States. In some ways, that's true; but the genre's iconography, sound, and ethos can actually be traced to the south of the border, in Mexican regional music. Lees meer
The worlds have been more intertwined than you would think, and in musica mexicana, we find the closest comparison to what we traditionally call "country music." In this episode of Switched On Pop, in honor of country week, we take a look at the cumbia-corrido hybrid "Me Jalo" from Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera, two U.S. based acts performing Mexican regional music, to see what ties the cultures together.
Songs discussed:
George Strait – El Rey
Carín León – Necesito Encontrarte
Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – ME JALO
Fuerza Regida – TQM
Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny – un x100to
Fuerza Regida – SECRETO VICTORIA
Grupo Frontera, Grupo Firme – EL AMOR DE SU VIDA
Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera – Bebe Dame
Shania Twain – Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under
Hank Williams – Your Cheatin' Heart
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The Ballad of Lainey Wilson and Jessie Murph
25 juni 2025 · 28 min
There's often an unspoken (and deeply misogynistic) rule on country music radio: never play two female artists back to back. In this episode of Switched On Pop's country week, we aim to do just that. Looking at two artists on opposite ends of the country music spectrum – traditionalist Lainey Wilson, and genre-bending Jessie Murph – Nate and Charlie try to understand the state of female country through their respective songs "4x4xU" and "Blue Strips." Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Lainey Wilson – 4x4xU
Jessie Murph – Blue Strips
Lainey Wilson – Country's Cool Again
Lainey Wilson – Heart Like A Truck
HARDY, Lainey Wilson – wait in the truck
Jessie Murph – Gotta Hold
Jessie Murph – Gucci Mane
Jessie Murph, Sexyy Red – Blue Strips (Remix)
Zach Top – I Never Lie
Carrie Underwood – Before He Cheats
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The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman)
24 juni 2025 · 36 min
One of the biggest country hits of the year has been "All The Way," by Texas rapper BigXthaPlug and country rocker Bailey Zimmerman, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a perfectly mixed cocktail of trap sonics with country melodies, held together by a shared southern drawl between the two artists. Lees meer
As the genre of "country" expands and morphs to include different sounds, artists, and styles, "All The Way" serves as an exemplary example of the country-rap hybrid done right. But the song isn't the first to feature an unlikely collaboration across the genre aisle. This episode of Switched On Pop, we go deep on this collab and others, to see what works and what doesn't when the gates that keep the country music industry separate are swung wide open.
Songs Discussed:
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman – All The Way
BigXthaPlug – Texas
War – Slipping Into Darkness
BigXthaPlug – The Largest
Bailey Zimmerman – Where It Ends
Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road
Eminem, Rihanna – Love The Way You Lie
Nelly – Country Grammar (Hot Shit)
Nelly, Tim McGraw – Over And Over
Florida Georgia Line, Nelly – Cruise - Remix
Ernest, Snoop Dogg – Gettin' Gone
Lil Durk, Morgan Wallen – Broadway Girls
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Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music?
23 juni 2025 · 36 min
Country music stands at a crossroads between tradition and evolution, and no artist embodies this tension better than Morgan Wallen. His song "I'm the Problem" opens with beautiful bluegrass guitar before hitting you with hard-hitting 808 basslines, creating a sonic reflection of country's current identity crisis. Wallen has this uncanny ability to turn his endless personal problems into undeniably catchy hooks that somehow make him more relatable, not less. Despite having every reason to write him off, there's something about his gritty voice and imperfect persona that keeps drawing listeners back. What makes him so compelling, and why his 37-track album dominated the charts, reveals something deeper about what country music is becoming.
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"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence
17 juni 2025 · 30 min
Looking for relationship advice? Skip the self-help books and turn to Sabrina Carpenter's latest single "Manchild" instead. This deep dive into the art of musical insults reveals how pop's newest sensation joins a legendary lineage of women artists who've perfected the craft of calling out incompetent men through song. From Dolly Parton's subversive "Dumb Blonde" to TLC's iconic "No Scrubs," there's an entire musical tradition of witty takedowns that reclaim power through clever wordplay, genre-hopping arrangements, and lyrical traps that expose male vanity. Lees meer
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Songs discussed
Sabrina Carpenter "Manchild"
Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso"
Olivia Rodrigo "Driver's License"
The Beatles "Get Back"
Heart "Barracuda"
Dolly Parton "Dumb Blonde"
Sabrina Carpenter "Please Please Please"
TLC "No Scrubs"
Destiny's Child "Bills, Bills, Bills"
Destiny's Child "Independent Women Part 1"
Shania Twain "That Don't Impress Me Much"
Carly Simon "You're So Vain"
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Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane)
10 juni 2025 · 48 min
What if the Chairman of the Board's biggest contribution to music wasn't his voice, but the blueprint he created for modern pop stardom? Frank Sinatra didn't just sing songs: he invented the concept album, injected his full personality into every performance, and created a template for artistic control that today's biggest stars still follow. His influence runs deeper than you think: Amy Winehouse titled her debut Frank as tribute, Jay-Z calls himself "the new Sinatra," and Frank Ocean borrowed his name from both Sinatra and Ocean's Eleven. That influence extends to unexpected places too: Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, has been championing Sinatra's orchestral style for years, and through his friendship with the Sinatra family gained access to over 1,200 boxes of never-recorded arrangements. His new album Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements features songs that arranged for Sinatra but never performed, uncovering musical treasures that reveal new insights into how the Chairman of the Board's innovations still shape the sound of pop music today. Lees meer
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Songs Discussed
Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to the Moon"
Frank Sinatra "All the Way"
Frank Sinatra "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"
Frank Sinatra "Something" (Beatles cover)
Amy Winehouse "Halftime"
Jay-Z "Empire State Mind"
Frank Sinatra "Strangers in the Night"
Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra "Something Stupid"
Frank Sinatra "New York, New York"
Frank Sinatra "My Way"
Sonny and Cher "I Got You Babe"
Frank Sinatra "Laura"
Seth MacFarlane "How Did She Look"
Seth MacFarlane "Lush Life"
Seth MacFarlane "Give Me the Simple Life"
Seth MacFarlane "Shadows"
Seth MacFarlane "Who's in Your Arms Tonight"
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Is the future of pop...heavy metal?!
3 juni 2025 · 46 min
The UK outfit Sleep Token has done what we once thought impossible: Found commercial success playing heavy metal music in 2025 AD. Lees meer
Their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia, went to number one on the Billboard 200 upon its release, with all ten of its tracks charting on the Hot 100—this despite the fact that the band has been entirely masked and anonymous through their nine year existence.
Sleep Token's willingness to inject their brand of heavy metal with autotuned pop vocals, reggaeton beats, and hop hop inflected rhythms has widened their audience, but in the process had galvanized scathing criticism. Pitchfork gave the album a withering review calling Even in Arcadia "schmaltzy and dull," while Anthony Fantano dubbed the band "metal music for Disney adults."
We get to know Sleep Token—the music and the controversy—by listening deeply to the ways they toy with the genre conventions of metal, and ask whether they are changing the sound of pop in the process.
AUDIENCE SURVEY 2025: https://switchedonpop.typeform.com/survey2025
Songs Discussed
Sleep Token - Thread the Needle, Emergence, Caramel, Damocles
Ghost - Satanized
Metallica - Hero of the Day
Nickelback - How You Remind Me
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Charli XCX threw this party 4 us
27 mei 2025 · 39 min
Five years ago, Charli XCX released the track "party 4 u," a melancholic ode to throwing a function for that one specific person. Now, in 2025, the song has gotten a renewed life – motivated by a foolproof cocktail of TikTok trends, the Billboard Hot 100, and a post-Brat Summer clamor for Charli. Lees meer
It's rare for pop songs like this to get a second wind. So, on this episode of Switched On Pop, Reanna, Nate, and Charlie put on our detective hats on to dissect the five-minute song's vocals, textures, and structures to understand just why people are reconnecting with it, half a decade later.
Songs discussed:
Charli XCX – party 4 u
Charli XCX – claws
Charli XCX – 4 in the Morning
Charli XCX – anthems
Lesley Gore – It's My Party
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808: The drum machine that changed music forever (Twenty Thousand Hertz)
25 mei 2025 · 28 min
The 808 is arguably the most iconic drum machine ever made. Even if you’ve never heard of it, you’ve definitely heard it. It’s in dozens of hit songs -- from Usher to Marvin Gaye, Talking Heads to The Beastie Boys -- and its sounds have quietly cemented themselves in the cultural lexicon. In this episode, we try to understand how that happened and follow the unlikely path of the 808. Featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and Paul McCabe from Roland. Lees meer
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Chartbreakers: Lorde & Drake reboot, Worship Pop, and the shortest song ever
20 mei 2025 · 52 min
What happens when worship anthems climb the charts alongside soul revivals and nostalgia-driven comebacks? The May 2025 Billboard charts reveal a fascinating musical landscape where Drake performs a strategic reset after his epic battle with Kendrick, worship-adjacent pop dominates the mainstream, and The Marias reject conventional song structures with dreamy success. From the bizarre 34-second Minecraft soundtrack hit to the rise of "voice audition pop," we're exploring how these competing visions of pop music reflect our collective anxieties and cultural shifts. Is this beautiful chaos the new normal?
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‘Sinners’ summons the demons of American music
13 mei 2025 · 39 min
We rarely cover movies here at Switched On Pop. But after seeing Ryan Coogler's new vampire musical Sinners, we knew we had to make an exception. Lees meer
The movie is an ode to Black music. Throughout its over two hour runtime, the film pays tribute to the blues: nodding to the musicians, instruments, and melodies that make it a foundational genre in the American musical canon. There's also Irish folk vampires, original music from Ludwig Göransson, and a whole lot of history – perfect for Charlie and Nate to sink their teeth into.
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Eurovision feast: Poison Cake, Milkshake Man, and Espresso Macchiato (featuring Tommy Cash)
6 mei 2025 · 41 min
It's that time of year again: Eurovision Song Contest is upon us. And with the competition comes a tradition at Switched On Pop, where Charlie and Nate look at the songs (and countries) that have the best odds to take home the title. This year, we have an ode to the sauna, soaring operatics, and a feast of food-themed tunes – including the Estonian entrant Tommy Cash's ode to the "Espresso Macchiato." Lees meer
This episode of Switched On Pop, we take a sonic trip to Basel, Switzerland – and in the back half of the episode, talk to Tommy Cash himself about his entry and more.
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Put your headphones on for TikTok's Addison Rae
1 mei 2025 · 55 min
Despite TikTok defining this decade's music landscape, the app hasn't spawned a bonafide pop superstar – yet. 24-year-old Addison Rae is trying to be the first. Lees meer
She's already had cosigns from Arca, Charli XCX, and Benny Blanco; critical acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Elle; and is cultivating a fervent fanbase with a slew of breathy, ethereal, and inspiration-laden singles. But how does one translate TikTok celebrity into pop success?
On this episode of Switched On Pop, Reanna, Nate, and Charlie put their "Headphones On" to understand how one of the biggest Gen-Z celebrities is trying to parlay her allure into pop princess-dom.
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SONGS DISCUSSED
Addison Rae – Diet Pepsi
Addison Rae – Aquamarine
Addison Rae – High Fashion
Addison Rae – Headphones On
Addison Rae – Obsessed
Charlie Puth – The Way I Am
Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal
Addison Rae – I got it bad
Addison Rae – Nothing On (But The Radio)
Addison Rae – it could've been u
Addison Rae – 2 die 4 (feat. Charli XCX)
Charli XCX, Addison Rae, A. G. Cook – Von dutch a. g. remix
Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans
Lana Del Rey – Cherry
Lana Del Rey – Diet Mountain Dew
Lana Del Rey – Bartender
Lana Del Rey – Cola
Madonna – Nothing Really Matters
Selena Gomez, A$AP Rocky – Good For You
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – What I Am
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Generation Taylor: Gracie, Maisie, Phoebe (with Jensen McRae)
22 april 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
Taylor Swift isn't just a world-conquering pop star at the top of her game, her approach to songwriting has also proven massively influential for an up-and-coming generation of singer-songwriters. Gracie Abrams, Maisie Peters, and Phoebe Bridgers—all of whom opened for Swift during her Eras Tour—each owe a debt to Swift's hyperspecific lyrics, minimal melodies, and bombastic bridges. We break down the key aspects of Swift's songcraft and how we can hear them manifest in the work of her young acolytes, and we speak to another burgeoning artist, the brilliant Jensen McRae, to learn firsthand why Swift's style has been so resonant. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)
Gracie Abrams - That’s So True
Maisie Peters - There It Goes
Taylor Swift - Style (Taylor's Version)
Taylor Swift - You're On Your Own, Kid
Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness
Taylor Swift - Our Song
Beyoncé - Sandcastles
Katy Perry - Unconditionally
Taylor Swift - cardigan
Dua Lipa - Levitating
Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version)
Taylor Swift - Dear John (Taylor's Version)
Jensen McRae - Praying For Your Downfall
Jensen McRae - Savannah
Jensen McRae - Immune
Taylor Swift - Would've, Could've, Should'veMORE
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Music's New Success Model
15 april 2025 · 47 min
Specialized platforms and social media have empowered musicians to tap into niche audiences, igniting a quiet revolution in the music industry. Despite the dominance of viral hits, a new wave of artists, labels and businesses are redefining success by building dedicated fanbases with focused, niche strategies. This conversation, live from SXSW, features Charlie leading a conversation with: Lees meer
LP Giobbi, a producer, jazz-trained pianist, and activist who spends 300 days a year touring between festival stages, club floors, and studios.
Nabil Ayers, president of Beggar's Group, home to multiple indie labels including 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade, and XL Recordings.
Dani Deahl, a DJ, producer, and head of communications and creator insights at BandLab, the most popular digital audio workstation worldwide.
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Miley Cyrus goes avant-garde
8 april 2025 · 38 min
Miley Cyrus just released three singles from her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful. Inspired by Pink Floyd's The Wall—specifically the 1982 feature film based on the album—Cyrus is not just sharing new music but a whole visual album, each song accompanied by a music video shot by director Panos Cosmatos. We last heard from Cyrus in 2023 with her massive smash "Flowers," which found the industry veteran finding some kind of inner peace. With her new songs, Cyrus is turning from healing herself to healing the world. She described the project as "a concept album that’s an attempt to medicate somewhat of a sick culture through music." What does such an endeavor sound like? For one, a lot of surprising textures and collaborators: Shoegaze guitarists, jazz saxophonists, indie rock producers. At least, sounds that are surprising to those who only know Cyrus from "Flowers," "Wrecking Ball," and "Party in the USA." The true Miley stans expect the unexpected from an artist who, it turns out, has always been weird. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Miley Cyrus - Flowers, Prelude, Something Beautiful, End of the World, Dooo It!, Malibu, Cattitude (feat. RuPaul), Plastic Hearts
Blank Banshee - Eco Zones
Caroline Polachek, Oneohtrix Point Never - Long Road Home
D'Angelo - Send It On
Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders - Journey In Satchidananda
Whitney - Forever Turned Around
ABBA - Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen
Alvvays - Easy On Your Own?
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Chappell Roan is giving country... and hair metal?
1 april 2025 · 32 min
Why was Chappell Roan's band dressed like an 80s hair metal act during her Grammy performance? The answer unlocks the surprising secret behind her #1 country hit "The Giver." This musical detective story connects glam rock aesthetics to modern country through an unexpected lineage involving AC/DC's producer, Shania Twain's revolution, and men who inadvertently dressed in drag. Between fiddle licks and gated reverb drums lies a brilliant subversion of country traditions that proves the genre has always been about musical drag while revealing what "rhinestone cowgirl" really means. Lees meer
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Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own bingo card!Songs Discussed:
Chappell Roan – "The Giver"
Chappell Roan – "Pink Pony Club"
Big & Rich – "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
Bon Jovi – "Living on a Prayer"
Guns N' Roses – "Sweet Child of Mine"
AC/DC – "Back in Black"
Def Leppard – "Pour Some Sugar on Me"
Nirvana – "About a Girl"
Bryan Adams – "Everything I Do (I Do It for You)"
Shania Twain – "Any Man of Mine"
Shania Twain – "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
Toby Keith feat. Willie Nelson – "Beer for My Horses"
Carrie Underwood – "Before He Cheats"
Trace Adkins – "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"
Glen Campbell – "Rhinestone Cowboy"
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Writing The Who’s ‘My Generation' With Pete Townshend
25 maart 2025 · 52 min
The Who's "My Generation" wasn't born from inspiration—it was commissioned. In a rare interview, Pete Townshend reveals how six fans at London's Goldhawk Club in 1965 directly asked him to write an anthem for their post-war generation. This conversation uncovers how a simple request transformed into rock's definitive youth statement, complete with its rebellious stutter and blues foundations. As Townshend releases his solo anthology during our own era of generational flux, the story behind rock's most famous declaration of youth proves more relevant than ever. Lees meer
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Songs Referenced
"My Generation" by The Who
"Can't Explain" by The Who
"Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" by The Who
"Smokestack Lightning" by Howlin' Wolf
"For Your Love" by The Yardbirds
"Pinball Wizard" by The Who
"I'm a Boy" by The Who
"Pictures of Lily" by The Who
"I Can See for Miles" by The Who
"Stuttering Blues" by John Lee Hooker
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Lady Gaga's Monster Return
18 maart 2025 · 53 min
In 2022, Lady Gaga embarked on The Chromatica Ball – a stadium tour featuring a stage that Gaga herself referred to as her "museum of brutality." Three years later, this idea of a brutalist enshrining of all things Monster can come to represent her new studio album MAYHEM. Lees meer
Over the course of fourteen tracks, Gaga is "unafraid to reference or not reference," invoking not just the pop weirdos of a past era like Prince and Bowie, but also her contemporaries, in this gothic and chaotic web of a record. This episode of Switched On Pop, Little Monster-in-residence Reanna takes Charlie and Nate on a tour through the Gaga-seum, showcasing Gaga's ability to pay tribute to her inspirations, her imitators, and her biggest icon: herself.
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Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own bingo card!SONGS DISCUSSED
Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me
Lady Gaga – Disease
Lady Gaga, Gesaffelstein – Killah
David Bowie – Watch That Man
David Bowie – Fame
Queen – Killer Queen
Prince – Kiss
Prince – Sign O' The Times
Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
Nile Rodgers, CHIC, Lady Gaga – I Want Your Love
Lady Gaga – Perfect Celebrity
Lady Gaga – Paparazzi
Lady Gaga – The Fame
Lady Gaga – Applause
Nine Inch Nails – Closer
Depeche Mode – Mercy in You
Lady Gaga – Vanish Into You
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
The Weeknd – In Your Eyes
Lady Gaga – How Bad Do U Want Me
Taylor Swift – Style
Taylor Swift – Gorgeous
Yaz – Only You
Lady Gaga – Zombieboy
Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
Lady Gaga – Summerboy
Lady Gaga – Beautiful, Dirty Rich
Lady Gaga – Shadow Of A Man
Lady Gaga – Nothing On But the Radio
Lady Gaga – Garden of Eden
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Lady Gaga – Government Hooker
Lady Gaga – Bloody Mary
Lady Gaga – Swine
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