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558 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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How Missy Elliott and Timbaland Freaked the World
11 maart 2025 · 36 min
When the song “Get Ur Freak On” hit radio in 2001, it set the world of popular music on fire. Missy Elliott and Timbaland’s first crossover hit sounded nothing like the chart-topping bluesy rock of Aerosmith or Lenny Kravitz, or the smooth R&B of Joe or Jagged Edge. It was a song that compelled you to dance - literally, with Missy issuing repeat commands to “get ur freak on” and encouraging crowds to gather ‘round in what we’ve only ever experienced as a hot slick mess of bodies, cheering and vibing as one pretzeling mass. But this song was years in the making. Timbaland and Missy had been hard at work on the sound for nearly a decade before “Get Ur Freak On” was heard by anyone. Lees meer
This week, in yet another segment of our Modern Classics miniseries, our guest host and former producer Megan Lubin shares the story of the sound that made “Get Ur Freak On” a pop music phenomenon, and transformed Timbaland into one of the most ubiquitous producers of the aughts.
Songs Discussed
Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
Tweet - Oops (Oh My)
Jay-Z - Dirt off Your Shoulder
Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around... Comes Around
2Pac - Me Against The World
TLC - Creep
Ginuwine - Pony
Aaliyah - One in a Million
Jay-Z ft. UGK - Big Pimpin’
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me a River
Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous
Justin Timberlake ft. T.I. - My Love
Timbaland ft. One Republic - Apologize
Sports Car - Tate McRae
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Playing "Hide and Seek" with Imogen Heap
4 maart 2025 · 33 min
It may be hard to believe it in this technology-driven day and age, but one of the most pervasive sounds in popular music came about when a computer STOPPED working. In 2005, artist and innovator Imogen Heap released "Hide and Seek," a mysterious and emotional song featuring just her voice and a digital harmonizer. In this episode, Nate and Reanna dissect a song that launched a thousand memes and gave the world one of the defining sonic textures of our time. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Imogen Heap - Headlock
Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky
Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
Daft Punk - Around the World
Imogen Heap - Getting Scared
Frou Frou - Let Go
Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say
Bon Iver - Woods
Coldplay - Hurts Like Heaven
Kacey Musgraves
gracias a la vida
Frank Ocean - Close To You
Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey - The Middle
Caroline Polachek - So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings
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The Umbrella Effect: How Rihanna’s Breakout Hit Changed Pop Music Forever
25 februari 2025 · 35 min
In 2007, a 19-year-old Barbadian pop singer released the lead single off her third album. By doing so, she didn't just give us a timeless, undeniable banger -- she changed the way pop music is made, and became the global superstar that we know Rihanna to be today. In this episode we go back in time to unearth the origins of "Umbrella," and how the song blossomed as a result of many shifting currents in the music industry, the democratization recording technology, and the persistence of Rihanna and her team to record the song instead of the artist for whom it was intended. Lees meer
SONGS DISCUSSED
James Brown "Funky Drummer"
Funkadelic "Get Off Your Ass and Jam"
Soft Cell "Tainted Love"
N.W.A. "100 Miles and Runnin"
Mya "Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do?)"
Britney Spears featuring Madonna "Me Against the Music"
Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That Feeds"
Rihanna "Pon de Replay"
Rihanna "S.O.S."
Shakira "Hips Don't Lie"
Rihanna "Umbrella"
Justice "Stress"
Usher "Love in This Club"
Childish Gambino "Bonfire"
A$AP Rocky featuring Skepta "Praise the Lord (Da Shine)"
Asher Monroe "Synergy"
Justin Bieber & Lil Dicky "Running Over"
Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso"
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Learning to love: Tate McRae
18 februari 2025 · 44 min
Tate McRae's billions of streams and perfectly crafted hits can feel almost algorithmic, like an AI trained on 20 years of pop music. In anticipation of McRae’s third album So Close to What, out this Friday, we dissect McRae’s "SimplePop" formula, from her strategic, indescript vocal delivery to expert "vibe snatching" of Y2K sounds.
Through singles like "exes” and “sports car,” Charlie and Reanna trace her sonic lineage and discover why pop music needs artists who refine sounds as much as those who revolutionize them, seeing if there’s room to love her music in the process. This dancer-turned-singer might not be the next Britney Spears, but she could be this generation's Paula Abdul. Lees meerMore
Watch Adam Neely's "Scotch Snaps in Hip Hop"Songs Discussed
Tate McRae - "sports car"
Tate McRae - "greedy"
Tate McRae - "you broke me first"
Tate McRae - "One Day"
Tate McRae - "exes"
Lisa - "Money"
Halsey - "100 Letters"
Cardi B - "I Like It"
Beyoncé - "Drunk in Love"
Ariana Grande - "7 Rings"
Ariana Grande - "thank u, next"
Tate McRae - "it's okay im okay"
Ying Yang Twins - "Wait (The Whisper Song)"
The Lonely Island - "Bing Bong Brothers"
The Pussycat Dolls - "Buttons"
Missy Elliott - "Get Your Freak On"
Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris - "Gossip Folks"
Britney Spears - "Toxic"
Britney Spears - "Gimme More"
Cassie - "Me & U"
Paula Abdul - "Straight Up"
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Does It Trance? The Weeknd & FKA Twigs
11 februari 2025 · 45 min
In last month's episode predicting the coming year in pop, one of the team's predictions was that trance music – the ethereal, dreamy subgenre of electronic music popular around the turn of the century – would make a comeback on the charts in 2025. And even though we're less than two months into the year, we're already seeing the tides of nostalgia bring this club-oriented music come back into fashion. This episode of Switched On Pop, Nate, Charlie, and Reanna take a look at trance music: where it came from, what it sounds like, and if we can hear it in two of the year's most anticipated records: The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow and FKA Twigs's EUSEXUA. Does it trance? Lees meer
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Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own bingo card!Songs Discussed
KLF "What Time is Love? (Pure Trance Mix)"
Sven Väth "L'Esperanza"
Robert Miles "Children"
Paul van Dyk "For an Angel"
Ian Van Dahl "Castles in the Sky"
Tiësto "Adagio for Strings"
Darude "Sandstorm"
Charlotte De Witte "Universal Consciousness"
FKA twigs "Two Weeks"
FKA twigs "Cellophane"
FKA twigs "Tears in the Club" feat. The Weeknd
FKA twigs "EUSEXUA"
FKA twigs "Drums of Death"
FKA twigs "Perfect Stranger"
FKA twigs "Room of Fools"
FKA twigs "Childlike Things"
The Weeknd "Wake Me Up" feat. Justice
The Weeknd "Open Hearts"
The Weeknd "The Abyss" feat. Lana Del Rey
The Weeknd "Timeless" feat. Playboi Carti
The Weeknd "Give Me Mercy"
The Weeknd "Red Terror"
The Weeknd "Sao Paulo" feat. Anitta
The Weeknd "Reflections" feat. Travis Scott & Florence + The Machine
The Weeknd "Enjoy the Show"
The Weeknd "I Can't Wait to Get There"
The Weeknd "Hurry Up Tomorrow"
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"
The Weeknd "Save Your Tears"
The Weeknd "Until I Bleed Out"
The Weeknd "Take My Breath"
The Weeknd "Out of Time"
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How Spotify hacked our ears (and our data)
4 februari 2025 · 52 min
Behind Spotify's promise of infinite music lies a carefully engineered system that shapes not just what we hear, but how music itself gets made. Journalist Liz Pelly's explosive new book "Mood Machine" rips away the curtain on streaming's biggest player, revealing how its algorithms and backroom deals dictate the soundtrack to our lives. With major labels controlling 70% of streams and Spotify commanding over 600 million users, the stakes couldn't be higher. As artists like Björk decry streaming as "the worst thing that's happened to musicians," Pelly uncovers the true cost of our perfect playlists - and what we're really sacrificing for the illusion of endless choice. Lees meer
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25 Predictions for 2025: Grammys, J-pop, kazoos and more
28 januari 2025 · 56 min
2024 was an unpredictable year, and 2025 seems to be cut from the same cloth. So for this episode of Switched On Pop, Nate, Charlie, and Reanna look into the crystal ball of pop music to create a (playable) bingo card of predictions for the coming year – including AI songs on the Hot 100, a return of boy bands, and... kazoos? The Album of the Year race for this upcoming Grammys is similarly unpredictable, with a stacked nomination list including Grammy darlings Beyoncé and Billie as well as Gen-Z favorites like Charli and Chappell. The team takes a crack at guessing who will take home the award by debating the nominees, bracket-style. Lees meer
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Songs discussed:
The Traveling Wilburys – Handle With Care
Ghostwriter – Heart On My Sleeve (ft. AI Drake and AI The Weeknd)
Songs from Silvio Berlusconi, Imelda Marcos, and Randi Zuckerberg
Chino Pacas, Drake, Fuerza Regida – Modo Capone
Elton John – Your Song
Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee – Despacito
Jack Black – Peaches
Tyla – Water
Rema, Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Bloodhound Gang – The Bad Touch
Megan thee Stallion, Yuki Chiba – Mamushi
Joan Osborne – One of Us
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Katy Perry – Woman's World
David Bowie – Moonage Daydream
Jimi Hendrix – Crosstown Traffic
Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me
Billie Eilish – CHIHIRO
Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Charli XCX – guess
Charli XCX – 360
Charli XCX – i think about it all the time
Charli XCX – 365
Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD 'EM
Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus – II MOST WANTED
Beyoncé – YA YA
Taylor Swift – I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Chappell Roan – HOTTOGO
Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
Chappell Roan – Red Wine Supernova
Outkast – Hey Ya!
Andre 3000 – That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control ... Sh*t Was Wild
Andre 3000 – I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A "Rap" Album But This Is Literally The…
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Bad Bunny's love letter to Puerto Rico
21 januari 2025 · 47 min
The first great release of 2025 is already here: Bad Bunny's newest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. Over the course of its 17 tracks, the Puerto Rican reggaetonero crafts an intertextual, anti-colonial tome of a record, incorporating sounds from across his island and the boricua diaspora. From his use of salsa classics on "NUEVAYoL," to his pointed interpolations on "VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR," and his detour into folk melodies and songwriting on tracks like the somber "LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii," the record features some of Bad Bunny's most creative, intense, and direct work yet. On this episode of Switched On Pop, producer Reanna Cruz takes Charlie and Nate on a journey through Bad Bunny's love letter to Puerto Rico, with additional insight from journalist and translator Carina del Valle Schorske.
Read Carina's NPR Music review of the record: Bad Bunny's politics of presence. Lees meerSongs Discussed:
Bad Bunny, "DtMF"
Bad Bunny, "NUEVAYoL"
Bad Bunny, "BOKeTE"
Bad Bunny, "EL CLúB"
El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico, "Un verano en Nueva York"
Bad Bunny, "PIToRRO DE COCO"
Bad Bunny, "BAILE INoLVIDABLE"
Rauw Alejandro, "Tú Con Él"
Bad Bunny, "VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR"
Wisin & Yandel, Héctor "El Father," "La Barría"
Alexis y Fido, "Me Quiere Besar"
Angel y Khriz, "Cazando Voy"
Bad Bunny, "El Apagón"
Bad Bunny, Kendo Kaponi, Arcángel, "P FKN R"
Bad Bunny, "LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii"
Bad Bunny, "CAFé CON RON"
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The biggest theme song fail
14 januari 2025 · 40 min
What happens when your podcast’s theme song—cobbled together from GarageBand loops—gets called “game show music” and likened to a cereal commercial? You rewrite it. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of Switched on Pop’s sonic makeover, from scathing critiques by music industry heavyweights to the creation of a lush, layered soundscape inspired by Wendy Carlos and PBS science shows. With expert advice from sonic branding maestro Dallas Taylor (Twenty Thousand Hertz) and the composers Zach Tenorio and Jocie Adams (Arc Iris), we dissect every step of transforming our theme into a timeless sonic identity. Tune in for the full story and hear how we turned a jingle crisis into a musical triumph. Lees meer
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Recommendations
Read Cat Zhang at The Cut
Read Lauren Michelle Jackson’s White Negros and columns at The New Yorker
Listen to Ian Fitchuk’s work
Listen to Song Exploder hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway
Listen to NYTimes Popcast hosted by Jon Caramanica
Listen to Twenty Thousand Hertz hosted by Dallas Taylor
Songs Discussed
The Monkees: "Theme Song (Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees)"
Radiohead: "Kid A"
No Name: "Yesterday"
Mort Garson: "Ode to an African Violet"
Wendy Carlos Switched On Bach
Whitney Houston: "The Star-Spangled Banner" (1991 Super Bowl performance)
Jimi Hendrix: "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Woodstock performance)
Friends theme Song "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts
Reading Rainbow theme song “Butterfly in the Sky” by Steve Horelick, Dennis Neil Kleinman, and Janet Weir
Bill Nye the Science Guy theme Song composed by Mike Greene
3-2-1 Contact theme Song composed by Tom Anthony
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Have Disney musicals lost their edge?
7 januari 2025 · 40 min
Critics are not feeling the love tonight when it comes to Disney's latest sequels, Mufasa and Moana 2. They've called the animated films "lifeless and bland." But save some sympathy for the composers behind these blatant IP grabs. Lin Manuel Miranda and the duo Barlow and Bear had to match the original, iconic numbers from the Lion King and Moana, songs written by Elton John and Miranda himself. Are critics of the sequels' soundtracks being too harsh? We compare the new songs to their iconic predecessors, like "Circle of Life" and "How Far I'll Go," and ask whether Disney new composers face an impossible task in trying to extend franchises through song.
Songs Discussed
Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M. - “Circle of Life”
Elton John, Tim Rice - “Circle of Life” (Radio Version)
Elton John, Tim Rice - “Hakuna Matata”
Lin-Manuel Miranda - “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
Lin-Manuel Miranda - “Melele”
Lin-Manuel Miranda - “I Always Wanted a Brother”
Lin-Manuel Miranda - “How Far I’ll Go” ft. Auli’i Cravalho
Ariana Grande - “Imperfect For You”
Barlow & Bear - “Beyond” feat. Auli’i Cravalho
Barlow & Bear - “Can I Get a Chee Hoo” feat. Dwayne Johnson
More
Brett Boles’s wonderful analysis of “How Far I’ll Go,” referenced in the episode
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Going Off Book
31 december 2024 · 1 uur 31 min
On this very special episode, we join forces with the hilarious podcast OFF BOOK. When our powers combine, Zach and Jess of Off Book, plus their killer backing band of Scott, Dana and Brett create an improvised musical, while Nate and Charlie break down the sound and structure of a Broadway show. Stay tuned for deep thoughts about what separates pop music from musicals, wild speculation about the origin of the word “vamp,” and an ENTIRE FREAKING MUSICAL COMPOSED FROM SCRATCH that will make you laugh your face off. This is not one to miss.
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Auto-Tune always and forever
24 december 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
Popular music changes all the time, but there’s been one consistent element in practically everything released in the last two decades: Auto-Tune is everywhere. What started as a simple audio processing tool in the 1990s has become the dominant force in music. Artists are training to sing with Auto-Tune; songs sound like Auto-Tune. Like it or hate it, Auto-Tune is everywhere. And to be clear, most people like it.
On this episode of The Vergecast music journalist and Switched on Pop co-host Charlie Harding tells us the story of Auto-Tune. (Disclosure: Switched on Pop is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network, as is The Vergecast.) It starts, of all places, in the oil and gas industry. It involves artists like Cher and T-Pain, spreads like wildfire throughout the music business, and quickly becomes so utterly ubiquitous that you probably notice when Auto-Tune isn’t used more than when it is.
As we barrel toward whatever the “AI era” of music will be, we also look for clues in Auto-Tune’s story that point to what’s coming next. We talk about the distinct sound that comes from tools like Suno and Udio, how artists will use and abuse AI, and whether we should be worried about what it all means. We haven’t yet found the “Believe” of the AI music era, but it’s probably coming.
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Santa Claus is coming to town and stalking America
20 december 2024 · 33 min
The first time you hear "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," it probably registers as just another cheery holiday standard. But hiding within this seemingly simple song is a remarkable story of American transformation - musical, technological, and social. Each time artists reimagine the song over its 90-year history, they leave an imprint not just of their own style, but of their entire cultural moment. Lees meer
Correction: Last week, we mistakenly credited Jermaine Jackson with playing bass on The Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The bass on the studio recording was performed by Wilton Felder, a renowned session musician from The Crusaders. Jermaine played bass in live performances.
Artists Discussed:
Eddie Cantor
Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
The Crystals
Ella Fitzgerald
Fred Astaire
The Jackson Five
Bruce Springsteen
Justin Bieber
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Breaking Through: Doechii, Mk.gee, Rosé
17 december 2024 · 41 min
Three artists quietly reshaped pop music in 2024, though you might not know it from your Spotify Wrapped. As listeners question the accuracy of their year-end streaming stats, we explore the innovative sounds bubbling up just below the algorithmic radar. Tampa's "Swamp Princess" Doechii brings narrative depth back to hip-hop through her chameleonic vocal approach. Bedroom producer Mk.gee discovers entirely new possibilities for the electric guitar by deliberately recording "wrong." And BLACKPINK's ROSÉ challenges K-pop industry constraints while building bridges to Western pop on her revolutionary solo album. These artists point toward an exciting future where pop continues to evolve in unexpected ways, even as streaming platforms try to predict and package our musical tastes. Plus: Our producer Reanna Cruz presents evidence that their Spotify Wrapped might be fibbing, and Nate reveals his most-played track of 2024 was... Jeremy Irons singing "Be Prepared" from The Lion King? The algorithm works in mysterious ways. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Doechii: "Girls," "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake," "NISSAN ALTIMA," "Denial Is A River," "Boom Bap"
Mk.gee: "I Know How You Got," "Big Mics," "Are You Looking Up," "Alesis"
BLACKPINK"Boombayah," "Kill This Love," "How You Like That," "Pink Venom,"
ROSÉ: "On The Ground," "APT." (featuring Bruno Mars), "Toxic Till The End"
Taylor Swift: "Shake It Off"
Avril Lavigne: "Girlfriend"
Toni Basil: "Mickey"
Tom Petty: "American Girl"
Bo Diddley: "Bo Diddley Beat"
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The best (and worst) of holiday music in 2024
13 december 2024 · 37 min
It's an annual tradition: Every December, artists release their bids to join the hallowed halls of holiday music history. The gold standard remains Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which reportedly earns the pop star $2.5 million annually in royalties. This year's crop of seasonal offerings spans from ambitious originals to reimagined classics, with artists trying everything from AI-generated lyrics to funk renditions of Hanukah hymns. To evaluate this year's entries, we're introducing our definitive sleigh bell ranking system: five sleigh bells marks a future holiday classic destined to join Mariah in the pantheon, while one sleigh bell promises pop obscurity. Lees meer
Songs Discussed:
•Kelly Clarkson - You For Christmas
•Orville Peck - Happy Trails
•Conan Gray - Holidays
•Dan and Shay - Take Me Home for Christmas
•Amy Grant - Tennessee Christmas
•Kesha - Holiday Road
•Ben Folds - Xmas Aye Eye
•Jennifer Hudson - Santa for Someone
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Kendrick Lamar: from Pulitzer to pop
10 december 2024 · 39 min
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar pulled off what seemed impossible: winning hip-hop's biggest rap battle in recent history, securing the Super Bowl halftime show, and dropping GNX, a surprise album that might be the year's defining pop record. But this triumphant return wasn't guaranteed. Two decades into his career — well past the average life expectancy of a rap career — Kendrick faced a critical challenge: how to balance his legendary artistic complexity with mainstream accessibility. Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Kendrick Lamar – squabble up
Kendrick Lamar – luther (feat. SZA)
Kendrick Lamar – tv off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)
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We're off to see the "Wicked"
3 december 2024 · 39 min
The year's hottest movie is, against all odds, a musical. Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, just hit theaters, and tells the tale of how a green-skinned girl named Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West. And with any musical, the songs are just as important as the narrative. On this episode of Switched On Pop, Charlie, Nate, and Reanna hop on their broomsticks to break down the music powering this cultural phenomenon. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
The Wizard And I - Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh
The Wizard And I - Carole Shelley, Idina Menzel
Popular - Ariana Grande
Popular Song - MIKA, Ariana Grande
Defying Gravity - Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande
What Is This Feeling? - Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo
Defying Gravity - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel
You'll Be Back - Jonathan Groff, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
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Listening 2 Madonna: Ray of Light
29 november 2024 · 42 min
TIME Magazine once said, “there are few figures more closely associated with religion in pop culture than Madonna.” And looking at her catalog, it’s hard to disagree. From cheeky double entendres on “Like A Prayer,” to explorations of alternative philosophies on Ray of Light, spiritual practice has always been a core aspect of Madonna’s work. And as she dips her toes in different ideologies, she eventually comes to mold her own special religion in the process.
On our final episode of our week-long Listening 2 Madonna series, we take a look at the third essential part of Madonna’s holy trinity: spirituality.
Songs discussed: Lees meerMadonna – "Like A Prayer"
Madonna – "American Life"
Sister Cristina – "Like A Virgin"
Ray Charles – "What I'd Say"
Madonna – "Live to Tell"
Madonna – "Oh Father"
Madonna – "X-Static Process"
Madonna – "Bedtime Story"
Björk – "Hyperballad"
Madonna – "Ray of Light"
Madonna – "Nothing Really Matters"
Madonna – "The Power of Good-bye"
Madonna – "Sky Fits Heaven"
Madonna – "Shanti / Ashtangi"
Addison Rae – "Aquamarine"
Madonna – "Vogue"
Madonna – "Music"
Madonna – "Isaac"
Madonna – "Like It Or Not"
Madonna – "Get Together"
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Listening 2 Madonna: Spanish Eyes
27 november 2024 · 43 min
Throughout her forty-year career, Madonna has managed to travel the globe, both literally and musically. Despite being a white woman from the midwest (Michigan, to be exact), her discography has been influenced by countless different cultures and sounds.
Even from her very first single, Madonna has frequently paid homage to those she has encountered, reflecting (and sometimes appropriating) the cultures that surrounded her. But because she's the world's biggest pop star, this globalist approach created space in the mainstream for artists from different cultures to follow in her footsteps. This episode of Switched On Pop, we're Listening 2 Madonna and exploring the second aspect of her Holy Trinity: multiculturalism. Lees meerSongs discussed:
Madonna – "Everybody"
La India – "Dancing on the Fire"
Miami Sound Machine – "Dr. Beat"
Madonna – "Holiday"
Shannon – "Let the Music Play"
Madonna – "Music"
Madonna – "Vogue"
Madonna – "La Isla Bonita"
Madonna – "Spanish Eyes"
Madonna – "Who's That Girl?"
Ricky Martin – "Livin' La Vida Loca"
Los Lobos – "La Bamba"
Lady Gaga – "Alejandro"
Malcolm McLaren – "Deep In Vogue – Introducing Lourdes & Willie Ninja"
Madonna – "Deeper and Deeper"
Derrick May – "Strings of Life"
Ariana Grande – "yes and?"
Beyoncé – "Break My Soul – The Queens Remix"
Madonna – "Faz Gostoso"
Blaya – "Faz Gostoso"
Anitta – "Funk Rave"
Madonna – "Batuka"
Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B – "Bongos"
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Listening 2 Madonna: Who's That Girl?
25 november 2024 · 47 min
Madonna is the world's biggest female pop star. She's influenced everyone from Beyoncé to Britney Spears; is the most successful solo artist in Hot 100 chart history; and is the best-selling female recording artist of all time. Her career – which has spanned over forty years – has seen her continually reinventing herself and her sound over fourteen studio albums, from her early years in the New York City underground dance scene, to collaborating with artists like Maluma, Sam Smith, and the Weeknd.
Throughout all this, though, she has also managed to remain an enigma. Much has been said about Madonna, but through her work, a holy trinity of themes has emerged. And through these themes – gender exploration, multiculturalism, and spirituality – we can unpack one of the most iconic catalogs in pop music.
This week on Switched On Pop, we're Listening 2 Madonna, and releasing three special episodes focused on the Material Girl, going Deeper and Deeper to understand the Queen of Pop. On this episode, we take a look at how Madonna conveys gender in her work, from "Like A Virgin" to "What It Feels Like For A Girl." Lees meerSongs discussed:
Madonna – "Vogue"
Madonna – "Borderline"
Madonna – "Like A Virgin"
Madonna – "Material Girl"
Deniece Williams – "Let's Hear It For The Boy"
Madonna – "True Blue"
Madonna – "Live to Tell"
Madonna – "Papa Don't Preach"
Madonna – "Express Yourself"
Madonna – "Justify My Love"
Madonna – "Deeper and Deeper"
Madonna – "Waiting"
Madonna – "Bad Girl"
Madonna – "What It Feels Like For A Girl"
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Fleetwood Mac perfected turning drama into hits
19 november 2024 · 53 min
In 1973, before their ascent to rock superstardom with Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were just two young lovers making music in Los Angeles. Their debut album, Buckingham Nicks, though commercially unsuccessful at the time, would prove to be the catalyst that changed their lives. When Mick Fleetwood happened to walk into Sound City Studios and overheard Buckingham's masterful guitar work, he knew he'd found what his band desperately needed given the departure of their guitarist Peter Green. Fleetwood invited Buckingham to join the group, and Buckingham agreed on one condition: his musical and romantic partner, Stevie Nicks, would come too. This fateful meeting would birth the legendary lineup that created Fleetwood Mac and Rumours, albums that would define a generation. Lees meer
Yet all this time, the band's origin story, captured in Buckingham Nicks, has remained locked away in aging vinyl archives – until now. Grammy-winning guitarist Madison Cunningham and virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird have breathed new life into this historic recording with their interpretation, Cunningham Bird. Cunningham, celebrated for her sophisticated fingerpicking and intricate compositions, joins forces with Bird, whose distinctive violin work and plaintive vocals have earned him critical acclaim.
Their reimagining of this pivotal album offers fresh insight into both Fleetwood Mac's enduring influence and the rocky romance that sparked their success. I sat down with the duo to discuss their approach to this legendary material and what drew them to resurrect these long-lost songs. Switched On Pop spoke with Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird about how they adapted Buckingham Nicks into Cunningham Bird
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Still Freaky After All These Years: Gaga, Tyler, The Cure
12 november 2024 · 34 min
A musical "freak," to us here at Switched On Pop, is an artist who is unique, non-conforming, and always manages to surprise. We're living in some freaky times right now, so there's no better way to honor that than to listen to pop's freakiest artists. The past few weeks have seen new releases from Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator, and The Cure – the latter releasing their first new album in sixteen years. This episode of Switched On Pop, we unpack these songs and get to the bottom of their freakiness. Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Lady Gaga – Disease
Tyler, The Creator – Noid
The Cure – Alone
More
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Did Kendrick Lamar kill hip-hop?
5 november 2024 · 56 min
Over the summer, the culture was shaken by the biggest rap beef this decade, between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. From “First Person Shooter” to “Not Like Us,” hip-hop listeners hung on each rapper’s every word and rebuttal, and for the first time in years, the genre felt exciting.
Months after the beef had “ended,” Lamar released a track on Instagram dubbed “Watch the Party Die,” in which he lamented that hip-hop, in its current state, has lost its way and – as the title suggests – needs to die. It’s interesting, coming from Lamar, the supposed winner of the beef, and begs the question: is hip-hop dead?
On this episode of Switched On Pop, engineer Brandon McFarland takes us on a journey over the course of history, to answer the question: can hip-hop ever truly die? And if this form of it is not sustainable, what’s next? Lees meerTracklist:
Drake - First Person Shooter ft. J. Cole
Future, Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar - Like That
Drake - Push Ups
Kendrick Lamar - Euphoria
Drake - Family Matters
Kendrick Lamar - meet the grahams
Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us
Kendrick Lamar - Watch The Party Die
Glass Animals - Heat Waves
Desiigner - Panda
Migos - Versace
Public Enemy - Bring The Noise
THE CARTERS - APESHIT
Ariana Grande - 34+35
Kendrick Lamar - Alright
Jay-Z - D.O.A.
Cher - Believe
T-Pain - I'm Sprung
Lil Wayne - Lollipop ft. Static
Kanye West - Heartless
Drake - Over
Travis Scott - Mamacita ft. Rich Homie Quan, Young Thug
Lil Yachty - Poland
DRAM feat. Lil Yachty - Broccoli
Charlie XCX - 360
Too $hort - Oakland California
Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta
Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me
Blondie - Rapture
Playboi Carti - Magnolia
Playboi Carti - Rockstar Made
Lil Uzi Vert - New Patek
Lil Uzi Vert - Suicide Doors
Lil Uzi Vert - XO Tour Llif3
Juice WRLD - Lucid Dreams (Forget Me)
Future - Fuck Up Some Commas
Tyler, The Creator – Sticky
tisakorean - LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM
Travis Porter ft. Tyga - Ayy Ladies
AgusFortnite2008, Stiffy & DJ Smokey – COF COF
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Where are all the scary songs?
29 oktober 2024 · 30 min
It’s the spookiest time of the year; Halloween is right around the corner. But unlike the winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, Halloween seems to lack a defining canon of scary music. There’s, of course, “Monster Mash,” and “Ghostbusters,” but those songs aren’t actually bone-chilling. Is there a way to make music scary? In a live show from The Dalton School in New York City, Nate and Charlie try to unpack that very question, dissecting some of the scariest songs of all time to create their own spine-tingling, hair-raising Halloween anthem. Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Monster Mash
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters
Bernard Hermann – The Murder (From Psycho)
John Williams – Main Title (Theme From Jaws)
John Carpenter – Halloween, Main Title
Cannibal Corpse – Scourge of Iron
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The virtuosity of Stevie Wonder
22 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
Stevie Wonder may be our modern day Mozart. A child prodigy, he joined Motown as a preadolescent where he was marketed as “Little” Stevie Wonder. He wowed audiences with his virtuosic command of the piano, harmonica, drums and of course, vocals. At just 13, he had his first number one hit “Fingertips Part II.” It was an unusual chart topper, featuring a live recording of mostly improvised music with Wonder switching between instruments as the audience cheered him on. But Wonder’s musical potential was far more than a gimmick. Lees meer
In the 1970s, Wonder broke free from the confines of his initial recording contract, securing his artistic and financial freedom. Between 1971 and 1976, during what is now known as his "classic period," he released five of the most iconic albums in popular music, beginning with Music of My Mind and culminating in Songs in the Key of Life. These albums showcased his musical genius and included timeless songs that have become part of the modern pop canon, touching on themes of love, heartbreak, justice, and spirituality. Few child prodigies fulfill their potential as profoundly as Stevie Wonder.
With the help of Wesley Morris, NYT critic and host of the spectacular audio series The Wonder of Stevie, Switched on Pop looks back on some of Stevie Wonder’s strongest compositions, exploring what makes him our contemporary musical maestro.
Songs Discussed:
Stevie Wonder - "Girl Blue"
Stevie Wonder - "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"
Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"
Stevie Wonder - "Golden Lady"
Stevie Wonder - "Isn't She Lovely"
Stevie Wonder - "I Wish"
Stevie Wonder - "Sir Duke"
Stevie Wonder - "As"
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The last decade of pop explained
15 oktober 2024 · 52 min
We celebrate Switched On Pop's 10th anniversary by taking a deep dive into the last decade of pop music. From bubblegum pop to EDM, trap, and K-pop, we explore how the sound of pop has continually evolved—even when it feels like it’s all the same. Plus, we pull back the curtain on the show with a special interview: Sean Rameswaram, host of Vox's Today Explained, puts Nate and Charlie in the hot seat to reveal their best—and most cringe-worthy—moments from the past decade.
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Learning to love: Coldplay
8 oktober 2024 · 48 min
Coldplay is one of the biggest musical acts in the world, ranking #6 on Spotify and boasting one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. Yet, despite their global success, they've often been a critical punching bag. The New York Times once branded them “the most insufferable band of the decade.” The Independent described them as “pompous, mawkish, and unbearably smug.” But Coldplay has never claimed to be the hardest rock band—they’ve instead built a legacy on their softer sound and uplifting message. With the release of their 10th studio album, Moon Music, we dive deep into their catalog and ask the question: can we learn to love Coldplay?
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Fall Out Boy and the worst earworm ever
1 oktober 2024 · 40 min
Marianne Eloise has had the same Fall Out Boy song stuck in her head for over three years. "It’s Hard to Say 'I Do,' When I Don’t," an relatively obscure cut from the band's 2007 album Infinity on High has taken up permanent residence in her brain as the ultimate earworm. Everybody has had a riff or a melody stuck in their head, but not at this . Eloise, a journalist and music writer, decided to turn her malady into a story. Her pursuit of the science behind "stuck songs" led her to our unique bureau of forensic musicology.
On this episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate talk about earworms: what they are, why are they so catchy, and how we might get rid of them. Then, Nate confronts his own stuck song: The Lemon Twigs's "In My Head," and in talking to the two brothers behind the group, finds a novel approach to giving an unwanted musical guest the boot. Lees meerSongs Discussed
Fall Out Boy - It’s Hard to Say “I Do,” When I Don’t
The Lemon Twigs - In My Head
Kylie Minogue - Can’t Get You Out of My Head
Gene Wilder - Pure Imagination
Dave Harrington Group - Pure Imagination
More
Read Marianne Eloise’s Vulture article, “My Quest to Exterminate an Earworm”
Catch the Lemon Twigs on Tour (at your own peril)
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Mexican pop is bigger than you think
24 september 2024 · 43 min
Last month, our producer Reanna Cruz had the opportunity to attend Baja Beach Fest in Rosarito, Mexico, a three-day Latin music festival set on the Mexican coastline. While they were there, they got the chance to tap into what's happening in the world of Mexican music – from romantic tumbados and lovesick R&B to multi-language crossovers and genre experimentation. This episode, Reanna takes us through the newest gems of the Mexican pop scene, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Xavi – La Diabla
Xavi – La Victima
LATIN MAFIA – Julieta
LATIN MAFIA – Julietota
Peso Pluma, DJ Snake – TEKA
Peso Pluma, Cardi B – PUT EM IN THE FRIDGE
Tito Double P – MARAVILLA
Son Rompe Pera – Cumbia is the New Punk
Ivan Cornejo – Aquí Te Espero
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How Megan Thee Stallion brought Japanese hip hop to the Hot 100
17 september 2024 · 40 min
"Mamushi," the fourth single from Megan the Stallion’s album Megan, was not supposed to be a huge hit. But thanks to a viral dance, the song has become the first song on the Billboard Hot 100 to feature Japanese lyrics since 1963. With a feature from rapper Yuki Chiba and a beat from producer Koshy, "Mamushi" creates the kind of cross-cultural musical collaboration that helps correct a long record of U.S. pop stars appropriating Japanese culture. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Megan Thee Stallion (feat. Yuki Chiba) - Mamushi
Megan Thee Stallion - Hiss, Boa, Cobra, Savage, Megan's Piano, Otaku Hot Girl
Kyu Sakomoto - Sukiyaki
A Taste of Honey - Sukiyaki
Selena - Sukiyaki
Pikotaro - PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)
Hikaru Utada, Skrillex - Face My Fears
Gwen Stefani - Harujuku Girls
Avril Lavigne - Hello KittyMore
Hannah Lee of the Japan Society
NPR on the story of "Sukiyaki"
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Learning to love: Oasis
10 september 2024 · 51 min
Oasis, the Manchester band led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, conquered the charts in the 1990s with rock anthems like "Wonderwall." This month, they did something no one saw coming: Announced a reunion. In 2025, the band will play 19 dates in five cities across the UK and Ireland, their first shows with both brothers in the lineup since breaking up in 2009 due to long-simmering tensions between them.
Formed in 1991 with Noel as chief songwriter and guitarist and Liam as lead vocalist, the band helped define the sound of Britpop alongside peers like Blur, Suede, and Pulp. Noel’s and Liam’s feuding made it seem like the band would never reunite, so this upcoming tour has generated a minor frenzy, resulting in insane ticket prices, the band’s songs surging in popularity on streaming services, and countless diehard fans zipping up their parkas in anticipation.
As two casual listeners to the band, we want to understand the hype behind this long-awaited reunion, so we went through the band’s catalog to uncover what makes this working-class Mancunian outfit so beloved, and see whether we can learn to love Oasis. Lees meerSongs Discussed
Oasis - Wonderwall, Supersonic, Shakermaker, Don't Look Back In Anger, Champagne Supernova, All Around The World, Go Let It Out, Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Little By Little, The Turning
The New Seekers - I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)
John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth, #9 Dream
Sheryl Crow - If It Makes You Happy
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Newcomers: Porter Robinson
6 september 2024 · 35 min
Porter Robinson has a unique relationship with being famous. With his new record SMILE! :D, the 32 year old producer and DJ steps front and center into the spotlight for the first time in his career, working through his thoughts on fame in the process — something he says he’s “addicted” to.
The first track on the record, “Knock Yourself Out XD,” is a hook-laden radio pop hit destined to sit on a neon green iPod shuffle, filled with chiptuned synth textures and tongue-in-cheek lyrics about what it means to contend with nuclear levels of celebrity. Robinson’s voice is also front and center, unencumbered by the vocal manipulation and heavy production defining his two previous albums. “”Knock Yourself Out XD” was me indulging that fantasy of like, This is so not a Porter Robinson song. Everyone's gonna hate this,” he said. “But this is what seems really fun to me right now.”
The rest of SMILE! :D juggles two truths about Robinson: his innate desire for a positive relationship with the culture that surrounds him, and his dark, introspective nature, highlighted on tracks with stark names like “Is There Really No Happiness?”. But “Knock Yourself Out XD” is deeply silly – filled with cheeky lyrics like the line “Bitch, I’m Taylor Swift.”
It’s new territory for him, but Robinson’s inclinations are, always, to “burn everything down and start fresh.”
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Sabrina Carpenter is more than Short n' Sweet
3 september 2024 · 38 min
On her sixth studio album, Short n' Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter moves seamlessly between pop, country, folk and R&B. For Carpenter, genre is merely a musical tool to help construct a song. Listen to how she bends genre to her will.
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Newcomers: Jhayco
30 augustus 2024 · 23 min
Jhayco, the artist formerly known as Jhay Cortez, feels different from the rest of the Latin music machine. He considers himself a “melody freak,” has a wide variety of influences – “Alternative music, indie music, deep house, rap, trap, salsa, bachata, scores for music” – and is intimately involved in every step of the creative process, writing, producing, and performing his brand of glossy, melancholic reggaeton. Lees meer
Since his breakout hit “No Me Conoce” in 2019, the Puerto Rican multihyphenate has become one of the most listened to artists in the world, thanks to collaborations with superstars including Bad Bunny and J Balvin — which have amassed several billion streams on Spotify —, along with writing credits on smash hits like Cardi B’s “I Like It” and Natti Natasha’s “Criminal.”
Jhayco's newest record, Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X) is out September 6th, and is a three-part, 29-track behemoth highlighting Jhayco's globalist production style, his keen eye for melody, and his unique tastemaker status in the industry. “There's only a few people I know who do this,” he says, “and thank God I'm one of those people.”
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Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars bring back the duet
27 augustus 2024 · 45 min
It seemingly a terrible time to launch an over-the-top sentimental duet. This style of production peaked in the 80s and has had few chart topping success since. But as a sort of counter programming, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' duet "Die With A Smile" is an unexpected smash. This oddity from two beloved legacy artists may be more than a stand alone hit hit to promote Mars' Vegas residency and Gaga's upcoming film role in Joker: Folie à Deux. "Die With A Smile" more than hints at being interwoven to that film's universe, while also adhering to a forgotten musical traditional: the devotional duet in the style of Sonny & Cher. In the movie, Joker and Gaga's character Harley Quinn, have shared musical delusions about performing in a murderous Sonny & Cher like TV duo. But does this single come credit sequence song stand up to the best duets from the past? Listen to find out. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - "Die With A Smile"
Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"
Bread - "Make It On Your Own"
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - "The Closer I Get To You"
Lionel Richie & Diana Ross - "Endless Love"
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - "Islands in the Stream"
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald - "On My Own"
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Newcomers: Magdalena Bay
23 augustus 2024 · 23 min
Few pop groups are making music as imaginative as Magdalena Bay. The Los Angeles-based duo of singer Mica Tenenbaum and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Lewin, have been steadily releasing music since 2016, eventually breaking out with their viral hit “Killshot,” four years later. In the last four years, their work has dabbled in everything from 70’s disco-pop to Y2K pastiche. Their music, often narrative-based and paired with equally stunning visuals, excels in balancing tension; there’s gossamer-sounding production juxtaposed with dark, conceptual lyrics, or chaotic cacophony placed alongside ironic euphoria. Lees meer
Their sophomore album Imaginal Disk is out today, and is no exception. The record is a concept album of sorts, as it follows the story of a character named True, after receiving a “consciousness upgrade” in the form of the titular “imaginal disk.” Over the course of fifteen songs, Tenenbaum and Lewin tell a story about identity, technology, and what it means to be a human.
It’s a lofty record, so Switched On Pop’s Reanna Cruz sat down with Magdalena Bay to talk about how this album manages to sound so gorgeous — and took some cues from ABBA in the process.
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Tinashe’s “Nasty” takes on Janet and Beyoncé + Are songs getting simpler?
20 augustus 2024 · 44 min
If you've spent any time on the internet this summer, you may have encountered a certain refrain accompanying particularly fierce dance videos—"I've been a nasty girl. Nasty, nasty, nasty." This track, "Nasty" by the R&B singer and songwriter Tinashe, is a jam in its own right. Far from just a piece of viral content, "Nasty" is one of the songs of the summer, a chance for an burgeoning artist to reach a new level of success, and the latest in a long line pop songs from Janet Jackson to Beyoncé and Destiny's Child, taking the term "nasty" and spinning its on its head.
"Nasty" is also a song that, in some ways, is ridiculously simple. And the simplicity of pop music has been in the news after a new scientific study argued that pop hits have become less complex over time. We dig into the study's methodology to see if we agree with its conclusion, or to put it another way, whether its conclusions match our freak. Lees meerSongs Discussed
Tinashe - Nasty, Save Room For Us, 2 On
Charli XCX - I might say something stupid
Janet Jackson - Nasty
Destiny's Child - Nasty Girl
Ariana Grande - Nasty
Paul Simon - Still Crazy After all These YearsMore
Read more from the New York Times about the study exploring pop's melodic complexity through history.
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Kesha v Katy + Tayla Parx on pop’s obsession with eras
13 augustus 2024 · 43 min
On June 17 the pop world was rocked by three letters: LOL. Kesha tweeted the acronym immediately after Katy Perry announced her new single "Woman's World," which was co-written by Dr. Luke. Since Kesha had accused Dr. Luke of sexual assault a decade earlier, many read her "LOL" as directed at her one-time friend Perry. Kesha, meanwhile, released her own single a week before Perry's, a wild "Joyride" featuring hyperactive accordion, percussive handclaps, and quasi-operatic vocals.
Both pop stars have much at stake with their new songs. For Kesha, it's her first independent release since finishing her multi album contract with Dr. Luke's record label. For Katy Perry, it's her attempt to reconquer the charts after her last attempt fizzled. On this episode, we listen closely to both songs to hear how each artist is navigating a pivotal moment in their career.
Since we are talking about the changing eras of some of our biggest stars, we knew we had to speak to an expert on the subject: Tayla Parx, the singer and songwriter whose newest track "Era" considers the tension between letting the moment define you, or defining it yourself. Lees meerSongs Discussed:
Kesha - Joyride, Tik Tok, Eat the Acid, Raising Hell, Praying
Katy Perry - Womans World, I Kissed a Girl, California Gurls, Daisies
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Madonna - Express Yourself
Tayla Parx - Era
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Introducing One Song
9 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 13 min
If you like how Switched On Pop breaks down songs, you’re going to love the show One Song hosted by Diallo Riddle and Luxxury. They play you the stems of iconic recordings to see how they were made. To give you a taste today we’re sharing with you an episode of One Song about Blondie’s “Call Me.” Lees meer
Listen to One Song on SiriusXM on Wednesdays or subscribe to the podcast which is out Thursdays wherever you get podcasts.
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brat but it's a podcast about the album by CharliXCX
6 augustus 2024 · 39 min
CharliXCX's latest album, brat, has created an internet fever dream. This club record celebrating messiness, partying, and brutal honesty has created its own color (brat green), a viral meme generator, and even an unlikely political platform. When CharliXCX endorsed Kamala Harris for president, saying "Kamala IS brat", the album took on a larger culture significance. The pundit class rushed to explain what it means to be a brat. Countless ink has been spilled dissecting the artwork and semiotics of brat, but has everyone really listened to the music? Smack in the middle of brat summer, Switched On Pop breaks down the making and meaning of the most talked about album of the season.
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Why Chappell Roan is the sound of 2024
30 juli 2024 · 33 min
For months, listeners have been peppering us with the same question: “When are you going to cover Chappell Roan?” We genuflect, then respond, “We interviewed her back in 2023!" The people don’t care. They want breakdowns of Chappell Roan’s musical wizardry, and who are we to deny them? After all, Chappell is having a moment, with five songs on the Billboard Hot 100, iconic performances on the biggest stages, and an average of seventy million streams a week. Everyone from the mailman to your grandma is dancing along to her buoyant choreography and undeniable melodies—but why? What are the musical devices Chappell and producer Dan Nigro are using to craft her ubiquitous sound? And why are her empowered, defiant lyrics resonating with audiences at this particular moment in history, when queer and trans rights are under attack? In this episode, Nate and Charlie visit the Pink Pony Club to get some much-needed answers. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!, HOT TO GO!, Red Wine Supernova, Pink Pony Club, Hurt
Toni Basil - Mickey
Devo - Whip It
Starship - We Built This CityMore
Read Constance Grady's Vox article, Chappell Roan spent 7 years becoming an overnight success
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Is country the new hip hop?
23 juli 2024 · 36 min
For decades, hip hop has been the most successful genre on the charts. Then, in 2023, a shift occurred. For the first time, the country songs outnumbered hip hop songs on the year end charts. Last year, country’s boom was led by hyper-partisan hits like Jason Aldean’s “Try That In A Small Town” and Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond.” In 2024, country has taken a left turn. Beyoncé’s genre-busting album Cowboy Carter pushed the limits of what country can sound like, and who can make it. Two of her collaborators have since charted #1 hits: Shaboozey with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and Post Malone with “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen. Country music is growing, and its sound is changing. Will it replace hip hop for good?
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The music industry's AI fight
19 juli 2024 · 49 min
The Verge's Nilay Patel and David Pierce chat with Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding about the RIAA lawsuit against Al music startups Udio and Suno. Later, Nilay and David discuss the rest of this week's tech and gadget news.
Subscribe to Vergecast
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Switched-On Wendy Carlos
17 juli 2024 · 38 min
The synthesizer was invented in the 1890s. But for people to really start using it, it took half a century, a musician named Wendy Carlos, and an album called Switched-On Bach.
Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan of Switched On Pop tell Phoebe why Wendy Carlos is “the most significant figure in 20th century music that the least people know about.”
Subscribe to This Is Love
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The song of the summer is DEAD with Today Explained
15 juli 2024 · 26 min
Long live the song of the summer with Today Explained. But wait! Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding disagrees. And Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos says maybe it never existed at all. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Be sure to subscribe to Today Explained.
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members
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Lawrence: the kick-ass eight-piece family band reshaping the music business
9 juli 2024 · 49 min
In today’s volatile music industry, many artists struggle to navigate the pitfalls of touring, the whims of social media, and the inequity of exploitative contracts. But Lawrence, an eight-piece band led by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, provide a beacon of hope. Combining exceptional talent, savvy business acumen, and a familial bond, they've forged an uncanny path as a band. From testifying before Congress to tackle industry monopolies, to managing their tour logistics and branding, Lawrence seamlessly blends the artistry of music with the realities of a family-run enterprise. Their perseverance and authenticity shine through their newest album, aptly named "Family Business.”
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The Imperfect Feminine: Camila, Charli, and Sabrina
2 juli 2024 · 46 min
The first half of 2024 has been for the “pop girlie.” It seems like every major artist who’s dominated the discourse this year has been a woman, ostensibly making music about what it means to be a woman. There’s Camila Cabello's "Chanel no.5,” Lorde and Charli XCX working out the labyrinth of emotions that come with female friendship on the “Girl, so confusing” remix, and Sabrina Carpenter’s ode to the female ego, “Please Please Please." On this episode, Charlie, Nate, and Reanna – with some insight from journalist Ilana Kaplan – unpack these tracks at length, exploring what these artists are saying about femininity, and by extension, themselves. Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Camila Cabello – Chanel No.5
Camila Cabello – I LUV IT (ft. Playboi Carti)
Camila Cabello – DREAM-GIRLS
Charli XCX – Girl, so confusing
Charli XCX, Lorde – The girl, so confusing version with lorde
Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please
Read more from Ilana Kaplan
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Empress Of asks for your consideration (with Empress Of)
25 juni 2024 · 37 min
There’s many things to love about Los Angeles: low-rider cars, roadside taco stands, and, come awards season, the omnipresent “For Your Consideration” billboard. Nobody knows this better than lifelong L.A. resident Lorely Rodriguez, also known as Empress Of. The indie-pop darling’s latest record, aptly titled For Your Consideration, is her take on what it means to have your full self considered, in all of its guises. The almost genreless record is so wildly catchy and remarkable in scope (all of the percussion on the record is actually Rodriguez’s voice) that Switched On Pop host Nate Sloan and producer Reanna Cruz had to consider For Your Consideration with Empress Of herself, live in person, in the City of Angels.
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Bootsy Collins is gonna funk you up (with Bootsy Collins)
18 juni 2024 · 40 min
Bootsy Collins is, perhaps, the funkiest man of all time. Over the course of his nearly six decade career, Collins has given up the funk in the iconic Parliament Funkadelic, helmed Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and lended his slaparific talents to songs from everybody from James Brown to Dee-Lite to Fatboy Slim. His new album, aptly titled Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, is on the way, so in celebration of his illustrious career, we invited Bootsy Collins – aka Casper the Funky Ghost – onto Switched on Pop to reminisce on some of his greatest hits.
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Freaking out about songwriting with Nile Rodgers
11 juni 2024 · 35 min
There is no contemporary pop music without Nile Rodgers. Born in 1952, Rodgers grew up playing classical music on flute and clarinet before picking up jazz guitar. And at age 20, alongside bass player Bernard Edwards, Rodgers formed the band Chic. They wrote the biggest disco hits of the 70s, like: “Dance Dance Dance,” “Everybody Dance,” “Le Freak," and "Good TImes," which formed the core of Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper's Delight”.
In his music career spanning six decades, Rodgers has produced and played on some of the biggest pop songs in history, for artists like Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Daft Punk, and Beyoncé. He is also the chair of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, so with the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony taking place this June, we invited him onto Switched on Pop to talk about the making of a great song.
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