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558 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Begging songs and basketball's musicality (with Hanif Abdurraqib)
4 juni 2024 · 30 min
There's no music writer like the essayist and poet Hanif Abdurraqib: whether he's narrating the beautiful awkwardness of a Carly Rae Jepsen concert or talking jazz and eastern spirituality with Andre 3000, he manages to coax stories and insights out of songs in a way that never fails to surprise. His latest book, There's Always This Year, is a free flowing meditation on basketball, childhood, his home state of Ohio, and of course, music – so on the precipice of the NBA finals, Hanif returns to Switched On Pop to discuss classic soul, sports, and sound with musicologist Nate Sloan.
You can buy Hanif's work through his website here. Lees meerSongs discussed:
Boyz II Men, "On Bended Knee"
Otis Redding, "My Girl"
The Temptations, "My Girl"
Joy Oladokun, "My Girl"
Stevie Wonder, "My Girl"
Stevie Wonder, "Knocks Me Off My Feet"
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, "Challengers: Match Point"
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Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist (with Charlie Puth)
28 mei 2024 · 39 min
On her latest album, Taylor Swift “declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.” No one was more surprised by this than Charlie Puth himself: the singer, pianist, and songwriter whose career has always straddled pop stardom and behind the scenes anonymity. After three albums, billions of streams, and numerous songwriting credits – including one on the award-winning number one track “Stay” from the Kid Laroi – Puth has been busier than ever. His new song “Hero” comes on the heels of the Swift mention, and takes him in a new direction, with acoustic guitars and hushed, contemplative vocals.
On the heels of this song’s release, Nate sat down with Charlie Puth himself at Conway Studios in Hollywood to discuss the new track, aided by a piano and all of “Hero”’s isolated stems.
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Billie Eilish hits both hard and soft
21 mei 2024 · 43 min
On Billie Eilish’s third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, Eilish finally graduates from her signature anti-pop persona into full blown pop stardom. This record finds Eilish experimenting on the themes from her earlier records, while crafting an economic ten tracks that position themselves for mainstream radio consumption. There’s “L’amour de ma vie,” her five-and-a-half minute beat-switching eulogy for a failed relationship, or “Birds Of A Feather,” where she contrasts the soft, dreamy melodies we’ve come to know Eilish for with hauntingly dark lyrical content. This duality is a recurring motif throughout Hit Me Hard and Soft, with each song offering a unique blend of vulnerability and strength. These tracks, along with the rest of the album, develop a satisfying and diverse creative arc that speaks to the album’s title: they hit both hard and soft. This week’s episode of Switched On Pop explores Eilish’s new record track by track, unpacking the sonic duality of her new sound.
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Gastropod: Why are restaurants so loud? Plus the science behind the perfect playlist
17 mei 2024 · 44 min
When you go out for a meal, it’s not just what's on your plate that matters, it's what's in your eardrums, too. From dining rooms so loud you have to shout to be heard, to playlists that sound like a generic Millennial Spotify account, it's not surprising that sound is the single most complained about aspect of restaurants.
A few years ago, Charlie and Nate explored this in an episode on restaurant playlists. This week, they joined Cynthia and Nicky on their show Gastropod to help them explore the science behind the sonic experience of eating.
Are restaurants really getting louder, and, if so, why? What does it take to create the perfect acoustic environment for dining? Can restaurateurs design their playlists to make customers order more or eat faster? Listen in now for the secrets to culinary acoustic bliss – and check out Cynthia and Nicky's guest spot on our episode of Switched On Pop.
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Is pop music just fast food? (with Gastropod)
14 mei 2024 · 39 min
Where were you when you learned that the McDonald's jingle "I'm lovin' it" was originally part of a full-fledged pop song by Justin Timberlake and Pharrell that flopped on the charts but found staying power as a slogan? For us, it was recording our live episode about sponsored content in pop back in March 2024, and we have not been the same since. Shaken by this revelation, we found ourselves asking, "What else don't we know about fast food jingles?" Lees meer
Turns out, it's a lot. From Taco Bell to Popeye's to Chili's, the music of fast food represent some of the most familiar melodies in society, across state lines and generations. But the stories behind those songs, and the way that fast food production and pop music production often move in parallel, was something we never saw coming once.
Since we are music experts but amateur foodies, we invited the brilliant hosts of Eater's Gastropod podcast, Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley, to help serve up the history of fast food and its changing role in culture. Tune in and pig out with us as we listen and debate the artistic and ethical implications of the sounds of fast food.
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Rosie Tucker's unending bliss
10 mei 2024 · 24 min
Tongue twisters that mock techno-optimism and cite critical theory don’t usually make for catchy song lyrics. But indie rocker Rosie Tucker’s Utopia Now! finds beauty in the dross of late capitalism. Over 13 songs backed by distorted guitars and blazing drum fills, Tucker’s searing vocals bemoan the inherent dislocation of our modern world while searching for moments of truth and human connection. Lees meer
The night before Tucker embarked on a tour, Nate visited their home studio to speak to them about the inspirations behind their latest album. Although it deals with “big” topics, Tucker stressed that it all comes back to the individual and that the world we have reflects the world we make. “I am trying to reckon with both processing personal resentment,” they told Nate, “and recognizing my own role in my own misery.”
Songs Discussed:
Rosie Tucker - All My Exes Live In Vortexes, Lightbulb, Paperclip Maximizer, Unending Bliss
Erik Satie - Gymnopedie No 1
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Eurovision 2024: from Baby Lasagna to Windows95Man
7 mei 2024 · 33 min
It’s that time of year again when the entirety of Europe (and a few other countries) come together to celebrate kitschy, bombastic songwriting through the Eurovision Song Contest! This year’s competition, held in Malmo, Sweden, features everything from rave-pop on behalf of the Netherlands, to folk-rapping hybrids courtesy of Ukraine – and Charlie and Nate are here to musicologically unpack the craziest tracks that have the potential to win it all. Lees meer
For more on the controversy surrounding this year’s contest, check out Charlie’s appearance on Vox’s podcast Today, Explained.
Songs discussed:
Joost – Europapa
Angelina Mango – La noia
alyona alyona, Jerry Heil – Teresa & Maria
Nemo – The Code
Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim
Windows95Man – No Rules!
Kaleen – We Will Rave
Olly Alexander – Dizzy
Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue
Ladaniva – Jako
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Justice is never-ending
4 mei 2024 · 42 min
Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of the French electronic duo Justice speak with cohost Charlie Harding about their new album Hyperdrama. Lees meer
Song Discussed
Justice - Phantom Pt II, D.A.N.C.E., Neveender, New Jack, Genesis, Horsepower, Civilization, One Night-All Night, Dear Alan, Incognito, Moonlight Rendez-vous, Audio Video Disco, Afterimage, The End, Generator, Pleasure
The Who - My Generation
The White Stripes - Black Math
The Human League - Human
John Carpenter - Night
Serge Gainsourg & Jane Birkin - Je T’aime… moi non plus
Michel Berger - Le Paradis Blanc
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Chaka Khan - Fate
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Best of 2024 so far: hip hop feuds, Hozier’s pop surprise and espresso shots
30 april 2024 · 54 min
The beginning of 2024 has brought new music aplenty. Some big releases are in the form of big-ticket albums by the world’s biggest superstars (shoutout Taylor and Beyoncé); some are in the form of soon-to-be radio-friendly staples (we love you, "Espresso"); and some are in the form of personal earworms (Justice! Rosie Tucker! Dua!).
This episode of Switched on Pop, we take a look at the records that we can’t stop listening to from the past few months, from Metro Boomin to Kacey Musgraves to Willow Smith. Lees meerSongs discussed:
Metro Boomin, Future, Kendrick Lamar – Like That
J Cole – 7 Minute Drill
Drake – Push Ups
Rick Ross – Champagne Moments
WILLOW – Big Feelings
Hozier – Too Sweet
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Justice, Tame Impala – One Night/All Night
Justice – Generator
Rosie Tucker – All My Exes Live In Vortexes
Lizzy McAlpine – I Guess
Kacey Musgraves – Too Good To Be True
Maggie Rogers – The Kill
Dua Lipa – Illusion
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well
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Taylor Swift's Literary Era
23 april 2024 · 46 min
The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, finds the songwriter in the world of literature. She interweaves personal romance with mythical creation and quotations from high and low culture: Genesis, Peter Pan and even Playstation. Despite calling herself a "modern idiot," less-than-subtle nods to Sylvia Plath, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Dylan Thomas, and Patti Smith reveal the artist’s literary aspirations and “legendary” status. The full length Anthology version contains a bookshelf of many genres: pulp fiction, diary entries, period pieces, epic poems, and her very own genre, Taylor Swift.
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Lost Notes: How Fela Kuti Found Afrobeat in LA
20 april 2024 · 32 min
Lost Notes by KCRW explores how Fela Kuti’s time in LA in 1969 was instrumental in the creation of his legendary Afrobeat sound. Hosted by Michael Barnes and Novena Carmel. Find a full transcript of Lost Notes at KCRW. And subscribe to the show.
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Berlin's Hottest Club is Rico Nasty & Boys Noize
16 april 2024 · 45 min
There are few artists pushing the boundaries of their respective genres like Maryland rapper Rico Nasty and German-Iraqi electronic producer Boys Noize. The two have run in the same circles for over half a decade, but their joint collaboration has reached an apex with their three song EP, HARDC0RE DR3AMZ, a dance-floor ready project that owes as much to Berlin techno as it does to Dutch gabber music. Rico and Boys Noize – a.k.a. Alexander Ridha – are also incredible friends with a lot of love for one another, and for producer Reanna Cruz, all of these reasons make the duo’s EP one of the best projects of the year. Lees meer
On the heels of Berlin techno being added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage for Germany, Reanna sat down with Rico and Alex for this episode of Switched on Pop.
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Chasing old sounds: Djo's "End of Beginning" with Joe Keery
9 april 2024 · 39 min
Joe Keery is best known for his acting roles, such as the reformed jock Steve Harrington in "Stranger Things" and his chilling performance in season 5 of "Fargo." But he's also a spectacular musician. Rising through the Chicago music scene in college, he has self-released two albums under the moniker 'Djo.' His latest work, "Decide" from 2022, serves as a coming-of-age story and a meditation on navigating modern life. Despite strong initial reviews, the album only gained widespread attention two years later when its breakout hit "End of Beginning" became a soundtrack for youthful nostalgia on TikTok, casting Keery as an accidental pop star. Joe Keery joined "Switched On Pop" to discuss the creation and significance of "Decide." Lees meer
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Cowboy Carter: This Ain't Country
2 april 2024 · 39 min
Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter is her foray into country music, but this isn't just dirt roads, blue jeans and whiskey. Her country music distills all of American pop: blues, gospel, R&B, soul, house, hip-hop and yes, country. If this ain't country, what is?
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Hip-hop's Sea Change at Rolling Loud
26 maart 2024 · 43 min
Hip-hop is in a weird place right now. Research says that the genre, in both streaming and chart performance, has declined over the last decade. And while rap artists can still get number one songs on the Hot 100, it’s a far cry from the peak of trap circa 2017, when Nielsen data named hip-hop as the most popular genre in the U.S.
So what does that mean for the future of rap? To find out, producer Reanna Cruz spent all weekend reporting from Inglewood, CA, at the California edition of the world’s largest hip-hop festival: Rolling Loud. Through talking to attendees and catching the weekend’s hottest sets, they learned about the current state of hip-hop – the good and the bad – as well as what the future may hold.
To read Reanna’s highs and lows from the festival, check out their Vulture article here. Lees meerSpecial thanks to Antonio Cruz for his production help on this episode.
Songs Discussed:
OsamaSon – Pop
Nicki Minaj – BARBIE DANGEROUS
¥$, Kanye West, & Ty Dolla $ign – EVERYBODY (live)
¥$, Kanye West, & Ty Dolla $ign – BACK TO ME (live)
Junior H – Y LLORO
Natanael Cano – Pacas de Billetes
Fuerza Regida – Enculado
That Mexican OT, Lefty SM – Barrio (with Lefty SM)
That Mexican OT – Cowboy Killer (live)
KenTheMan – Not My N**** – Extended
KenTheMan – Poppin Sh!t
KenTheMan – Keep Going (live)
Kaliii – Area Codes
Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – Respect the Moustache
Drake, SZA, & Sexyy Red – Rich Baby Daddy (live)
Sexyy Red, Sukihana – Born By the River (feat. Sukihana)
Sexyy Red, Chief Keef – Skee Yee (live)
Nettspend – shine n peace (live)
Nettspend – deftones snippet (live)
Matt Ox – Overwhelming
Nettspend – What they say
SOPHIE – BIPP
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Rhapsody in Blue, Reimagined
22 maart 2024 · 30 min
What do Duke Ellington, United Airlines, and the K Pop group Red Velvet share in common? They've all covered George Gershwin's piano concerto, Rhapsody in Blue. First premiered in 1924, the piece became an immediate hit for the way it blended American jazz with the European symphonic tradition. Gershwin had a number of successes as a composer in his day—his aria "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess is by some measures the most covered song ever—but the staying power of the Rhapsody make it a rare instrumental piece that's instantly familiar. Maybe too familiar.
In 2024, there will be many centennial performances of this iconic piece, but pianist Lara Downes wanted to do something more than just the sound the notes of Gershwin's score for the umpteenth time. Downes commissioned Puerto Rican musician Edmar Colon to create a new version of Gershwin's composition, one that brought in the full spectrum of American life in 1924: fiery improvisation, Latin percussion, and dance rhythms. The resultant piece both pays tribute to an American icon while adding a new set of modern counterpoint.
Nate sat down with Lara to ask her if she was nervous to rewrite such a canonic piece, why a concerto is like a musical kaleidoscope, and the surprising family connection to Gershwin's musical world she discovered while researching Rhapsody in Blue. Lees meerSongs Discussed
George Gershwin, Lara Downes, Edmar Colon - Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined
Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Gershwin - 3 Preludes: II. Andante con moto e poco rubato
Sarah Vaughan - Nice Work if You can Get It
Sam Cooke - Summertime
Chet Baker - But not For ME
Louis Armstrong - Aint Misbehavin
Ella Fitzgerald - Blue Skies
Red Velvet - Birthday
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Eternal Sunshine of Ariana Grande's Mind
19 maart 2024 · 45 min
Sidestep the gossip and focus on the music in Ariana Grande’s latest album Eternal Sunshine. The music is an exercise in nostalgia: 70s Disco, 90s R&B, and 00s pop and dance music. As she moves through the musical past, her lyrics tear through past relationship. But it's the way her lyrics interweave with the deft melodies and harmonies that reveal the meaning of the record. Lees meer
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Songs Discussed
Ariana Grande - Eternal Sunshine, Bye, Don’t Wanna Break Up Again, True Story, The Boy Is Mine, We Can’t Be Friends, Imperfect For You
Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft
Barry White - Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe
Britney Spears - Oops I Did It Again, Gimme More
Brandy, Monica - The Boy Is Mine
Aaliyah - Are You That Somebody
Ginuwine - Pony
Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend, Show Me Love
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How to DIY a Music Career (with Amelia Meath and David Gray at SXSW)
15 maart 2024 · 37 min
In a landscape where the music industry seems designed to stifle creativity and independence, Amelia Meath stands as a beacon of resistance. Through her involvement in bands like Sylvan Esso, Mountain Man, and The A's, and as a founder of label Psychic Hotline, Meath defies the narratives that label success in music. This conversation dives into the systemic challenges musicians face today—from the pitfalls of streaming economics to the trials of touring and beyond. Yet, it's not just about the hurdles; it's a conversation on solutions, embodied by Meath's multifaceted career and the inspirational journey of David Gray, whose story of grassroots success with "Babylon" serves as a case study in artistic resilience and independence. Lees meer
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Songs Discussed
David Gray - Babylon, Shine, What Have I Become, Skellig
Sylvan Esso - Coffee, Die YoungLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Is Beyoncé's music #sponcon? And other mysteries LIVE in Brooklyn
12 maart 2024 · 45 min
Live from On-Air Fest in Brooklyn, Nate and Charlie investigate listeners’ burning musical mysteries, such as: Is Beyoncé’s reference to Lexus in “Texas Hold ’Em” product placement? And, could we be tuning all our music the wrong way? These stories have twists, turns, and a live parody performance that no asked for. Lees meer
Thanks to Steve Stoute, Lucas Keller, Samer Ghadry, Helen Zaltzman, and Phil Pappas for contributing to this episode.
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Songs Discussed:
Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
RUN DMC – My Adidas
Busta Rhymes – Pass The Courvoisier Part II
Taylor Swift – Out of the Woods
Outkast – Hey Ya!
Jason Aldean – Take A Little Ride
Justin Timberlake – I'm Lovin' It
Chris Brown – Forever
Pitbull – Rain Over Me (ft. Marc Anthony)
Lady Gaga – Telephone (ft. Beyoncé)
Beyoncé – SUMMER RENAISSANCE
Beyoncé – Crazy In Love (ft. Jay-Z)
LFO – Summer Girls
Aqua – Barbie Girl
Moonlight Sonata (432hz)
Here Comes the Sun (432hz)
Deep Focus Music with 432 Hz Tuning and Binaural Beats for Concentration - Study Music
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Jacob Collier unites the world
5 maart 2024 · 1 uur
One of the most inventive and gifted musicians working today is none other than Jacob Collier. Maybe you know him from his YouTube videos, or co-writing SZA’s “Good Days,” or even performing alongside Joni Mitchell at this year’s Grammys. Jacob is a musician with thunderous chops, proficient on multiple instruments and with a voice that ranges from bass to soprano. over the past few years, he’s managed to release several records, net collaborations with everyone from Michael McDonald to T-Pain, and become the first British artist to receive a Grammy Award for each of his first four albums. His latest album Djesse 4 is the conclusion to his Djesse quadrilogy, and it features a kaleidoscopic range of style, from Indian sitar to Colombian reggaeton to a haunting Simon and Garfunkel cover. This week, we’re going to take a look inside the work and process of a musical mad scientist – our resident songwriter Charlie Harding sat down with Jacob to learn about his new record, his collaborators, and the beautifully unique way he sees and thinks about music. Lees meer
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SONGS DISCUSSED
Jacob Collier - In My Room, 100,000 Voices, A Rock Somewhere, Little Blue, She Put Sunshine
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Beyoncé's Country
27 februari 2024 · 44 min
Renaissance Act II truthers, your time has come: There’s new music from Beyoncé, and boy, is it country. Her two new singles dropped two weeks ago, and in the time since, they’ve both climbed up the chart and taken the internet by storm. There’s the barnstorming stomp and holler ditty “TEXAS HOLD 'EM,” which just notched the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and the dark horse “16 CARRIAGES,” a autobiographical work song detailing Beyoncé’s roots in Houston, Texas. Charlie and Nate unpack both of these two songs, highlighting their structures, inspirations, and collaborators, from Raphael Saddiq to Rhiannon Giddens. Then, producer Reanna Cruz speaks to music journalist Taylor Crumpton, whose article for Time, “Beyoncé Has Always Been Country” lays out the cultural implications of this sonic pivot for one of the biggest artists of all time. Lees meer
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Songs Discussed
Beyoncé - Texas Hold 'Em, 16 Carriages, Break My Soul, Formation, Daddy Lessons
Dink Roberts - Georgia Buck
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Hit 'Em Up Style
Elvis Presley - Mystery Train
Unidentified African American Chain Gang - Waterboy, Run
James Carter and the Prisoners - Po Lazarus
Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Find a Way
Vince Gill ft Justus West- High Lonesome Sound
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Read Taylor Crumpton's article Beyoncé Has Always Been Country
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Adult Contemporary, but make it cool (with CHROMEO)
20 februari 2024 · 30 min
The Canadian Electro-Funk duo CHROMEO have made consistently funky, highly danceable music for twenty years. They’ve released five studios albums, done the Coachella festival circuit and have been nominated for a Grammy for their sound that’s been compared to Prince, Zapp and Hall and Oates. Now with their latest album, Adult Contemporary, they are challenging preconceptions of adult contemporary music by redefining its whole meaning. Lees meer
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Songs discussed
CHROMEO - (I Don't Need A) New Girl, BTS, Coda, Fancy Footwork, Needy Girl, Replacements, Clorox Wipe, Six Feet Away
Dolly Parton - Nine to Five
Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money
Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin' Goin' on but the Rent
Kenny G - Songbird, You're Beautiful
Kenny Loggins - This Is It
Kenny Rodgers - We've Got Tonight, You And I
Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed To Live
Michael Bublé - Home
Michael Jackson - Human Nature, Working Day and Night
NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Steely Dan - Black Cow, Ricky Don't Lose That Number, Time Out of Mind
The Bee Gees - Staying Alive
Toto - I'll be Over You
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The Star Spangled Banger!
13 februari 2024 · 53 min
Who is the biggest Diva of them all? The U.S. National Anthem, which borrows its melody from a historic British drinking song, has undergone enormous musical change in the hands of pop music vocalists. Famously, José Feliciano, Marvin Gaye and Whitney Houston each changed the meaning of "The Star Spangled Banner" by finding new approaches to the performance. Countless others have followed in their footsteps. Now every major sporting event is an excuse for pop divas to make their own creative interpretation. So who does it best? Or worst? Jan Diehm and Michelle McGhee, data journalists at The Pudding, analyzed the pitch fluctuations of over a hundred famous performances to answer these questions and more. Lees meer
Check out Jan and Michelle's full analysis at pudding.cool
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Brittany Howard's Chaos Theory (with Brittany Howard)
6 februari 2024 · 36 min
When it comes to powerful artistry, few can match the intensity of Brittany Howard. Over the past decade, we’ve seen her bring her signature Southern belt to the Alabama Shakes, her intimate songwriting to her first solo record, and now, her boundary-pushing genre experimentation on her new album What Now. The record, which drops on Friday, February 9th, continues to show Howard’s versatility – the record jumps from disco pop to pared-back R&B to roaring psychedelia. Lees meer
This episode of Switched On Pop, we’re giving you an early look at all What Now has to offer, as well as an interview with the woman behind it all: Brittany Howard.
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Songs Discussed:
Brittany Howard – What Now
Alabama Shakes – Hold On
Alabama Shakes – Don’t Wanna Fight
Alabama Shakes – Future People
Leon Bridges – Coming Home
Khruangbin – Two Fish and an Elephant
Brittany Howard – Tomorrow
Erykah Badu – Window Seat
Brittany Howard – Stay High
Brittany Howard – Prove It To You
Brittany Howard – I Don’t
Brittany Howard – Another Day
Brittany Howard – Interlude
Brittany Howard – Red Flags
Robin S – Show Me Love
Brittany Howard – Every Color In Blue
Brittany Howard – To Be Still
The Shangri-Las – Leader Of The Pack
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The b*tch of loving musical theater (with Bridger Winegar)
30 januari 2024 · 45 min
When it comes to musical theater, everyone has an opinion. And Bridger Winegar, host of the very funny podcast I Said No Gifts!, is no exception. In the paradoxical tradition of Bridger's podcast, Charlie and Nate have brought a series of gifts in the form of a sonic smorgasbord: a tour through musical theater's finest offerings, from Les Miserables to Spring Awakening. Lees meer
Check out Bridger's podcast I Said No Gifts! here.
For more on movie musicals, check out this episode of Vox's Today Explained.
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Brian Johnson, Gideon Glick, John Gallagher Jr., Jonathan B. Wright, Jonathan Groff, Skylar Astin – The Bitch Of Living – Original Broadway Cast Recording/2006
Duncan Sheik – Barely Breathing
Thee Oh Sees – The Dream
Liars – Mr Your On Fire Mr
The Electric Prunes – I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
Ariana Grande – yes, and?
Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend
Randy Graff – I Dreamed a Dream
Ali Stroker – I Cain't Say No
Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd 2023 Broadway Company – My Friends
Frank Sinatra – Send In The Clowns
Billy Bragg, Wilco – California Stars
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Kali Uchis takes on the world
23 januari 2024 · 36 min
Colombian-American singer Kali Uchis has cemented herself as something of a vibe curator; her signature genre fusion has brought forward everything from Latin radio mainstays to Bootsy Collins collaborations. But instead of looking to the genres of the future for her latest record, Orchídeas finds Uchis digging into genres of the past and present, creating a global soundscape across the record’s 14 tracks. On this episode of Switched on Pop, producer Reanna Cruz guides Charlie and Nate through the flowery world of Orchídeas, exploring multiple genres of the Latine diaspora (with a quick stop in South Africa) in the process. Lees meer
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Songs Discussed:
Kali Uchis – Pensamientos Intrusivos
Kali Uchis – telepatía
Kali Uchis – Te Mata
Kali Uchis – la luna enamorada
José Pepe Sánchez, Irving Lara y su Orquesta – Tristezas
La Sonora Santanera – Perfume de Gardenias
Kali Uchis, El Alfa, JT – Muñekita (with El Alfa & JT)
ROSALÍA – BIZCOCHITO
Busta Rhymes – Dangerous
Lorna – Papi Chulo… Te Traigo El Mmmm
Kali Uchis, Peso Pluma – Igual Que Un Ángel (with Peso Pluma)
Kali Uchis, KAROL G – Labios Mordidos (with KAROL G)
Toots & The Maytals – Bam Bam
Chaka Demus & Pliers – Murder She Wrote
Kali Uchis – Dame Beso // Muevete
Bad Bunny – Después de la Playa
Kali Uchis – Diosa
Trompies, Lebo Mathosa – Magasman
Tyla – Water
Amaarae, Kali Uchis, Moliy – SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY Remix (feat. Kali Uchis and Moliy)
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Soundalikes: Lil Nas X and Ariana Grande
16 januari 2024 · 38 min
We live in an age of musical nostalgia where artists wear influences on their sleaves. Case in point, two established artists who are drawing from established pop music history: Lil Nas X's "J. Christ" sounds like a Kendrick Lamar "Humble" type beat, and Ariana Grande's "Yes, And?" unabashedly interpolates Madonna's "Vogue." So are these songs mere copies or do they actually say something new with their reference material?
Songs Discussed Lees meerLil Nas X - J CHRIST
Lil Nas X - Old Town Road
Lil Nas X - Panini
Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
Noreaga - Superthug
N.E.R.D - Lapdance
Busta Rhymes - Pass The Courvoisier Part II (feat. P. Diddy & Pharrell) - Remix
Kendrick Lamar - Alright
Cardi B - Money
Iggy Azalea - Sally Walker
Cardi B - Up
Anne-Marie - PSYCHO
Megan Thee Stallion - Savage
Megan Thee Stallion - Megan's Piano
Ariana Grande - yes, and?
Madonna - Vogue
Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body
Derrick May - Strings of Life
Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Jesse Saunders - Love Can't Turn Around
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The case of the missing vocals, and other listener questions
9 januari 2024 · 46 min
All throughout the year, Switched on Pop gets a litany of musical questions that need answering. To kick off 2024, hosts Charlie and Nate answer some of these questions live on air! From the renewed interest in Cass Elliot's "Make Your Own Kind of Music" to the lack of multi-part harmonies on the charts, this episode takes a closer look at some listeners' musical maladies – alongside special guest star Joe Treble. Lees meer
Songs Discussed:
Eagles - Take It Easy
Jack Harlow - Lovin On Me
Cadillac Dale - Whatever (Bass Soliloquy)
Tate McRae - greedy
Dua Lipa - Houdini
Fleetwood Mac – The Chain
Ariana Grande - shut up
boygenius – Not Strong Enough
boygenius - Without You Without Them
Jerry Goldsmith - Jake And Evelyn (From The “Chinatown” Soundtrack)
Terence Blanchard - Perry Sees Teddy (From HBO Series Perry Mason: Season 1)
Cass Elliot - Make Your Own Kind of Music
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Elton John - Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)
TALK - Run Away to Mars
Tommy Tutone - 867-5309/Jenny
Blondie - Call Me
Lady Gaga - Telephone ft. Beyoncé
Rico Nasty - IPHONE
R.E.M. - Star 69
50 Cent - High All The Time
Beyoncé – Crazy in Love ft. Jay-Z
Britney Spears – E-Mail My Heart
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Too Fast? We’re Curious: The sped-up remix phenomenon - ICYMI
2 januari 2024 · 26 min
In case you missed it, last January, we published this story on the rising trend of sped-up music. It seems like the tempo-shifting isn't going anywhere, so we're rerunning our history and exploration into the phenomenon. Lees meer
Original description below:
Over the past few months, you may have heard your favorite song pop up on the Internet – just slightly faster. You’re not alone: the phenomenon of the “sped-up” remix has taken over social media, with everyone from Lady Gaga to Thundercat getting the tempo treatment. The popularity of the craze has led to millions of TikTok videos, Billboard number ones, and songs becoming relevant again, decades after release. Ever since the proliferation of these “remixes,” the big questions remain: where did these songs come from and why are they here?
On this episode of Switched on Pop, we explore this exact phenomenon, tracing its roots from Thomas Edison to Cam’ron to vaporwave to nightcore.
Songs Discussed:
“Dream On” – Aerosmith (sped up)
“Escapism” – RAYE, 070 Shake (sped up)
“Bad Habit” – Steve Lacy (sped up)
“Miss You” – Oliver Tree (sped up)
“Say It Right” – Nelly Furtado (sped up)
“Bloody Mary” – Lady Gaga (sped up)
“Heat Waves” – Glass Animals (slowed down)
“Juicy” – Notorious B.I.G.
“Juicy” – DJ Screw
“Jolene” – Dolly Parton (slowed down)
“リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー |” – Macintosh Plus
“In Da Club Before Eleven O’ Clock” – DJ Rashad
“Monster [Nightcore]” – Meg & Dia, remixed by Barren Gates
“Concrete Angel” – Hannah Diamond
“Witch Doctor” – David Seville
“Oh Boy” – Cam’ron, Juelz Santana
“Cool for the Summer” – Demi Lovato (sped up)
“Them Changes” – Thundercat (sped up & Chopnotslop remix)
“That’s All” – Genesis
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Wham! Op. 84 “Last Christmas” with Chilly Gonzales - ICYMI
25 december 2023 · 49 min
In case you missed it, Wham’s 1984 contribution to the holiday cannon, “Last Christmas,” has surprising staying power. When Grammy-winning pianist Chilly Gonzales set out to record a holiday album, “A Very Chilly Christmas,” most of the selections were over a half century old. That’s because most of our favorite seasonal songs come from the 1960s and earlier. But in addition to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas,” Wham’s “Last Christmas” reliably returns each winter. Despite the cheesy 80s synths and drum machines, the song’s harmonies are remarkable resilient, a testament to George Michael’s auteur songwriting method. Celebrated artist known for his solo piano works, collaborations with Feist and Daft Punk, and his musical masterclasses series, Chilly Gonzales—musical genius—AKA “Gonzo,” sits down at the piano to share in the beauty of this nu-classical Christmas love song, as well as a few selections from his new album “A Very Chilly Christmas.” Lees meer
Originally aired Dec 2020
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"Did I mention that it's Christmas in this club?" (w Matt Rogers)
19 december 2023 · 33 min
Holiday album releases sometimes have a sense of pandering to them. "I'm a pop star. Here's me singing the nineteen-millionth cover of 'Jingle Bell Rock.' Please give me money." Lees meer
The comedian and singer Matt Rogers understands this dichotomy of the holiday hit—part grotesque cash-grab, part unfathomably genuine cheer—better than anyone. His new album, Have You Heard of Christmas?, mines that tension for tragicomic gold.
"Also It's Christmas," the album opener, announces this satirical spirit blithely, with an exhortation to "play this song seasonally!" "Rum Pum Pum" turns the little drummer's beat into a sexy club anthem: "Saw your name on the naughty list highlighted in red / Now you're up in the club in someone else's sweat." Over the course of Have You Heard..., Rogers poses questions that poke at the edges of Christmas lore: "Is it weird to hook up on Christmas day?" "How does it feel to be the hottest female in Whoville?" And, "Why does Santa needs so much lube for his sleigh?"
Matt joined Nate and Charlie to share how his pop writing draws from sketch comedy rhythm, the influence he drew from both Ariana Grande and the Lonely Island, and how he accidentally created a sincere holiday hit in the middle of making a comedy album.
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Nicki Minaj's Roman Empire
12 december 2023 · 50 min
Nicki Minaj is one of the most unique rappers of all time. She’s given us numerous iconic guest verses from “Monster” to “Flawless (Remix),” everlasting hits like “Super Bass” and “Starships,” and legions of loyal fans in the Barbz. She’s also given us over twenty alter-egos in the course of her career. However, no alter-ego of hers has been more impactful than Roman. The voice at the center of Nicki’s most unhinged music, the “Roman” persona serves a conduit for Nicki to put forward a high level of theatricality and character work in her music, from beats to bars. And to understand Nicki, you need to understand Roman.
This episode of Switched on Pop, producer Reanna Cruz takes us on a journey through the history of Roman, on the heels of Nicki Minaj’s latest record, Pink Friday 2. Lees meerSign up for the Switched On Pop Newsletter
Songs Discussed:
Nicki Minaj – Chun-Li
Nicki Minaj – Red Ruby Da Sleeze
Nicki Minaj – Itty Bitty Piggy
Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver – Monster
Nicki Minaj – Roman In Moscow
Nicki Minaj – Pound the Alarm
Nicki Minaj – Starships
Ludacris, Nicki Minaj – My Chick Bad
Nicki Minaj, PTAF – Boss A** B**** (with PTAF) – Remix
Nicki Minaj, Eminem – Roman's Revenge
Nicki Minaj – Come On A Cone
Nicki Minaj – Beez In The Trap
Nicki Minaj – Roman Holiday
Eminem – The Way I Am
Eminem – My Name Is
Lil' Kim – Queen B****
Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne – Truffle Butter
Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj – Bottoms Up (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Nicki Minaj – Barbie Dreams
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl – Roman Remix
Nicki Minaj – My Life
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Hear the Year: The music we loved in 2023
5 december 2023 · 45 min
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When you make a weekly podcast about pop music, there’s some things that, naturally, slip through the cracks. On this episode of Switched On Pop, our hosts – alongside our editor, Jolie Myers, our engineer, Brandon McFarland, and our producer, Reanna Cruz – try to course correct that by discussing our team’s (and a listener’s) favorite picks of 2023. Whether it’s something we got to in the later months or something we felt still deserved its flowers, this episode hops around genres to show the musical versatility of the Switched On Pop team. We even got some of our selections, specifically Laufey and Chappell Roan, on the show to talk about the music that made our year. Who knows: maybe you’ll find the song to top your personal best-of list!
Songs Discussed:
Troye Sivan ft. Guitarricadelafuente - In My Room
Troye Sivan - Rush
Troye Sivan - One Of Your Girls
Daft Punk ft. Julian Casablancas - Instant Crush
Victoria Monet - On My Mama
Chalie Boi - I Look Good
Victoria Monét ft. Earth, Wind & Fire + Hazel Monét - Hollywood
Laufey - Bewitched
Laufey - Questions For The Universe
Laufey - Dreamer
Laufey - From The Start
Laufey - Misty
Stray Kids - S-Class
Sampha - Spirit 2.0
Little Dragon - Twice
James Blake - There’s A Limit To Your Love
Chappell Roan - Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
Chappell Roan - Casual
Chappell Roan - Femininomenon
Village People - Y.M.C.A.
Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!
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Behind the Scenes of Switched on Pop on Harman Audio Talks
28 november 2023 · 31 min
Nate and Charlie were recently featured on Harman Audio Talks. While our team takes the week off, we wanted to share that conversation with you as we pull back the curtain on how we make the show and select songs for the podcast. Lees meer
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Noah Kahan’s Folk Pop Revival
21 november 2023 · 40 min
Noah Kahan is having a banner year. Between his Best New Artist nomination at the Grammys, his debut SNL performance, and collaborations with everyone from Post Malone to Hozier, the Vermont singer-songwriter has transcended the confines of New England to become one of the harbingers of the 2023 stomp-clap revival. This episode of Switched on Pop, host Charlie Harding sits down in person with Kahan to find some secret magic chords, opine on car commercial music, and talk about all things Stick Season. Lees meer
Songs Discussed
Noah Kahan - Stick Season
Noah Kahan - You’re A Mess
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
Cat Stevens - Father & Son
The Avett Brothers - Live and Die
Lumineers - Hey Ho
Olivia Rodrigo - Stick Season
Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license
Noah Kahan, Hozier - Northern Attitude
Noah Kahan - Homesick
Sam Fender - 17 Going Under
Phoebe Bridgers - Moon Song
Simpler Times - Roll in my Sweet Baby’s Arms
Noah Kahan, Post Malone - Dial Drunk
Taylor Swift - Mean
Olivia Rodrigo - Logical
Noah Kahan - Young Blood
Noah Kahan - Catastrophize
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Why Country Music Dominated 2023's Charts
14 november 2023 · 48 min
Country music's had a massive year. Seriously, not since 1958 have we seen so many country tunes topping the Hot 100 in a single year – and it's not been without its share of controversy. Leading this country music revival? Morgan Wallen, for starters. He bounced back from being shunned for dropping a racial slur with his number one single “Last Night.” Then there's Jason Aldean with “Try That in a Small Town,” a song and music video that which unsubtly lynching references. Next up, newcomer Oliver Anthony Music dropped “Richmond North of Richmond,” weaving in QAnon references and welfare shaming into a track largely about government distrust. On a lighter but still contentious note, Luke Combs covered the mega 90s hit “Fast Car,” turning Tracy Chapman into the first black woman with a number one country hit. And let's not forget Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves' beautiful duet “I Remember Everything” about a past romance, which also climbed to the top. Many of these songs have just been nominated for Grammys, including “Last Night,” “Fast Car,” and “I Remember Everything.” Lees meer
When all this started happening, we were scratching our heads. Country songs topping the Hot 100? Sure, but not this many in quick succession. Something felt different. And we think we've finally figured it out after diving into Chris Molanphy's new book: Old Town Road. Chris, a music and charts critic, author of Slate’s Why Is This Song No. 1 column, and host of the excellent music podcast Hit Parade, explores country music's chart history in his latest book “Old Town Road,” part of Duke's Single Series. He zeroes in on Lil Nas X's 2018 “Old Town Road” and its 2019 Billy Ray Cyrus-amped remix as a case study. So, to get the lowdown on 2023's country chart toppers, we've got to rewind to 2018 and re-examine “Old Town Road” with Chris Molanphy's insights.
SONGS DISCUSSED
Lil Nas X - Old Town Road
Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus - Old Town Road remix
Morgan Waller - Last Night
Jason Aldean - Try Th…
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The Beatles: "Now and Then" and Forever
7 november 2023 · 31 min
When Paul McCartney announced that he and Ringo Starr had produced a new Beatles song with the aid of AI, many music pundits were skeptical. Was this new song be another gimmick like the fake Drake hit "Heart on My Sleeve"? No. Instead, the Beatles simply used AI voice separation technology to repair a well-worn John Lennon demo tape. Lees meer
Back in the '90s, Yoko Ono gave shared a collection of unfinished John Lennon demos with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison (who died in 2001) as part of a final recording session that resulted in the singles "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love." However, the third song, “Now And Then" was marred by hissing and humming, and the piano was overly loud. Harrison called it rubbish, and after a few hours of tracking a rough song they left it on the cutting room floor.
But now in 2023, using film maker Peter Jackson’s latest restoration technology created for his "Get Back" documentary, the Beatles were able to create one last song together, though in three different eras. Lennon tracked his vocals in the '70s, Harrison's parts were lifted from the '90s sessions, and McCartney and Starr added their parts in 2022. The band is filled out by a string arrangement by Giles Martin (Beatles cataloger and son of the late Beatles producer George Martin) and Ben Foster, in addition to reused backing vocals from earlier Beatles tracks.
So, did the Beatles successfully bring this worn-out recording back to life? Does this AI song sound like Beatles, let alone human? Find out on Switched On Pop.
SONGS DISCUSSED
The Beatles - Now And Then
The Beatles - Free As A Bird
The Beatles - Real Love
The Beatles - Taxman
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Beatles - Two Of Us
The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby
The Beatles - Because
The Beatles - Here, There And Everywhere
The Beatles - The End
The Beatles - Penny Lane
The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows
The Beatles - In My Life
The Beatles - You Won't See Me
The Beatles - When I'm S…
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Rerecording Taylor Swift's 1989, Dark Side of the Moon, and Demi Lovato
28 oktober 2023 · 43 min
Three big artists have rerecorded their most hallowed musical material. Taylor Swift, Roger Water and Demi Lovato each have different intentions in painstakingly putting their old songs onto new proverbial tape. On 1989 (Taylor's Version), Taylor Swift seeks control of her master recordings. On Dark Side of the Moon Redux Roger Waters explores his most vaunted work from his youth now with from perspective of an octogenarian. And Demi Lovato Revamped pivots their old pop hits into a hard rock aesthetic. Switched On Pop listens back to all three albums to see how they hold up to the original and to uncover new musical discoveries.
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Chartbreakers: Mitski tops the TikTok chart
24 oktober 2023 · 43 min
It’s time for another edition of our series Chartbreakers, where we take a look at the trends and shakeups happening on the Billboard Hot 100. This week, however, the chart has been dominated by Drake and his album For All the Dogs, which takes up a grand total of 23 spots on the Hot 100. So, rather than do a story on that, Charlie and Nate take a look at the brand new TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, established only last month. Lees meer
This chart – which measures the most popular songs on the platform through each song’s number of videos, views, and user engagement – perhaps best shows the things that are popular and pervasive among a contingent of younger music listeners. Here, there’s room for everybody from Mitski to Sexyy Red to J. Dash, highlighting that the music that’s popular isn’t necessarily what hits the radio.
SONGS DISCUSSED
Drake - First Person Shooter (feat. J. Cole)
Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine
Elvis Presley - Blue Moon
SUICIDAL-IDOL - ecstacy (slowed)
SUICIDAL-IDOL - ecstacy
SUICIDAL-IDOL - ecstacy (super slowed)
J. Dash - Wop (Official Version)
CeeLo Green - I'll Be Around (feat. Timbaland) - Club Mix
Paul Russell - Lil Boo Thang
The Emotions - Best of My Love
Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
Sister Sledge - He's the Greatest Dancer - 1995 Remaster
Will Smith - Miami
The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Will Smith - Wild Wild West (feat. Dru Hill & Kool Mo Dee) - Album Version With Intro
Stevie Wonder - I Wish
Will Smith - Men In Black - From "Men In Black" Soundtrack
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots - Remastered
Sexyy Red - SkeeYee
BabyTron - Crocs & Wock'
Ice Spice - In Ha Mood
Tyla - Water
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How Talking Heads reinvented the concert film (with Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz)
17 oktober 2023 · 51 min
Talking Head's concert film Stop Making Sense first came out forty years ago, and it’s just been rereleased in theaters in a 4k remaster by A24. The film finds the band — Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, David Byrne and Jerry Harrison — at the height of their powers over three successive nights at the the Hollywood Pantages Theater. As Chris and Tina remembered it when they spoke to producer Reanna Cruz, "We'd reached a state in our career and our lives when we felt, 'we've gotten pretty good at this now. We can show the world.'"
Director Jonathan Demme spliced the band's performances into an eighty-eight minute odyssey beginning with Byrne solo on the stage and gradually bringing in the rest of the band and a cast of stellar guest musicians: vocalists Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, percussionist Steve Scales, and guitarist Alex Weir. The film introduced landmark moments like Byrne’s big suit, Demme’s cinematic approach to concert cinematography, Chris's and Tina’s Tom Tom Club performing the perennial sample flip "Genius of Love," and a theater-rocking version of "Burning Down the House." Stop Making Sense broke the mold of concert films and created a new paradigm for artists to follow ever since.
Nate, Charlie, and Reanna take insights from Reanna's conversation with Tina and Chris on the legacy of Stop Making Sense as a guide to think through our own favorite concert movies — the Band's The Last Waltz, Madonna's Truth or Dare, and Beyonce's Homecoming — to identify the musical and visual choices that make them so indelible. Lees meerSongs Discussed
Talking Heads - This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Live
Talking Heads - Burning Down the House - Live
Beyoncé - Diva - Homecoming Live
Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - Homecoming Live
Madonna - Express Yourself
Madonna - Live to Tell
The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Live
The Band - I Shall Be Released (Finale) - Live
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Feeling Fine with Faye Webster
11 oktober 2023 · 42 min
The past two episodes of the show have been in Atlanta, and this week, we’re staying there with a look at singer-songwriter Faye Webster. Her music defies genre and convention: over the course of four albums, her sound has come to contain both pedal steel and indie rock as well as soft vocals and R&B sensibilities, all the while embodying the city of Atlanta. On this episode of Switched on Pop, we take a look at the work of Webster and how she builds her anomalous sound – even talking to the artist herself.
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Metro Boomin Wants Some More
6 oktober 2023 · 40 min
Few producers have had such a demonstrated impact on the the last decade of music as Metro Boomin. Described by GQ as the “architect of Atlanta rap,” Metro has netted collaborations as far-ranging from Coldplay to Gucci Mane, garnered three #1 projects on the Billboard 200, and is credited with bolstering trap music’s presence both in and out of the South. From “Jumpman” to “Bad & Boujee” to “Creepin’,” we’ve been hearing his productions for years – all of which manage to capture the ear due to his penchant for eerie soundscapes and light and dark dichotomy. Lees meer
This episode of Switched on Pop, we take a closer look at Metro Boomin’s career, highlighting what makes his production style so versatile.
Songs Discussed:
Metro Boomin, John Legend – On Time
ILOVEMAKONNEN, Drake – Tuesday (feat. Drake)
Future – Radical
Drake, Future – Jumpman
Kanye West – Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
Big Sean – Bounce Back
Migos, Lil Uzi Vert – Bad and Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
21 Savage, Metro Boomin, Future – X (feat. Future)
Future – Wicked
Future – Mask Off
Metro Boomin, 21 Savage – Don't Come Out The House (with 21 Savage)
Metro Boomin, J Balvin, Wizkid, Offset – Only You (feat. Wizkid, Offset & J Balvin)
Thompson Twins, Metro Boomin – Hold Me Now (Metro Boomin Remix)
Solange – Stay Flo
James Blake, Moses Sumney, Metro Boomin – Tell Them (feat. Moses Sumney & Metro Boomin)
The Weeknd – Heartless
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage – Creepin' (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage)
Mario Winans, Enya, Diddy – I Don't Wanna Know (feat. Enya & P. Diddy)
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In Defense of Crunk
3 oktober 2023 · 41 min
Twenty years ago, the song "Get Low" by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins was released; in the years since, the song has managed to stand the test of time, becoming the paragon of what we know as crunk music. In this episode of Switched on Pop, we take a look at crunk – from its roots in Memphis and Atlanta to its sonic successors, and give flowers to the man behind it all: Lil Jon himself.
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Made In America: Jay-Z & Toby Keith ICYMI
28 september 2023 · 46 min
In case you missed it rerun from 2016. Back in 2011, two pop songs dropped with the same patriotic title: "Made in America." But the similarities pretty much end there. Toby Keith's country smash and Jay Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean's soulful hip hop anthem have little in common except a firm conviction that each song knows what it really means to be American. Five years later, these tracks have a lot to tell us about the role music plays in shaping our national identity, and begs the question: does music truly bring us together? Lees meer
Music Discussed
Toby Keith - Made In America
Jay Z and Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean - Made in America
Sisqo - Thong Song
Usher - Yeah!
Beyoncé - Daddy Lessons
Jimmie Rodgers - Blue Yodel No. 9
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys - Ida Red Likes to Boogie
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The Art of Flow (with DJ Jazzy Jeff) ICYMI
26 september 2023 · 35 min
In hip-hop, what draws us to an artist is not just the content of their lyrics but how they deliver them. Along with tapping your foot to the rhythm, understanding something called “flow” is essential to understanding hip-hop as a whole. Lees meer
In this episode of Switched On Pop, we interview genre icon DJ Jazzy Jeff on the concept of flow: what it is, how it applies to all music – not just hip-hop – and how any rapper’s flow can be analyzed under his guidelines. Taking his word for it, we put our magnifying glasses on to look at the bars of our favorite rappers, from Megan thee Stallion to Babytron.
Songs Discussed:
The Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
A Tribe Called Quest - The Hop
Danger Mouse, Black Thought - Aquamarine
BabyTron - Crocs & Wock’
RXKNephew - Take Three
JID - Better Days (feat. Johnta Austin)
Megan Thee Stallion - Not Nice
Megan Thee Stallion - Cocky Af
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Doja Cat’s Satanic Suite
19 september 2023 · 40 min
For the first time in 2023, a rap song is at number one on Billboard's Hot 100: Doja Cat's “Paint the Town Red.” It’s her second number one single after the disco inspired “Say So.” But the ubiquitous and lighthearted bop didn’t accurately reflect Doja’s divisive persona, an extremely online meme lord, and sometimes troll, with a history of riling up internet controversy. Lees meer
Doja Cat recently called out her fans for their parasocial obsessiveness, losing 250k instagram followers in the process. Simultaneously, religious conservatives have accused her of Satanism for her playful use of illuminati imagery at her 27th birthday bash. But rather than recoil, Doja Cat is clapping back at criticism by embracing the devil.
On “Paint the Town Red” she’s following the playbook of Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy,” all of which use demonic imagery to spark religious controversy while also commenting on artists’ indiscretions and the hellish nature of the attention economy. In her satanic suite — “Paint The Town Red,” “Demon,” and “Attention” — Doja Cat’s turns online flame wars into musical gold.
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Songs Discussed:
Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
Sam Smith - Unholy (feat. Kim Petras)
Doja Cat - Say So
Doja Cat - Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)
Doja Cat - Woman
Doja Cat - Demons
Daddy Yankee - Gasolina
Kelis - Milkshake
Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
Bernard Herrmann - A Narrative for String Orchestra (From "Psycho") [Arr. J. Mauceri]
John Williams - Main Title/John Williams/Jaws - From The "Jaws" Soundtrack
Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
Doja Cat - Attention
808 State - Pacific 202
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda
Calvin Harris - Prayers Up (feat. Travis Scott & A-Trak)
Dionne Warwick - W…
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Jimmy Buffett: Next Year in Margaritaville
12 september 2023 · 37 min
When Jimmy Buffett died on the first day of September, 2023, musicians from Paul McCartney to Pitbull mourned the death of the "Margaritaville" singer. This surprised Nate and Charlie, because frankly, they had never listened deeply to Buffett's work before, and viewed him more as a branding genius than a great musician. How wrong were your faithful podcast hosts. Jimmy Buffett was no novelty act or one-hit wonder. He found a precise combination of yearning lyrics, hip modulations, and singable melodies that produced a collection of songs that questioned the fantasy of Island Life as much as they celebrated it. Journey with us across the seas of Buffett's artistry as we listen for everything we might have missed about this unique musical icon.
Songs Discussed
Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Why Don't We Get Drunk, Come Monday, Fins, A Pirate Looks at 40, My Gummie Just Kicked In
Harry Belafonte - Will His Love Be Like His Rum?
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Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' Era ICYMI
5 september 2023 · 31 min
In case you missed it, Beyoncé’s new album Renaissance is one of her most ambitious albums yet. On this week’s episode of Switched On Pop, we discuss Renaissance with beloved guest Sam Sanders, host of the new Vulture podcast Into It. In Sanders’ words: “it’s trying to do a lot” – but in the best way. The album incorporates seemingly every decade of contemporary popular dance music from Chic’s “Good Times” to Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy.” Lees meer
Much of the early discourse surrounding the album was marred by a confusing controversy over a small sample (we try to resolve the issue musicologically) – but the references on Renaissance are worth listening closely to, acting as a guide through essential dance music. The album is an homage to the black and queer innovators of dance; with samples and interpolations of songs both niche and mainstream flying by, like a DJ set curated by house music pioneers.
On Renaissance, Beyoncé goes out of her way to cite, credit and compensate her influences, resulting in a triumph of musical curation. Just look at “Alien Superstar”: the song credits twenty-four people, largely due to Beyoncé’s musical nods, rather than an exercise in boardroom style songwriting. Sanders says “the liner notes themselves are showing you that this woman and her team have a PhD in music history.”
Listen to Switched On Pop to hear how Renaissance honors dance music innovators and finds new modes of expression in the genre.
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Olivia Rodrigo’s Good Ideas
29 augustus 2023 · 32 min
Everyone seems to be getting Olivia Rodrigo wrong. She's one of the few pop stars who has made it big in the current era of fragmented music streaming, but so much of the narrative has been about whose songs she's stealing from, whether it be Taylor Swift, Elvis Costello or Paramore. Rodrigo's new album Guts arrives next Friday: while we wait patiently, we take a close listen to her new singles "vampire" and "bad idea right?" to subvert the narrative. These songs show that she isn't stealing from pop music, but rather uses a deep repertoire of musical predecessors to write very crafty music. Lees meer
Songs discussed:
Olivia Rodrigo – vampire
Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?
Olivia Rodrigo – driver's license
Olivia Rodrigo – brutal
Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Pump It Up
Olivia Rodrigo – good 4 u
Paramore – Misery Business
Olivia Rodrigo – deja vu
Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer
Radiohead – Creep
Scala & Kolacny Brothers – Creep
Lana del Rey – Get Free
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Elvis Presley – That's When Your Heartaches Begin
Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman
Talking Heads – And She Was
The Breeders – Cannonball
Liz Phair – Supernova
Wet Leg – Chaise Longue
The Beatles – Twist And Shout
Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name
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Wonders: "Stacy's Mom" and Adam Schlesinger
22 augustus 2023 · 31 min
In 2003, amidst a bunch of bleak alternative rock bangers like “Numb” by Linkin Park and “Bring Me To Life” by Evanescence, a rock song stood out on the charts for its fantastic hooks and juvenile sense of humor. “Stacy’s Mom” turned the New Jersey band Fountains of Wayne into MTV mainstays and Grammy nominees. But while they continued to release music, tour the country, and maintain a devoted fanbase, they never reached the same level of fame again.
Most people never looked further than the raunchy music video, but Fountains of Wayne released six albums across two decades, each filled with tracks of quirky, clever, and undeniably catchy power pop. And the writer of that song, FOW bassist Adam Schlesinger, had a rich and fascinating career behind the scenes in film, TV, and more. In this episode of Switched on Pop, we explore the history of “Stacy’s Mom”, a perfectly crafted pop song that stands as a testament to the brilliance of a musician whose career was cut tragically short.
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