Switched on Pop

Vulture

A podcast all about the making and meaning of popular music. Musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding pull back the curtain on how pop hits work magic on our ears & our culture. From Vulture and the Vox Media Podcast Network. read less

Our Editor's Take

Switched on Pop explores the subtle ways in which pop music is far more fascinating and thoughtful than its many critics assert. Music snobs often look down on pop music. It's “too simple,” they say.. The lyrics “lack substance”. How could any true music aficionado enjoy pop music? Who considers sugary-sweet earworms and bubbly, peppy dance hits part of music as an art form?

With this podcast, audiences are reminded that looks—or, in this case, sounds—can be deceiving. That's the premise of Switched on Pop. Half of the show concerns itself with the making of pop music. The other half focuses on the meaning of pop. Because, regardless of critics' opinions, this is music that has an enormous impact on popular culture. Pop music is part of music history.

Musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding host. Recovering music snobs themselves, they clearly have a genuine affection for dissecting pop hits of all styles, from all angles. They take time to analyze each layer of power pop icon Elvis Costello's long career. They've created a four-part mini-series covering Britney Spears's “pure artistry” (their words). They treat newbies like Olivia Rodrigo with the same esteem as established superstars such as Beyoncé. Or even Beethoven, for that matter (they have a mini-series on him, too).

More often than not, listeners become engrossed in the stories behind the songs. They find themselves unexpectedly turning into fans. Why? Because, sometimes, despite their preconceptions and past sentiment, they've experienced something that opened their minds. They're allowing themselves to listen to seemingly “unsophisticated” music in a sophisticated way. Switched on Pop is an invitation to hear today's music with new ears.

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Episodes

Listening 2 Madonna: Spanish Eyes
Nov 27 2024
Listening 2 Madonna: Spanish Eyes
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. Songs 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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Listening 2 Madonna: Who's That Girl?
Nov 25 2024
Listening 2 Madonna: Who's That Girl?
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." Songs 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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fleetwood Mac perfected turning drama into hits
Nov 19 2024
Fleetwood Mac perfected turning drama into hits
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. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Did Kendrick Lamar kill hip-hop?
Nov 5 2024
Did Kendrick Lamar kill hip-hop?
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?  Tracklist: 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The virtuosity of Stevie Wonder
Oct 22 2024
The virtuosity of Stevie Wonder
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.  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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learning to love: Oasis
Sep 10 2024
Learning to love: Oasis
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. Songs 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Newcomers: Porter Robinson
Sep 6 2024
Newcomers: Porter Robinson
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.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices