Switched on Pop

4,6 (2,5 N)
BÌNH LUẬN ÂM NHẠC
HẰNG TUẦN

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.

2 NGÀY TRƯỚC

The many lives of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

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. Artists Discussed: Eddie Cantor Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters The Crystals Ella Fitzgerald Fred Astaire The Jackson Five Bruce Springsteen Justin Bieber Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

33 phút
5 NGÀY TRƯỚC

Breaking Through: Doechii, Mk.gee, Rosé

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. 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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

43 phút
13 THG 12

The best (and worst) of holiday music in 2024

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. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

37 phút
10 THG 12

Kendrick Lamar: from Pulitzer to pop

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. Songs discussed: Kendrick Lamar – squabble up Kendrick Lamar – luther (feat. SZA) Kendrick Lamar – tv off (feat. Lefty Gunplay) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

41 phút
3 THG 12

We're off to see the "Wicked"

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. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

41 phút
29 THG 11

Listening 2 Madonna: Ray of Light

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: Madonna – "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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

44 phút
27 THG 11

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

45 phút
25 THG 11

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

49 phút

Xem tất cả (446)

4,6

/5

2.514 Xếp hạng

Excellent in every way

7 thg 11

sjdhsjsxjjs

I really love the way this show transitions between segments. The flow of this show always feels very natural, and the way they draw us into the thesis episode always feels really surprising. Sometimes I think they stretch a point too far, but god bless them for putting in the work. I truly love this show!
No women

10 thg 12

CeceRE23

I love this show so much and have followed for years… but why did they not discuss a SINGLE woman in the most recent rap episode?? Devastating
Love the pod

23 thg 10

CatalinaJaneQuijano

I have a idea for a episode. Mariah Carey VS Ariana Grande on the high notes. Just a idea. Love this podcast
Pretty good

24 thg 10

CRJ84531

Interesting topics, engaging discussions and analyses. This podcast is at its best when it remains focused on the music. It starts to get annoying when the hosts let their political views creep through…most episodes have some mention of “cis white male privilege” or similar phrases that are not used by people who are grounded in reality. Stick to the music please.

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.