Switched on Pop

Latest Episodes:

Adult Contemporary, but make it cool (with CHROMEO) Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

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.

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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! Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

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.

Check out Jan and Michelle's full analysis at pudding.cool

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Brittany Howard's Chaos Theory (with Brittany Howard) Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

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.

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) Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

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.

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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Songs discussed:

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 Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

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.

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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 Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

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

Lil 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 Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

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.”

Originally aired Dec 2020

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"Did I mention that it's Christmas in this club?" (w Matt Rogers) Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

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."

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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