Switched on Pop

Latest Episodes:

Santigold sings Spirituals Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

After a four-year hiatus – and a name drop on a Beyoncé remix – musical polymath Santigold is back with a brand new album. Known for her signature blend of genre-defying songcraft, the artist’s fourth studio album Spirituals is one of her most artistically challenging projects yet. It’s another venture into what she does best: addressing heavy themes through toe-tapping melodies. From Nate’s personal favorite, 2016’s “Can’t Get Enough of Myself,” to “My Horror,” a pan-genre sonic vision has always been present in her career. On this episode of Switched On Pop, Santigold speaks about her new record, being a mother, and the emotions that went into making Spirituals.

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The future of music pt I Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

In part 1 of our Vergecast: Future of Music series, Alex Cranz talks with Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding about the trends in music today that make new songs out of old material, and whether it's foreshadowing the future of pop.

Further reading:

Selena Quintanilla Will Sound Older on Her New Posthumous Album

Michael Jackson songs removed from streaming services to 'move beyond' fake vocals controversy

Shred with Green Day, with some help from AudioShake

Invasion of the Vibe Snatchers

Music discussed:

Como Te Quiero Yo A Ti - Selena

My Way - Frank Sinatra

I'll Be Seeing You - Billie Holiday

We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus

bad guy - Billie Eilish

Through The Wire - Kanye West

Breaking News - Michael Jackson

Real Love - The Beatles

Free As A Bird - The Beatles

2000 Light Years Away - Green Day

Betty (Get Money) - Yung Gravy

Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club

Fantasy - Mariah Carey

Big Energy - Latto

I'm Good (Blue) - David Guetta, Bebe Rexha

Bang Bang - Rita Ora, Imanbek

Higher Love - Kygo, Whitney Houston

Don't Start Now - Dua Lipa

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Lady Gaga & The Pequeños Monstruos Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

After an enlightening experience at Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball, producer Reanna Cruz takes a look at the connection between Gaga's music and the Latin sounds she's engaged with over the years, from traditional rancheras to the rhythm of reggaeton.

Songs discussed:

Lady Gaga, “Alejandro”
Ace of Base, “Don’t Turn Around”
ABBA, “Chiquitita – Spanish Version”
Madonna, “La Isla Bonita”
Rihanna, “Te Amo”
Vittorio Monti, Sarah Nemtanu, Chilly Gonzales, “Csárdás”
Lady Gaga, “Americano”
Rosemary Clooney, The Mellomen, “Mambo Italiano (with the Mellomen)”
Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, “Despacito”
La Flavour, “Mandolay”
Lady Gaga, “Dancin’ In Circles”
Alejandro Fernández, “Como Quien Pierde una Estrella”
Pedro Fernández, “Yo…El Aventurero”
Lola Beltran, “Cucurrucucu Paloma”
War, “Cinco de Mayo”
Santana, The Product G&B, “Maria Maria (feat. The Product G&B)”
Lady Gaga, “Dancin’ In Circles”
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
French Montana, Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”
Tego Calderon, “Pa’ Que Retozen”
Rosalia, J Balvin, “Con Altura”
Juan Gabriel, “Abrázame Muy Fuerte”
Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Arca, “Rain On Me – Arca Remix”
Lady Gaga, “Fun Tonight”
Lady Gaga, Pabllo Vittar, “Fun Tonight – Pabllo Vittar Remix”

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Invasion of the Vibe Snatchers Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

Why do so many songs sound familiar? Because the number of chart topping interpolations — songs built off of old hits — has roughly doubled in the five years. It’s everywhere, you can’t escape because many people are embracing it.

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Into It: Song of Summer 2022 Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

Who had the song of the summer? Sam Sanders chats with Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding and Reanna Cruz about whose song (and album) is in the running: Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Lizzo, or Kate Bush?

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Learning to love the Killers (maybe) Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

Are you like Nate? Is there one artist that, every time you hear them, you can't help it—you start to grimace, sweat, seethe. You can't explain it, but there's something about them that you just. can't. stand. For Nate, that band is the Killers. Lots of people love this band, they've been around for almost two decades, they're practically an institution! So why can't he get past his hang up? Charlie and Reanna step in to help break down what it is about the Killers that rankles their normally open-eared colleague so, and then step back to consider what it is that makes us think we hate the bands we do—and whether we can change those opinions.

Songs Discussed

The Killers - Human, All These Things That I've Done, When You Were Young, Mr. Brightside, Deadlines and Commitments, Where the White Boys Dance, boy, Shot at the Night, The Man, Tranquilize

Ariana Grande and Zedd - Break Free

Erasure - A Little Respect

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K-Pop Chartbreakers: BLACKPINK, Girls’ Generation, NewJeans, IVE Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

A lot has happened in the world of Kpop this summer, from Girls’ Generation sugar coated banger “Forever 1” marking a triumphant return from a five year hiatus, to the ascendance of newcomers NewJeans, whose R&B infused sounds have quickly taken over the charts. But it's the return of BLACKPINK that has lit up the world literally in pink. Get a full deep dive on the songs at the top of the Kpop charts on the latest episode of Switched On Pop, where hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan speak with journalist Kristine Kwak.

Songs Discussed

Psy, SUGA - That That
J-hope - MORE
BLACKPINK - Pink Venom
Girls’ Generation
IVE - LOVE DIVE
NewJeans - Attention
SWV - I’m So Into You
Rihanna - Pon De Replay
Missy Elliot - Work It
50 Cent - Just A Lil Bit
Taylor Swift “Look What You Made Me Do”
Panjabi MC, JAY-Z - Mundian to Bach Ke
Britney Spears, Madonna - Me Against the Music
Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around Comes Around
Snoop Dogg - Drop It Like It’s Hot
Snoop Dogg - I Wanna Rock
The Notorious B.I.G. - Kick in the Door

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Demi Lovato Searches for "Substance" In Pop-Punk Perfection Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Demi Lovato has found herself in many avenues over the past few years – from releasing a tell-all documentary to uncovering extraterrestrials – but 2022 finds them traveling back in time to the sound of the late 90’s and early 2000’s: pop-punk. On this episode of Switched On Pop, we check out her two latest singles, “Skin of My Teeth” and “Substance,” and through focusing on the latter, pull out what, exactly, pop-punk is, and how Demi embodies the genre’s ever-evolving sound in their new track.

Songs Discussed:

Demi Lovato - Substance
Demi Lovato - Skin of My Teeth
Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry
Demi Lovato - La La Land
Demi Lovato - Heart Attack
Turnstile - MYSTERY
Bring Me The Horizon - Chelsea Smile
Blink-182 - Dysentery Gary
Misfits - Astro Zombies
My Chemical Romance - Astro Zombies
Blink-182 - What’s My Age Again
WILLOW, Travis Barker - t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l
Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue
Machine Gun Kelly - bloody valentine
Citizen - Stain
La Dispute - Such Small Hands
Mom Jeans - Edward 40hands
Rise Against - Savior
NOFX - Whoa on the Whoas
Jarrod Alonge, Sunrise Skater Kids - Pop Punk Pizza Party
Paramore - For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
Fall Out Boy - Of All The Gin Joints In The World
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
The Police - Message in a Bottle
Modern Baseball - Tears Over Beers
Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness
Good Charlotte - The Anthem
The Offspring - The Kids Aren’t Alright

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Beyoncé's ‘Renaissance’ Era Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

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.”

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.

Subscribe to Into It with Sam Sanders

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Into It: The Business of Beyoncé Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

Subscribe to Into It with Sam Sanders

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vE4jqf

Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3bB7Vmf

Listen elsewhere: https://bit.ly/3BI0Nz0