• Switched on Pop

  • By: Vulture
  • Podcast

Switched on Pop

By: Vulture
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • 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.
    2021 Vox Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved
    Show More Show Less
Music
Show More Show Less
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2
Episodes
  • The many lives of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

    The many lives of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
    Dec 20 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Breaking Through: Doechii, Mk.gee, Rosé

    Breaking Through: Doechii, Mk.gee, Rosé
    Dec 17 2024
    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
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • The best (and worst) of holiday music in 2024

    The best (and worst) of holiday music in 2024
    Dec 13 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
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins

What listeners say about Switched on Pop

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.co.uk reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available