Switched on Pop

The flowers are blooming and the calendar says May. That can only mean one thing: the Eurovision Song Contest is upon us once again. This year, thirty-five countries face off to determine the best song that Europe and adjacent continents have to offer. However, the competition comes with a big asterisk: while Eurovision prides themselves on being “apolitical,” the inclusion of Israel in the competition has led to a massive boycott, and the nations of Ireland, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands all withdrawing their participation. These are very real concerns impacting the general tenor of the competition this year, and are worth deeply considering. Since  Eurovision is music news, and proves fundamental in discovering new sounds in global pop, as reporters, Nate, Charlie, and Reanna run down the top contenders according to bookmakers as of this recording. If you’re not watching this year, you’ll still know what’s going on.  But if Eurovision isn’t of interest, it’s all good. At the end of the episode, Nate, Charlie, and Reanna also take some time to run down the current state of Switched On Pop bingo. Get your own bingo card here. Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠, ⁠YouTube Songs discussed: Céline Dion – Ne partez pas sans moi ABBA – Waterloo Joost – Europapa JJ – Wasted Love Delta Goodrem – Eclipse Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem Ariana Grande – One Last Time Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper – Shallow Akylas – Ferto Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha Linda Lampenius, Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin Windows95man – No Rules Erika Vikman – ICH KOMME DARA – Bangaranga Alexandra Cǎpitǎnescu – Choke Me Satoshi – Viva, Moldova! PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – Stateside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In case you missed it last year: why are there no new Christmas songs? One one hand, there's more holiday songs than we’ll ever need. Every year pop stars drop countless holiday-themed album. But despite the annual glut of Christmas releases, few of these new songs join the rotation of holiday classics. On Billboard's Holiday Hot 100 chart right now, there's only four songs from the past ten years that have made it to the top fifty. We listen to each of these holiday hits—from Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and the Jonas Brothers—and and ask if these songs can go the distance and become the 21st century members of the Christmas music canon. Songs Discussed - Playlist Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me Justin Bieber - Mistletoe Jonas Brothers - Like It's Christmas The Bird and the Bee - You and I at Christmas Time Loretta Lynn - White Christmas Blue Woody Goss - One for One Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 8 Days of Hannukah Jenny Owen Youngs, Tancred, John Mark Nelson - Fireside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A podcast mini-series in IV movements explaining and reconsidering Beethoven’s game-changing symphony. Episodes air Tuesdays & Fridays starting Sept 8th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nice Try! is a new podcast from Curbed and the Vox Media Podcast Network that explores stories of people who have tried to design a better world, and what happens when those designs don't go according to plan. Season one, Utopian, follows Avery Trufelman on her quest to understand the perpetual search for the perfect place. Enjoy this special preview of the first episode, Jamestown: Utopian for Whom, and subscribe to Nice Try! for free in your favorite podcast app.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Switched on Pop, a show about how popular music works and why it matters hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding. We break down the music in pop hits to help you find those "a-ha" moments. Whether you’re a pop fanatic or skeptic, teenager or octogenarian, non-musicians or professional composer, every music lover will discover something ear-opening in Switched on Pop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer we’re going to be doing a Switched On Summer series, breaking down your favorite summer pop hits from the 60s to the present. We’re talking about Beach Boys to Beyonce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie and Nate will be answering your questions on www.reddit.com/r/iama under the user name 'switchedonpop.' Bring questions about your favorite pop songs, unresolved issues from past episodes or anything you want to know about the show. See you on Reddit on Monday, November 13th at 2pm EST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate and Charlie will answer any question you have about pop music you love, unresolved questions from past episodes, or anything about the podcast. Just visit www.reddit.com/r/ama/ on Monday Nov 13th 2-4pm EST and ask us your questions.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lady Gaga's new single, "Perfect Illusion," is the apotheosis of her artistic statement. She is well known for her visual style that too often overshadows her music. But when taken together, it is evident that Lady Gaga is playing all of us because the non-conformity of her outward appearance is reflected back in her compositions. On first listen, her songs may sound like just another catchy pop tune and this is intentional. Gaga lures us close with the sound of pop fame and then hooks us and reels us into into her dungeon of monstrous sounds.FeaturingLady Gaga - Perfect Illusion Lady Gaga - Just Dance Lady Gaga - Government Hooker Queen - Radio Gaga Lady Gaga - Love Game Lady Gage - Scheisse Michael Jackson - Thriller Phantom Of The Opera - Overture John Carpenter - Halloween Theme (Main Title) Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Lady Gaga - Alejandro Ace Of Bass - I Saw The Sign Lady Gaga - Speechless Queen - Don’t Stop Me Now Lady Gaga - So Happy I Could Die Natasha Bedingfield - Pocket Full of Sunshine Lady Gaga - Born This Way Madonna - Express Yourself Lady Gaga - Teeth Lady Gaga - Bloody Mary Lady Gaga - Dance In The Dark

Certain pop songs have that moment, when everything seems to change but still remain the same, when the drama gets ratcheted up, when the tension increases and our emotions take an elevator ride to the heavens. From Beyoncé to Johnny Cash, savvy pop songwriters know a well-placed harmonic modulation can leave listeners reeling. But what is this mysterious musical trick, and how does it work? Tune in and let us take you higher, and higher, and higher, as we explore the wild world of modulation.FeaturingOne Direction - Night Changes Taylor Swift - Love Story Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me Off my Feet Beyonce - Love On Top Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You Mozart - Queen of the Night Aria Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror The Beatles - Penny Lane Johnny Cash - Walk the Line Hear more of Dru Cutler's work at www.drucutler.com

A strange syndrome is wreaking havoc on the voices of our biggest pop stars. From Rihanna to Justin Bieber, no one is safe from having their beautiful vocals chopped up, screwed down, repitched and repurposed. As dance music takes over the charts and new software grants vocal manipulation at the click of a button, this uncanny production technique has become nearly ubiquitous. But is this ultramodern sound really that new? We dig deep into the roots of the sound of the moment.Featuring:• Kiaara - Gold • Coldplay - Hymn for the Weekend (Seeb remix) • Hailee Steinfeld ft. Grey & Zedd - Starving • Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - This is What You Came For • Mike Posner -I Took a Pill in Ibiza (Seeb remix) • DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You • Cold Crush Brothers - MC Battle (Live) • Cerrone - Rocket in the Pocket • Wu Tang Clan - Tearz • Wendy Rene - After Laughter • Kanye West - School Spirit • Whistle - Just Buggin • Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait 

This episode marks something of a departure from the norm. With Charlie away, host Nate, aka "Hubcap," takes us on a home-show tour of the Scottish Highlands with his traveling minstrel act, The Gideon and Hubcap Show. It's an entirely different kind of summer music spectacle.Featuring:•13,000 Miles - Gideon Irving •Oh Wow - Gideon Irving •Ida Done - Gideon and Hubcap •Safe Word - Gideon and Hubcap •Hebrides Overture – Felix Mendelssohn •Mouth Music - From the Smithsonian Folkways Collection, Scottish Drinking and Pipe Songs •Breabach - Gig Face •Cuyahoga - Gideon and HubcapCheck out www.mynameisgideon.com and www.gideonandhubcap.com for more.

The fingerprints of house music are all over mainstream pop, but much of its sound has been whitewashed. That ubiquitous four-to-the-floor kick and synth bass sound draws from Chicago's queer, black and latinx warehouse club culture. Micah Salkind is working on a book on the history of these communities. Together we break down the sonic origins of this music through a modern track that fully embraces its cultural nexus: "Hideaway" by Kiesza. Micah takes us back to Chicago in the 1980s, and we explore how this sound came to be and where it is going today. FEATURING Kiesza - Hideaway Loleeta Holloway - Love Sensation Black box - Ride On Time Madonna - Vogue Mr. Finder - The Juice Kanye West - Fade Rythim Is Rythim - Strings Of Life Paul Oakenfold - You Could Be Happy Frankie Knuckles - Your Love MFSB ft The Three Degrees - T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) Jesse Saunders - On and On Diplo - Be Right There Justin Bieber - Sorry Calvin Harris - This Is What You Came For Shaun J. Wright & Alinka - Love Inspired MORE STUFF Find more of Micah's work at micah-salkind.squarespace.com/about/ and his DJ sets at www.mixcloud.com/micahjackson Listen to Shaun J. Wright & Alinka on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aalinkaa/shaun-j-wright-alinka-love

How do you create a hit that both breaks sound barriers and chart records? Drake has done this with a unique mix of international music from Africa, the Caribbean, the U.K. and Canada. But is his chart topping success musical appropriation or celebration? A deep listening reveals diverse influences and musical rhythms that have crossed oceans centuries before "One Dance" was even conceived. FEATURING Drake - One Dance (feat. Whizkid & Kyla) Ojuelegba Remix - Wizkid ft. Drake & Septa 2Baba - Coded Tinz ft. Phyno, Chief Obi DJ Maphorisa - Soweto Baby feat Wizkid & Dj Buckz Crazy Cousinz - Do You Mind ft. Kyla The Revolutionaries - General For General Barrington Levy - Dance Are Changing Joh Thomas - Ghetto Dance Papa Biggie - Youth Them Have To Grow Yellowman - Adam & Eve Mighty Diamonds - Love Me Girl Drake - Hotline Bling Timmy Thomas - Why Can’t We Live Together D.R.A.M. - Cha Cha Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie XX - Take Care Of You Drake - Take Care ft. Rihanna Drake - JunglePaul Simon - Graceland Paul Simon - I Know What I Know Moby - Natural Blues Vera Hall - Trouble So Hard David Guetta - Hey Mama (ft. Nicki Minaj) Sangkala - Gamelan Degung Joel Francisco Perri - Las llamas de Potosi Habib Koité - Africa Kwaa Mensah - Odo Me, Me Sum No DoChico O’farrell - Sin Titulo Trio Matamoros - El Que Siembra Su Maíz Joseph Kabasele - Africa Bola Ngombi E.T. Mensa & The Tempos - Fom Fom Fela Kuti - Lagos Baby Fela Kuti - Elbe Moi (Carry Me) Fela Kuti - LadyWizkid - Show You The Money Blinky Bill - So Strong Check out Blinky's music at www.soundcloud.com/blinkyb Supported by Casper and Amazon Prime Music's Song of Summer Playlist Amazon www.amazonsongsofsummer.com/pop

We have more information about pop stars lives than ever before, but this transparency is not always uplifting for music lovers. Just as we may enjoy following the intimate lives of celebrities on Instagram, we simultaneously uncover how stars abuse their power to marginalize others, commit heinous crimes and inspire mass atrocity. Sometimes skeletons in the closet turn our to be literal skeletons. As listeners, this undoubtedly colors the way we hear our old favorite songs. Join us as we explore how to listen to good music that happens to bad people.FEATURINGJerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire The Righteous Brothers - You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling Garry Glitter - Hey R. Kelly - Ignition (Remix) Wagner - Ride Of The Valkyries The Ronettes - Be My Baby Queen - You’re My Best Friend Drake - Keep The Family Close Wagner - Tristan Und Isolade: Prelude Wagner - Tristan Und Isolade: Liebestod Wagner - Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus