“Flowers” and the art of the response song
Switched on Pop14 Helmi 2023

“Flowers” and the art of the response song

“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus is spending another week on top of the Billboard 100 – quite fitting for Valentine’s Day. The disco-country track has gotten people talking for a few reasons, but most notably, Cyrus invokes Bruno Mars’ classic “When I Was Your Man” in both lyrical and melodic allusions. The connection between the two songs is not one of interpolation, but rather, Miley is responding to Bruno’s hit through her own words: making “Flowers” an answer song. This episode of Switched On Pop, we take a deeper look at “Flowers” and how it fits in the canon of response songs throughout history, from classics like “This Land is Your Land” to Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.” Songs Discussed: Miley Cyrus – Flowers Kacey Musgraves – High Horse Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive Dua Lipa – New Rules Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man Ed Sheeran – Shape of You TLC – No Scrubs Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg – California Girls JAY-Z, Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog Rufus Thomas – Bear Cat Hank Thompson – The Wild Side of Life Kitty Wells – It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels Ray Charles – Hit the Road, Jack Nina Simone – Come on Back Jack The Chantels – Well, I Told You UTFO – Roxanne, Roxanne Roxanne Shanté – Roxanne’s Revenge UTFO – The Real Roxanne New Edition – Candy Girl The Jackson 5 – ABC Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back Nicki Minaj – Anaconda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jaksot(523)

The music theory behind K Pop Demon Hunters' chart dominance

The music theory behind K Pop Demon Hunters' chart dominance

It's time. Nate and Charlie break down the K Pop Demonhunters soundtrack to uncover the musical secrets behind its unprecedented success. From West Side Story to Gregorian chant, Phrygian modes to ...

17 Syys 202542min

The architecture of the album with Djo (Joe Keery live at NYU)

The architecture of the album with Djo (Joe Keery live at NYU)

Halfway through the opening track of Joe Keery's The Crux, a line emerges that sounds like casual conversation: "My dog is at my house again, but I live somewhere else." The song refuses to settle int...

15 Syys 202555min

Finneas and Ashe want you to start a band

Finneas and Ashe want you to start a band

Everyone should be in a band at some point—and Finneas and Ashe prove why. The Grammy-winning producer and rising singer-songwriter discuss how their friendship evolved into The Favors, a new band deb...

9 Syys 202552min

Fleetwood Mac's Missing Link Album Returns After 50 Years

Fleetwood Mac's Missing Link Album Returns After 50 Years

Fleetwood Mac has had a phenomenal resurgence in recent years, from TikTok viral fame to Broadway plays and streaming TV series inspired by the band. Their growing fandom among a new generation has cr...

2 Syys 202554min

The classical rebel who infiltrated pop music

The classical rebel who infiltrated pop music

You've heard those shimmering disco strings in Miley Cyrus's "Flowers," the cinematic arrangements on Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher, and the orchestral flourishes across Taylor Swift's catalog, but you pr...

26 Elo 202551min

All roads lead to Pharrell: Tyler, Clipse, and Cardi

All roads lead to Pharrell: Tyler, Clipse, and Cardi

The conversation around the new music this summer has been a dour one. Some of the biggest songs in the country right now are downtempo stomp-clap anthems and wistful Cranberries pastiche. Even on thi...

19 Elo 202552min

A brief history of terrible lyrics (with Sam Sanders)

A brief history of terrible lyrics (with Sam Sanders)

Why do bad lyrics happen to good people? From "suckin' on a chili dog" to "making love to his tonic and gin," even the biggest hits from our favorite artists can feature lyrical turns that make us fee...

12 Elo 202543min

Summer Bummer (with Commotion’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud)

Summer Bummer (with Commotion’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud)

Every music critic seems to agree: 2025 has no true song of summer. Last August, Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominated the charts. This year…Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” dominates the charts. What’s ...

5 Elo 202537min

Suosittua kategoriassa Viihde

anni-jaajo
tuplakaak
grekovit
hei-baby-3
terveisia-perheesta
the-harlin-show
antin-palautepalvelu
dear-shirly
antin-elokuvakerho
bella-table
verhon-takaa
nonsensepodi
dear-shirly-ja-arttu
get-jassud
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
tahtitehdas
hollywood-love-stories-2
everypodi
tervo-halme
suomen-suosituin-podcast