Summer Heat of the 2000s: Nelly + Katy Perry (Pt. 1)
What made summer jams of the aughties like Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" so hot? The answer: big, sweaty, doses of harmonic tension. Specifically, each track relies on the ...
9 Aug 201824min
Why is 90s Pop so Bizarre?
The Switched on Pop Summer Throwback Series continues! This time, with a deep dive into the musical detritus of the 1990s. In true 90s fashion, our episode is inspired by a pair of classic VH1 shows; ...
27 Juli 201848min
The Resistance is Dancing in the Streets
Our Switched on Summer Throwback Series continues with "Dancing in the Street," the 1964 Motown hit by Martha and the Vandellas that was co-written by none other than Marvin Gaye. Over 50 years and co...
12 Juli 201829min
Switched on Summer: Getting Around with the Beach Boys
Our Switched on Summer throwback mini-series begins in the heart of the 1960s, with the Beach Boys' perennial school's-out jam "I Get Around." We explore how every aspect of Brian Wilson's two-minute-...
28 Juni 201829min
The Pure Pop of Charlie Puth + Carly Rae (ft Hanif Abdurraqib)
Part I: The Doctors Are In! We diagnose a listener's musical malady, namely: "why does Charlie Puth's new jam 'BOY' make us feel so weird?!" Part II: Guest Hanif Adburraqib, author of They Can't Kill ...
14 Juni 201845min
Afrofuturism in Kali Uchis & Clipping (with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes)
Parliament Funkadelic has had waves of influence on popular music. Their Afrofuturist message and infectious grooves built the backbone of 70s funk, was revived in the 90s with Dr. Dre's G-Funk, and i...
31 Maj 201848min
Finding Equanimity In 'No Tears Left To Cry'
Ariana Grande has returned with a track that is jarring yet simultaneously catchy. She uses sophisticated musical techniques to tell a story of healing, resiliency, and hope after the attack at her co...
17 Maj 201837min
Can AI 'Algorhythms' Write Pop Songs? (With Taryn Southern)
There is a lot of scare about the impending future of artificial intelligence making humans irrelevant. Musician Taryn Southern examines this narrative through her song “Life Support,” written with th...
3 Maj 201854min
