Switched On Pop

Auto-Tune may be the most divisive effect in music. Artists have protested it publicly at the Grammys, and critics have derided the effects for its inauthentic reproduction of the voice. And yet, nearly a decade since Jay-Z prophesied the death of Auto-Tune, the sound is alive and thriving in contemporary pop and hip-hop. Journalist Simon Reynolds has written a definitive history of Auto-Tune for Pitchfork that fundamentally changed how we hear this sound. This deep dive criss crosses geology, technology, and the evolution of pop as we know it. Songs Discussed: Cher - Believe Katy Perry - Firework Rihanna - Diamonds Future - F*ck Up Some Commas Emma Robinson - Stay (Cover)  Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek  Zapp & Roger - Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)  T. Pain - Chopped N Screwed ft. Ludacris  Lil Wayne - “How To Love” Kanye - “Heartless” The Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow” Jay-Z - Death Of Auto-Tune Elvis - Mystery Train The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows Whispering Jack Smith - Baby Face Kesha - Tik Tok  Bon Iver - Woods Future & Juice WRLD - Jet Lag ft. Young Scooter  Shek Wes - Mo Bamba The Carters - Apeshit Further Reading: Simon Reynolds - “

This winter season unwrap a deep dive through a pop subgenre of monumental importance: non-holiday songs that feature sleigh bells, from Bonnie Tyler to Nas, On Side B, we rebroadcast our episode on Mariah Carey's classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You"...and more sleigh bells.  Featuring: •The Beach Boys - God Only Knows •Gustav Mahler - 4th Symphony, I •Michael Jackson - Jam •Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart  •Miles Davis - On the Corner •Nas - Halftime •Kygo ft. Conrad Sewell - Firestone •Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Four years into Switched On Pop, Charlie and Nate finally reveal what was behind the entire series. We may have not been totally honest with you from the beginning. Back in 2014 we were more pop skeptics than fanatics. The genre was, to some degree, the sugar that made the musical analysis medicine go down. And then something happened. Just as people started to listen to the show, we too began to open our ears. Now, in our 100th episode, Charlie interviews Nate about how transforming the way you listen to pop can truly make life better. And we get raw about the constraints of pop and where we plan to go in our next 100 episodes. Songs discussed: Beethoven's 7 & 9 Santana - "Smooth"  Martha and the Vandellas - "Heat Wave"  Zedd - "Stay"  Pink Floyd - "The Great Gig in the Sky"  Adelle - "Hello"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Mike Posner has written hits for himself like "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," and for stars from Justin Bieber ("Boyfriend") to Maroon 5 ("Sugar"), so he has insights for days on what makes a pop song work. We dig into Mike's excellent new track "Song About You," which leads to an exploration of songs that reuse the same melody for verse and chorus—from Prince to The Boss to Post Malone. Last, we consider "beard phase": a moment of artistic reinvention that every artist has in their career, whether you're Mike Posner, Ludwig van Beethoven, or Taylor Swift. Featuring : Mike Posner - Song About You Jean Ritchie - Barbary Allen Original Sacred Harp Singers - New Britain (Amazing Grace) Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover Prince - Let's Go Crazy Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. Post Malone - Rockstar Beethoven - String Quartet No 1 Op. 18/1 Beethoven - String Quartet No 10 Op. 74/III Beethoven - String Quartet "Grosse Fuge" Taylor Swift - Teardrops on My Guitar Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It? Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever Dennis Wilson - River Song Peaches ft. Iggy Pop - Kick It  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Dirty Projectors are known for their kaleidoscopic soundscapes. They make strange bedfellows of  music techniques like 14th vocal harmonies and African guitar rhythms. But in the backdrop of their obscure orchestrations you will hear the indelible marks of pop music. Longstreth has recently collaborated on songs with Solange, Rihanna, Kanye and Paul McCartney. On his new track "I Feel Energy" we can hear that pop influence shine through. Together we break down his unpredictable 808s to see what gives you energy. We also build connections between Dirty Projectors and other artists in the top 100 including Marshmello, Ella Mai and Khalid. Songs Featured: Dirty Projectors - I Feel Energy Dirty Projectors - Up In Hudson Marshmello ft. Bastille - Happier Ella Mai - Trip Khalid - Better Learn more about your ad choices. Visit