Switched On Pop

"I Feel it Coming" might be the slowest burning jam to hit the charts in ages, in which the Weeknd enlists the robotic hum of Daft Punk to help craft a perfectly calibrated climate of desire. Brilliant, sexy songs don't just appear out of thin air, though, so we reveal how this song's perpetual excitement is hard-won through references to past stars of sultriness like Michael and Marvin while employing its own bag of tricks to turn up the heat. Featuring:•The Weeknd + Daft Punk - I Feel it Coming•Marvin Gaye - Let's Get it On•Michael Jackson - Rock With You•Chic - Good Times•Ike and Tina Turner - Doin' ItFor an excellent playlist of listener-submitted sexy songs, direct your dirty self here:http://spoti.fi/2ieEeul

White Christmas holds the Guinness World Record for most singles sold and has been covered over 500 times. Pop stars from Elvis to Ella have recorded it, with interpretations from doo-wop to country to punk rock. With new covers each year, it seems listeners have not grown tired of this Tin Pan Alley chestnut. We use our scientific formula for holiday hit success to break down what makes this song so timeless.Featuring Bing Crosby - White Christmas The Beatles - Christmas Time Is Here Whitney Houston - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Jackson 5 - Santa Clause Is Coming to Town The Beatles - In My Life Frank Sinatra - White Christmas Kenny G - White Christmas Nashville Cast - White Christmas Lady Gaga - White Christmas The Drifters - White Christmas Elvis - White Christmas Ella Fitzgerald - White Christmas Beach Boys - White Christmas Dean Martin - White Christmas Katy Perry - White Christmas Kelly Clarkson - White Christmas Rascal Flatts - White Christmas Michael Bolton - White Christmas Michael Bublé and Shania Twain - White ChristmasCarol Of The Bells by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Artist: http://audionautix.com/ Deck the Hall, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Angels We Have Heard by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=004&page=1Artist: http://incompetech.com/

50 episodes in, hosts Charlie and Nate take a step back to think about how they listen to music and try to define what might be called The Switched on Method™. "Hallelujah," by the late, great Leonard Cohen, acts as a perfect test case for breaking down listening into four key layers: 1) The Liner Notes, 2) The Needle Drop, 3) The Scratch, and 4) The Remix. Through this patented process, artistic revelations are all but guaranteed, with Cohen's opus no exception — his modern classic is not all it appears to be. Featuring:•Leonard Cohen - "Hallelujah"

On the surface, Tove Lo's new hit "Cool Girl" boasts a snappy, earworm chorus and an empowering message of self-reliance. Beneath its chill exterior, though, Lo's song burns with a passion bordering on rage, and sinister sonic undertones suggest an unreliable narrator who doesn't always mean what she says. The more layers one pulls back from this song, the more Lo's source material—the novel and film "Gone Girl"—comes to the fore, turning "Cool Girl" into the kind of pop smash that sticks in your head in more ways than one. Featuring:Tove Lo - Cool GirlDaft Punk - Harder, Better, FasterAlessia Cara - Scars To Your Beautiful

Back in 2011, two pop songs dropped with the same patriotic title: "Made in America." But the similarities pretty much end there. Toby Keith's country smash and Jay Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean's soulful hip hop anthem have little in common except a firm conviction that each song knows what it really means to be American. Five years later, these tracks have a lot to tell us about the role music plays in shaping our national identity, and begs the question: does music truly bring us together? Featuring Toby Keith - Made In America Jay Z and Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean - Made in America Sisqo - Thong Song Usher - Yeah! Beyoncé - Daddy Lessons Jimmie Rodgers - Blue Yodel No. 9 Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys - Ida Red Likes to Boogie

Host Charlie spent the last two weeks listening to every song on the Billboard Hot 100. What did he discover? That the sonic similarities of most chart-toppers sound closer than ever. Except for the #1 song in America, as of this episode's release - "Closer" by The Chainsmokers, ft. Halsey. This one is different than the rest...or is it? We dive into the styles of the moment to re-learn the old maxim that "great artists steal" - whether that artist is a 2016 DJ duo or an 18th century Classical master. Featuring:•Tory Lanez - LUV•Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better•Frenship - Capsize•Maroon 5 - Don't Wanna Know•Cheat Codes - Sex•The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer•Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Anymore•Jack U ft. Justin Bieber - Where Are U Now•Drake - Know Yourself•Amine - Caroline•MO - Final Song•Mike Posner - I Took a Pill in Ibiza (Seeb remix)•The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face•The Chainsmokers ft. Phoebe Ryan - All We Know•Antonio Vivaldi - "La Primavera" Concerto•Vivaldi - Giustino•Vivaldi - Dorilla in Tempe•Vivaldi - Orlando Furioso

The Nokia ringtone used to be heard more than a billion times per day, making it one of the most popular songs in the world. We tend to consider cellphone rings as somewhat antithetical to music. There is a whole subset of YouTube videos dedicated to the perverse thrill of watching a delicately beautiful musical moment ruined by the harsh cry of a default ringtone. In this episode, we zoom in on one of these annoying melodies to see if there's not some hidden musical craft present in the ubiquitous bleeps and bloops that envelop us. Later, Charlie shares a piece made solely of this sonic detritus, and a data scientist locates surprising musical patterns in a most unexpected source.Featuring: The Nokia Tune The Beatles - She's So Heavy One Direction - Live While We're Young Francisco Tarrega - Gran Vals Charlie Harding - Bowl ArrowLinks: Jonathan Berger's Article in Nautlius: How Music Hijacks our Perception of Time Famous Cell Phone Rings Played on the Piano by Tony Ann Greg Hochmuth's workRedaction:  an earlier edit of this show made in insensitive and inappropriate quip about an act of war, which we have removed. We apologize to our listeners. 

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.Featuring Lady 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 Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga - Anything Goes Tony Bennett - I Wish I Were In Love Again

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. Featuring One 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 sounds 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. Plus, we debut Blinky Bill's "So Strong," his first single off his upcoming solo album.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 StrongCheck out Blinky's music at www.soundcloud.com/blinkybSupported 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 FireThe Righteous Brothers - You’ve Lost That Loving FeelingGarry Glitter - HeyR. Kelly - Ignition (Remix)Wagner - Ride Of The ValkyriesThe Ronettes - Be My Baby  Queen - You’re My Best FriendDrake - Keep The Family CloseWagner - Tristan Und Isolade: PreludeWagner - Tristan Und Isolade: Liebestod Wagner - Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus

Summer heat is upon us and so are the jams. Our ears are hooked on Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling." What you may not know is that this song leans on the success of mononymous giants: Pharrell, Michael and Handel. If you think that pop is a modern phenomenon, you may be surprised by medieval references and techniques comped by JT. Join us as we break down the hidden hooks and musical tricks that make this song an ear worm.FeaturingJustin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!Pharrell Williams - HappyMichael Jackson - ThrillerMichael Jackson - Rock With YouElvis Costello - AllisonM.C. Hammer - U Can't Touch ThisElectric Six - Improper DancingNicki Minaj - Feeling Myself ft. BeyonceJustin Timberlake - What Goes AroundJustin Timberlake - Cry Me A RiverBernart De Ventadorn - Can Vei La Lauzeta