Stevie Wonder may be our modern day Mozart. A child prodigy, he joined Motown as a preadolescent where he was marketed as “Little” Stevie Wonder. He wowed audiences with his virtuosic command of the piano, harmonica, drums and of course, vocals. At just 13, he had his first number one hit “Fingertips Part II.” It was an unusual chart topper, featuring a live ... Show More
Yesterday
Music only the World Cup could make
The quadrennial soccer (or fútbol, depending who you talk to) competition is upon us again: it's the FIFA World Cup! And while the World Cup is a sporting event, it's still relevant to the folks at Switched On Pop, because every four years a new crop of songs gets commissioned to ... Show More
37m 38s
Oct 2024
Neil Finn's songs of ascension
<p>Neil Finn is one of our greatest living songwriters. In Split Enz and Crowded House, solo and in his collaborations, his tunes have become the soundtrack to our lives. </p><p>I’ve been chasing Neil to Take 5 for the TV series since the beginning, and finally he said yes. Even ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-18-2025
On May 18, 1980, Ian Curtis, the lead singer and lyricist of the influential post-punk band Joy Division, tragically took his own life at the age of 23. His untimely death came just on the eve of the band's first North American tour and two months prior to the release of their se ... Show More
2m 11s
Oct 2025
Two Days in 1961: Dylan's Debut Begins a Legend
On October 21, 1961, Bob Dylan recorded his debut album, titled "Bob Dylan," at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. The album was produced by John Hammond, who had previously signed Dylan to Columbia Records. The recording session lasted just two days, with Dylan recordi ... Show More
2m 42s