How does a good pop song end? With a bang, right? As it turns out, explosive endings are kinda over. Songwriters are instead opting to end with a final dropout. Even the biggest pop anthems close with a quiet final moment. In this musical short, Nate, our resident musicologist, offers some theories as to why. FEATURING Taylor Swift – Blank Space One Republic ... Show More
Aug 4
IV. Take It to the Bridge (ft. Tayla Parx)
Bridges open up the world of a song: they're a breath of fresh air and a point of contrast, typically delivered right before the final chorus. But sometimes they accomplish even more, changing the whole meaning of a song by introducing a note of doubt, or even defiance. This is w ... Show More
42m 16s
Jul 21
II. Justice for the verse (ft. Audrey Hobert)
Everybody sings the chorus, but superfans quote the verse. On this episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate trace the verse from Shakespeare through opera to TikTok, and songwriter Audrey Hobert shares her philosophy of specific verses and anthemic choruses: you can't have th ... Show More
33m 44s
Apr 2022
'Made in the A.M.' | Every Single Album: One Direction
They're down one member, but they're still rocking. Nora and Nathan talk about One Direction's bittersweet final album as a band. They discuss "Drag Me Down," the defiant lead single they released (1:00), their sophistication as songwriters showing through in songs like "Olivia" ... Show More
1h 39m
May 2024
'The Tortured Poets Department' Wrap-Up, and the Power of 'Espresso' | Every Single Album: Taylor Swift
Nora and Nathan give a few final thoughts about 'The Tortured Poets Department,' including what the charts can tell us about how people are listening to this album (1:00), and whether Taylor Swift albums can be properly reviewed anymore (34:25). Then, they talk about Sabrina Carp ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2024
It's the End of an Era(s Tour)
After almost two years, 149 shows, and 51 cities, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has officially come to a close. Nora and Nathan talk about the cultural impact of this tour and what it did for Swift's star status (1:00), discuss what may come next for the singer now that she has some m ... Show More
1h 14m
Jul 2023
Drafting 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)'. Plus, the End of Love on Tour.
Nora and Nathan talk about Harry Styles's Love on Tour finally ending this week, and the rumors that Taylor Swift will do a second U.S. leg of her tour (1:00). Then, they draft their new favorite songs from 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' (17:16).
Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Natha ... Show More
46m 25s