logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2019
41m 39s

Lil Nas X: Country at the Crossroads

Vulture
About this episode
Lil Nas X currently holds the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his surprise hit “Old Town Road.” But though the song is dripping with country twang, you won’t find it anywhere on the country charts. That’s because Billboard removed it, on the grounds of not having enough “musical elements” of country—a move that in turn left many wondering if the ... Show More
Up next
Today
The rise of surrealist pop: KATSEYE and ADÉLA
The music of global girl group KATSEYE might be confusing on first listen. A less-generous read might consider their songs to be rudimentary: the lyrics are mostly nonsense, the instrumentals evoke lesser 2010s pop songs, and the aesthetic can’t decide whether it’s targeted to ch ... Show More
48m 36s
Oct 14
Why we need bad music
For the 500th(!) episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate try to answer the question that has stumped critics and philosophers since the dawn of sound: does bad music exist? Their quest to answer something so nebulous leads them through the annals of taste, and in the process ... Show More
1h 1m
Oct 6
Has Taylor Swift jumped the shark?
One year after the release of her twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift is back with an encore. Specifically, The Encore, four tracks that have polarized critics and Swifties alike, from the country-esque number one hit “Patient Zero” to her ode to married Ohi ... Show More
47m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2019
Will Lil Nas X Gallop Away as the 2019 Song of the Summer or Is a Hotter Hit on the Way?
Billboard's 2019 Songs of the Summer chart is only in its second week, but we're already wondering: Can any song gallop in and take this year's cowboy crown from Lil Nas X's wildly dominant "Old Town Road," featuring Billy Ray Cyrus? On this week's Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we ... Show More
19m 36s
Apr 2019
'Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X
YEE-TO-THE-MOTHERFUCKIN-HAW!!!!! Today on the podcast, we're doing something we've never done before, and punching up a brand new song that hasn't even been out for a WEEK! We discuss the memetic culture of the internet, the changing state of the music industry, whether or not th ... Show More
1h 17m
Jul 2023
Jason Aldean’s Culture War Hit
After the country star’s “Try That in a Small Town” video was criticized as offensive, right-wing support sent the song to No. 2 on the singles chart. Guests: The Tennessean's Marcus K. Dowling; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Amanda Marie Martinez Subscribe tod ... Show More
46m 38s
Aug 2019
Billie Eilish Dethrones Lil Nas X From No. 1
Billie Eilish earns her first Hot 100 No. 1 with "Bad Guy." As it dethrones Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" after an unprecedented 19-week reign, how long might his record last? Plus, a flashback to the top song 40 years ago this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ... Show More
59m 44s
Sep 2019
Three Chords And The Truth
When Lil Nas X released his viral hit "Old Town Road" last year, he sparked a conversation about what country music is and who is welcome in the genre. To better understand the deep and often misunderstood history of country music, we sat down with renowned filmmaker Ken Burns to ... Show More
31m 54s
Mar 2024
Beyoncé country
Beyoncé has a new country album. The first single has already broken records and drawn criticism from those who think of country music as a “white” genre. Except it’s not. Author and songwriter Alice Randall tells the story of country music’s very Black roots. This episode was pr ... Show More
27m 15s
Apr 2019
Lil Nas X Hits No. 1 & Flashing Back Like It's 1999
An in-depth discussion about Lil Nas X's leap to No. 1 on the Hot 100 with "Old Town Road." Plus, we time-travel back 20 years to an especially memorable year in pop music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
1h 8m
Sep 2020
Broken Record Presents: Into the Zone
Into the Zone is a podcast about opposites, and how borders are never as clear as we think. Country? Rap? Lil Nas X’s chart-topping “Old Town Road” revived a long debate about borders and boundaries in American popular music. To sort out this strange history, Hari heads down to t ... Show More
43m 24s
Oct 2023
Maren Morris: The (Deluxe) Interview
In a guest appearance, the country-pop singer discusses her recent decision to step back from country music because of Nashville’s poor track record of tolerance and diversity. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via yo ... Show More
1h 5m