Podcast cover: Switched on Pop

Switched on Pop

Switched on Pop reveals the secret formulas that make pop songs so infectious. Every Tuesday, musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding pull back the curtain on how pop hits work their magic. You’ll fall in love with songs you didn’t even know you liked.

Latest episode

Let's get it started

Research says you judge a song in under half a second. So why write an intro at all? On this episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate kick off their Netflix launch and probe what an intro means in today's musical landscape, alongside special guests like Aaron Dessner (Taylor Swift, The National, Gracie Adams), who helps build the case for intros and reveals the surprising sources that form the opening sounds of Taylor Swift's “cardigan.”

CREDITSReanna Cruz: ProducerIris Gottlieb: IllustratorCharlie Harding: Host, Executive ProducerDion Lee: Art DirectorBrandon McFarland: Audio EngineerNick Ripps: Video EditorNate Sloan: HostLissa Soep: EditorZach Tenorio & Jocie Adams: Theme ComposersSwitched On Pop is a co-production of Vox Media Podcast Network, Vulture, and Rock Ridge Productions.

Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠


Black Eyed Peas, "Let's Get It Started"

Shawn Colvin, “Sonny Came Home”

Smashing Pumpkins, “Tonight Tonight”

The Cranberries, "Zombie"

The Cranberries, "Linger"

Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"

Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get It On"

Britney Spears, "Toxic"

Miles Davis, "Freddie Freeloader"

Robyn, "Call Your Girlfriend"

The Beatles, "All You Need Is Love"

Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away"

Beyoncé, "Irreplaceable"

Deee-Lite, "Groove Is in the Heart"

Missy Elliott, "Get Ur Freak On"

Missy Elliott, "Work It"

Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee, "Despacito"

Kendrick Lamar & SZA, "Luther"

Mariah Carey, "Fantasy"

The Who, "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Stevie Wonder, "Superstition"

The Temptations, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"

Rick Astley, "Never Gonna Give You Up"

Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"

The Supremes, "Baby Love"

The Kinks, "Sweet Lady Genevieve"

The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows"

Erik Satie, "Je te veux"

D'Angelo and the Vanguard, "Back to the Future (Part I)"

The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, "Closer"

Sabrina Carpenter, "Taste"

Benson Boone, "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else"

Stella Lefty, "Boston"

Taylor Swift, "Cardigan"

The National, "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness"

Taylor Swift, "So Long, London"

Gracie Abrams, "Hit the Wall"

Noah Kahan, "End of August"


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