Switched on Pop

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 drum up excitement for the games.

This year, the official song is by Shakira and Burna Boy, but offerings from IShowSpeed and a madcap collaboration between Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, EJAE, and Megan Thee Stallion also play the field. On this episode, Charlie and Nate explore them all – including the Shakira and Ricky Martin songs of World Cups past.

Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠, ⁠YouTube

Songs discussed:

Shakira, Burna Boy – Dai Dai

K'NAAN – Wavin' Flag

Tears For Fears, Lil Baby – The World Is Yours To Take

Jelly Roll, Carin León – Lighter

LISA, Anitta, Rema – Goals

Jung Kook, BTS – Dreamers

Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, EJAE, Megan Thee Stallion – DNA (More Than A Game)

IShowSpeed – Champions (WC 26)

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

Shakira, Carlinhos Brown – La La La (Brasil 2014)

Shakira, Freshlyground – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

Zangalewa – Zangalewa

Ricky Martin, Pablo Flores – The Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida)

Ricky Martin – Livin' La Vida Loca

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In case you missed it:

How does a country of 10 million people dominate the global pop charts? From ABBA's Eurovision breakthrough to Max Martin's methodical hit-making, Sweden has quietly engineered a kind of musical Stockholm Syndrome: we've all become captives to their sound without realizing it. Listen to the crystalline vocal production and deceptively simple chord progressions in tracks by Lisa, Childish Gambino, and Addison Rae, and you're hearing Sweden's sonic fingerprint so embedded in pop's DNA that it now defines the genre itself. We sit down with pop star Zara Larsson to explore her love letter to home, "Midnight Sun." As she puts it, "I can't really leave Sweden; it's just something that's like a part of who I am," a sentiment that captures how Swedish pop's unique blend of melancholy and euphoria, mirroring the country's extreme seasons, has made us all willing prisoners of Stockholm's musical empire.

Songs Discussed


Lisa ft. Rosalia: "New Woman"


Childish Gambino: "Lithonia"


Addison Rae: "Fame Is a Gun"


Bleachers: "Tiny Moves"


Zara Larsson: "Midnight Sun"


Robyn: "Show Me Love"


Robyn: "Dancing on My Own"


Nirvana: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"


Brad Mehldau: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

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In the last episode of our feral pop miniseries, we take a look at the 22 year old rapper primed to take over the world: 2hollis. Splitting the difference between hardstyle and hip-hop while emanating an aura best described as “vampiric,” he’s been one of the most hyped musicians coming out of the underground. His music is distorted, chaotic, and over the top – literally – but he reflects a larger sentiment from younger audiences: the more sonic chaos the better.

Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠, ⁠YouTube

Songs discussed:

Ninajirachi – Fuck My Computer

underscores – Music

2hollis – poster boy

SUICIDAL-IDOL – ecstacy

2hollis – flash

2hollis – beginning

2hollis – sidekick

underscores, 8485 – your favorite sidekick

2hollis – crush

2hollis – 3

Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

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This week on Switched On Pop, we’re looking at all things feral pop, the microgenre that takes pop music to its most wild extremes. And no feral pop artist is more tapped into that ethos than underscores. Her music synthesizes dubstep, trance, and Timbaland with ease, and her latest album ‘U’ is filled with boundless energy. She’s already opened up for 100 gecs, PinkPantheress, and Porter Robinson; this fall, she’ll open up for Charli XCX on her upcoming Music, Fashion, Film tour. She said it best on her debut album, Fishmonger: “it’s the new wave of the future!”  

Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠, ⁠YouTube

Songs discussed:

underscores – Music

SOPHIE – Ponyboy

underscores, 8485 – your favorite sidekick

Nelly – Country Grammar (Hot Shit)

Madonna – Music

Madonna – American Life

underscores – Do It

Britney Spears – Piece of Me

PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson – Stateside

Justin Timberlake – SexyBack

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What would it sound like if pop music was reverted to its most wild state of being? It would sound hyper-digital, influenced by the electronic vanguard of the 2010s, and speak to a post-genre audience. And while the charts have been stagnant, Gen-Z has been crafting this exact sound: one that is exciting, unpredictable, and above all else, feral.

After bubbling underground for the past few years, the subgenre we’ve coined “feral pop” is finally poised to have a breakout, best exemplified by the popularity of the computer-loving Ninajirachi, pop star underscores, and rave-rapper 2hollis. This week on Switched On Pop, Reanna, Charlie, and Nate are going to tap into all that this dubstep-influenced sound has to offer, starting with the Australian DJ Ninajirachi, and explore why everyone in pop music is finally getting feral.

Links: ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠

Songs discussed:

Ninajirachi – CSIRAC

underscores – Music

2hollis – girl

Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

Imogen Heap – Headlock

SOPHIE – BIPP

Ninajirachi – iPod touch

Ninajirachi, Izzy Camina – Ninacamina

Skrillex – Rock ’n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)

Skrillex, Sirah – Bangarang

Ninajirachi – Fuck My Computer

Ninajirachi – London Song

LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver

Justice – Genesis

Justice – Civilization

Justice – Stress

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