Switched on Pop

Every song Cyndi Lauper writes is pop perfection according to Sam Sanders, host of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute.” Many fall for “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” but Sanders's favorite song is the slow burner “All Through The Night,” save for one moment: the synthesizer solo. For Sanders, this solo never fit in. Charlie investigates the source of his musical malady and uncovers how the 80s got its groove. Songs DiscussedCyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have FunCyndi Lauper - Time After TimeCyndi Lauper - She BopCyndi Lauper - All Through the NightJanet Jackson - When I Think Of YouJanet Jackson - The Pleasure PrincipleJanet Jackson - NastyKenny Loggins - Danger ZoneWhitney Houston - Greatest Love Of AllQueen - Who Wants To Live ForeverTina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With ItCyndi Lauper - Change Of HeartPhil Collins - In The Air TonightKim Carnes - Bette Davis EyesTom Petty - You Got LuckyCars - Lets GoTalking Heads - Burning Down The HouseParliament Funkadelic - Atomic DogThe Weeknd - Blinding LightsDua Lipa - PhysicalLittle Mix - Break Up SongMiley Cyrus - Heart of Glass (Blondie Cover)MoreRead Dr. Megan L. Lavengood's research on the DX7: https://meganlavengood.com/research/Listen to Dave Smith's (recently re-released) Sequential Prophet 5 synthesizer: https://www.sequential.com/product/prophet-5/Learn about William Wittman's production credits on Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/170639-William-Wittman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cultural critic Ivie Ani breaks down how Missy Elliott broke into the pantheon of anthems, and how she changed the scope of who could belong.Songs DiscussedMissy Elliott - Work ItBlondie - Heart of GlassRUN-DMC - Peter PiperRock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three - Request LineSnoop Dogg - Y'All Gone Miss MeVanilla Ice - Ice Ice BabyJustin Timberlake - Sexy BackTrace Adkins - Honky Tonk BadonkadonkMissy Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)Lil Kim - Not Tonight (Remix)Missy Elliott - Lose Control (feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop)Missy Elliott - Sock It 2 Me Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Smash Mouth wrote "All Star,” they knew that it was going to change their lives. But they never expected it would become an anthem played in sports arenas, soundtracked by Hollywood, and embedded into seemingly every internet meme. Darryn King joins the show to break down "The Never-ending Life of Smash Mouth's 'All Star.'" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1995, ESPN launched Jock Jams Volume 1, a compilation record that would define the sound of sports for the next quarter century. We listen to the album's biggest songs to define what makes a "Jock Jam," and tell the story of how this record came to define the sound of the stadium.MORERead Emily VanDerWerff's article: “The Jock Jam” megamix inadvertently plays out ESPN’s inner tensions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Freddie Mercury and team made one of the most unusual anthems of all time. “We Are The Champions” has a somber beginning, an uncertain ending and a sprinkling of operatic allusions. Yet more than 40 years after this slow burners debut, it continues to be a staple at sporting events. In the first episode in a four part series, ANTHEMS, Nate and Charlie break down the song’s fundamental elements that place this song in the anthemic pantheon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cory Henry is a remarkably gifted multi-instrumentalist. Growing up in the church, he started playing the Hammond B3 organ at age 2 and played his first gig at Apollo theater in NYC at age 6. As a professional musician he’s played along side Bruce Springsteen, Boyz II Men, The Roots, Kirk Franklin and many others including the acclaimed group Snarky Puppy which earned 3 Grammys during his tenure playing keys. Now he leads his band Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles who are releasing an album on Oct 30th called Something To Say, which features all of Henry’s gifts, but especially his voice in an album that makes you want to get up and dance as much as it makes you want to take action.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shawn Mendes, BTS, Alicia Keys, 24kGoldn, Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber & Chance The Rapper are all in the Hot 100 with songs that attempt to cope with the state of the world. What do they tell us about the sound of popular music and our collective psyche? Charlie is joined by writer, critic and friend of the podcast, Lauren Michele Jackson to offer a meteorological reading of music in late 2020.MORERead Aja Romano's article "With 'Dynamite,' BTS beat the US music industry at its own cheap game" on Vox.comSONGS DISCUSSEDShawn Mendes - WonderAlicia Keys - UnderdogHamilton - My ShotDua Lipa - Break My HeartINXS - Need You TonightBTS - DynamiteJustin Bieber - Holy ft. Chance The Rapper24kgolden - Mood ft. iann dior Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a type of country song that loves flawed characters lost on a winding journey ... likely down a dit road. One of the best songwriters in this style is acclaimed artist Brandy Clark. Her credits include a whose-who of country music—Kacey Musgraves, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, Lean Rimes—and her albums have received overwhelming critical acclaim. And her debut record, 12 Stories, earned her a 2015 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.We spoke with Brandy about her new album Your Life Is A Record, which asks what if your life’s journey fit on one LP. The songs are honest, and buck the all too familiar pop-country clichés. Clark writes songs about anti-heroes who make imperfect choices (“Who You Thought I Was,” “The Past Is The Past.”) All together her songs portray one whole life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keith Urban is a legend of country. He’s been releasing hit records for two decades now. Each album he describes as a portrait of his life in that moment. On his latest work, The Speed Of Now Part 1, has Urban disregarding country convention (as he’s known to do), and collaborating with a diverse roster of musicians who contribute an eclectic array of sounds funk guitar, breakbeat drums and even EDM style programming. The result is less straight ahead country and more the unique sound of Keith Urban. In this conversation, we discuss his music, how he stays creative, and why he believes music can still be a uniting force. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mickey Guyton spent a decade of fits and starts trying to make a career in country music. But now in recent months she’s having a country music moment releasing vulnerable songs that use her experiences of rejection, exclusion and racism as inspiration. Charlie speaks with Guyton about her breakout songs “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” and “Black Like Me,” as well as what it took for her to make it onto one of country musics most beloved stages, the American Country Music Awards.Songs DiscussedMickey Guyton - What Are You Gonna Tell HerDolly Parton, Kenny Rogers - Islands In the StreamDolly Parton - Coat of Many ColorsMickey Guyton - Safe (Acoustic)Mickey Guyton - Heartbreak SongMickey Guyton - Why Baby WhyMickey Guyton - Better Than You Left MeMickey Guyton - Black Like Me Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices