Learning to love: Tate McRae

Learning to love: Tate McRae

Author: Switched on Pop February 18, 2025 Duration: 45:00
Tate McRae's billions of streams and perfectly crafted hits can feel almost algorithmic, like an AI trained on 20 years of pop music. In anticipation of McRae’s third album So Close to What, out this Friday, we dissect McRae’s "SimplePop" formula, from her strategic, indescript vocal delivery to expert "vibe snatching" of Y2K sounds.  Through singles like "exes” and “sports car,” Charlie and Reanna trace her sonic lineage and discover why pop music needs artists who refine sounds as much as those who revolutionize them, seeing if there’s room to love her music in the process. This dancer-turned-singer might not be the next Britney Spears, but she could be this generation's Paula Abdul. Songs Discussed Tate McRae - "sports car" Tate McRae - "greedy" Tate McRae - "you broke me first" Tate McRae - "One Day" Tate McRae - "exes" Lisa - "Money" Halsey - "100 Letters" Cardi B - "I Like It" Beyoncé - "Drunk in Love" Ariana Grande - "7 Rings" Ariana Grande - "thank u, next" Tate...

Ever wondered how a pop song gets its hooks into you? Switched on Pop digs into that question, peeling back the glossy layers of mainstream music to explore the craft and theory that make hits work. Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding, this podcast is a conversation that feels like eavesdropping on two friends who are deeply passionate about the music everyone is hearing. They break down the mechanics of a track, from a surprising chord progression in a Taylor Swift bridge to the rhythmic patterns driving a Dua Lipa anthem, all while keeping the discussion accessible and engaging. Each episode focuses on a specific song, artist, or trend, treating pop not just as entertainment but as a rich subject worthy of serious, playful analysis. You’ll hear audio examples that illustrate their points, making the musical concepts tangible even if you’ve never read a note. It’s for anyone who has ever found themselves humming a tune and then stopped to ask why it’s so compelling. By connecting music theory to cultural impact, Switched on Pop offers a fresh lens on the soundtrack of our daily lives, revealing the intelligence and intention behind the music on the charts. Tune in and you might just find your listening habits forever changed.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Switched on Pop
Podcast Episodes
Breaking Through: Doechii, Mk.gee, Rosé [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:55
Three artists quietly reshaped pop music in 2024, though you might not know it from your Spotify Wrapped. As listeners question the accuracy of their year-end streaming stats, we explore the innovative sounds bubbling up…
The best (and worst) of holiday music in 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:10
It's an annual tradition: Every December, artists release their bids to join the hallowed halls of holiday music history. The gold standard remains Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which reportedly earns…
Kendrick Lamar: from Pulitzer to pop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:37
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar pulled off what seemed impossible: winning hip-hop's biggest rap battle in recent history, securing the Super Bowl halftime show, and dropping GNX, a surprise album that might be the year's defini…
We're off to see the "Wicked" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:39
The year's hottest movie is, against all odds, a musical. Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, just hit theaters, and tells the tale of how a green-skinned girl named Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the W…
Listening 2 Madonna: Ray of Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:46
TIME Magazine once said, “there are few figures more closely associated with religion in pop culture than Madonna.” And looking at her catalog, it’s hard to disagree. From cheeky double entendres on “Like A Prayer,” to e…
Listening 2 Madonna: Spanish Eyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:17
Throughout her forty-year career, Madonna has managed to travel the globe, both literally and musically. Despite being a white woman from the midwest (Michigan, to be exact), her discography has been influenced by countl…
Listening 2 Madonna: Who's That Girl? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:01
Madonna is the world's biggest female pop star. She's influenced everyone from Beyoncé to Britney Spears; is the most successful solo artist in Hot 100 chart history; and is the best-selling female recording artist of al…
Fleetwood Mac perfected turning drama into hits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:19
In 1973, before their ascent to rock superstardom with Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were just two young lovers making music in Los Angeles. Their debut album, Buckingham Nicks, though commercially u…
Still Freaky After All These Years: Gaga, Tyler, The Cure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
A musical "freak," to us here at Switched On Pop, is an artist who is unique, non-conforming, and always manages to surprise. We're living in some freaky times right now, so there's no better way to honor that than to li…
Did Kendrick Lamar kill hip-hop? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:37
Over the summer, the culture was shaken by the biggest rap beef this decade, between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. From “First Person Shooter” to “Not Like Us,” hip-hop listeners hung on each rapper’s every word and rebuttal…