Is there a Disney curse?: Demi, Selena, and Miley

Is there a Disney curse?: Demi, Selena, and Miley

Author: Vulture November 18, 2025 Duration: 48:06
This year, there were a few records that delivered less-than-optimal returns on either the Hot 100 or the Billboard 200 – and they all came from former Disney pop stars.  Demi Lovato’s latest album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, where it spent one week and then fell off; Selena Gomez’s record with Benny Blanco peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, but no songs cracked the top 40; and Miley Cyrus’s album is her shortest charting project to date. On this episode of Switched On Pop, Nate and Reanna try to get to the bottom of the so-called “Disney curse,” and why these artists are unable to recapture their past commercial success. Songs discussed: Demi Lovato – Here All Night Selena Gomez, benny blanco – Sunset Blvd Miley Cyrus – End of the World Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry Demi Lovato – Heart Attack Demi Lovato – Skin of my Teeth Demi Lovato – Fast Kesha – JOYRIDE. Demi Lovato – Frequency Demi Lovato – Kiss Todd Terry, Martha Wash – Keep On Jumpin' Demi Lovato – Sorry To Myself Selena Gomez, A$AP Rocky – Good For You Kygo, Selena Gomez – It Ain't Me Selena Gomez, Marshmallo – Wolves Selena Gomez, benny blanco, Gracie Abrams – Call Me When You Break Up benny blanco, Selena Gomez, J Balvin, Tainy – I Can't Get Enough J Balvin, Willy William – Mi Gente Selena Gomez, benny blanco – Bluest Flame Selena Gomez, benny blanco, The Marías – Ojos Tristes Miley Cyrus, Big Sean – Love Money Party Miley Cyrus – Flowers Miley Cyrus – Easy Lover Miley Cyrus, Naomi Campbell – Every Girl You've Ever Loved Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder why a certain pop song gets stuck in your head for days, or how a simple chord change can make you feel a specific way? Switched on Pop digs into those questions with a unique blend of expert analysis and genuine curiosity. Hosts Nate Sloan, a musicologist, and Charlie Harding, a songwriter, act as friendly guides through the intricate world of popular music. They don't just review hits; they dissect them, exploring the craft behind the catchiness. In each episode, you'll hear them break down a track's structure, its historical context, and the production techniques that give it its emotional punch. This isn't a dry academic lecture, though. It's a conversation between two people who love music, unpacking everything from timeless classics to today's viral trends to reveal why pop works the way it does. The Switched on Pop podcast, from Vulture, makes the familiar strange again, encouraging you to listen more deeply. You'll start to hear the clever harmonies hidden in a chart-topper, the rhythmic patterns borrowed from decades past, and the lyrical choices that resonate with millions. It's for anyone who has ever tapped a foot to a radio song and then wondered about the mechanics of that reaction. Tune in and you might just find that your favorite songs have layers you've never noticed before.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Switched on Pop
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