"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.6 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Looking for relationship advice? Skip the self-help books and turn to Sabrina Carpenter's latest single "Manchild" instead. This deep dive into the art of musical insults reveals how pop's newest sensation joins a legendary lineage of women artists who've perfected the craft of calling out incompetent men through song. From Dolly Parton's subversive "Dumb Blonde" to TLC's iconic "No Scrubs," there's an entire musical tradition of witty takedowns that reclaim power through clever wordplay, genre-hopping arrangements, and lyrical traps that expose male vanity. MORE Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own bingo card! Songs discussed Sabrina Carpenter "Manchild" Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso" Olivia Rodrigo "Driver's License" The Beatles "Get Back" Heart "Barracuda" Dolly Parton "Dumb Blonde" Sabrina Carpenter "Please Please Please" TLC "No Scrubs" Destiny's Child "Bills, Bills, Bills" Destiny's Child "Independent Women Part 1" Shania Twain "That Don't Impress Me Much" Carly Simon "You're So Vain" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Support for Switched on Pop comes from Sonos.
0:03.5	There's so many moments in songs that blow your mind every time you hear them.
0:07.7	For me, one of them is the way that when you hear a snare drum, it tells you exactly what
0:13.2	decade the music was made in.
0:15.0	Like, if you hear that big gated reverb, it's obviously the 80s.
0:18.1	If it's super dry, it's the 70s.
0:20.6	Even the way that a drum machine snare drum is processed can tell you if it's like a early 2000s thing or something much more contemporary. And I feel like that kind of musical artistry deserves headphones that can keep up, like the Sonos Ace headphones. They deliver clarity on each note so you can dive deeper than ever before
0:38.8	into all your favorite songs. Hear the difference for yourself. Go to sonos.com to learn more.
0:48.5	Welcome to Switched on Pop. I'm songwriter Charlie Harding.
0:57.1	And I'm musicologist Nate Sloan, and we are holding hands.
1:02.7	We are holding hands. We're IRL, Charles.
1:05.7	For the first time in a long time.
1:07.5	I know. It's fun. You smell great.
1:09.5	So can I start with asking you a personal question? Please. What are you most incompetent about? Oh, so many things. Where to start.
1:17.5	Math, just in general. I don't even remember my multiplication table at this point. It's
1:23.4	embarrassing. Music and math have nothing to do with each other, it turns out. Yeah, I think that's a misconception because I am the exception to that rule.
1:30.5	How about in your romantic life?
1:32.7	Well, historically, there's a lot of incompetence.
1:36.3	But I think recently I've been on a hot streak.
1:38.1	Oh, yeah.
1:39.1	Married 10 years, 10 year anniversary.
1:41.1	Yeah.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 1 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Vox Media Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Vox Media Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.