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Switched on Pop

Silk Sonic's Retro Soul (with Tayla Parx)

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2021

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars have joined forces as the duo Silk Sonic, and their first release “Leave the Door Open” suggests that their collab is as natural as peanut butter and jelly. The song exudes throwback vibes through its lush harmonies and sensuous lyrics. But this isn’t any run-of-the-mill exercise in empty nostalgia. Silk Sonic have a very specific sound in mind that they’re reviving for 21st century audiences: Philly Soul, the sophisticated 70s sound that “put a bow tie on funk.” Charlie and Nate aren’t the only ones trying to blow the dust out of the grooves of “Leave the Door Open.” Songwriter Tayla Parx, who’s worked with everyone from Ariana Grande to Panic! At the Disco to Anderson Paak himself, joins the hosts to help explain how Silk Sonic created such a catchy track, and why modern listeners might be ready for a blast from the past. Songs Discussed Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer The Temptations - My Girl Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Martha and the Vandellas - Dancing in the Street Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness Sam and Dave - Soul Man Commodores - Who’s Making Love MFSB - TSOP O’Jays - Love Train Billy Paul - Me and Mrs. Jones The Stylistics - You Are Everything Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes - If You Don’t Know Me By Now The Delfonics - Didn’t I Blow Your Mind Seals and Croft - Summer Breeze Smokey Robinson - Quiet Storm Teddy Pendergrass - Close the Door Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Get Disney Plus in Hulu in a brand new bundle.

0:03.6

Better together for only $9.99 a month.

0:06.2

Offer valid for eligible subscribers only, terms apply.

0:09.0

See DisneyBundle.com for details.

0:11.2

Welcome to Switched on Pop.

0:27.7

I'm a songwriter, Charlie Hearding.

0:29.6

And I'm a musicologist, Nate Sloan.

0:32.8

Nate when we were listening down Billboard the other day, there has never been such a fast

0:37.0

agreement on a song that we had to dive into.

0:39.8

Yeah, usually there's a lot of back and forth.

0:41.7

Usually I'm very resistant to every suggestion you have for songs we should cover.

0:46.9

And then gradually you wear me down and I concede.

0:50.8

But with Leave the Door open by Silksonic, aka Anderson Pack and Bruno Mars, there was

0:58.0

no conversation.

0:59.0

It was instant agreement that this needed to be the next song we cover.

1:18.1

I gotta say it feels like we're living in an age of nostalgia and this took me to some

1:23.4

specific moments immediately that I just like I had to investigate.

1:28.1

I needed to know what are Anderson Pack and Bruno Mars doing.

1:33.0

What is this project?

1:34.0

They met in 2017 on tour together on the 24 carat magic European run.

1:40.0

They had tracked a bunch of stuff and then just a few weeks ago we get this surprise drop,

1:46.6

like super group looking back to 1970s soul music.

...

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