Taylor Swift Causes a PANIC!

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.6 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 30 April 2019

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When a listener asked us about the "sorcery" behind Taylor Swift's new song "ME!" we knew we had to investigate. And because the track features Brendon Urie of Panic! At the Disco, we couldn't resist digging into their concurrent hit "High Hopes." Along the way we cover baby talk, dreamy augmented chords, drumlines, and songs with exclamation points in their titles — all to explain why you can't get these two out of your head. Featuring: Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie - ME! Swift - Shake it Off Swift - The Way I Loved You Gustav Mahler - Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! Shania Twain - Up! Panic! At the Disco - High Hopes Western Carolina University Drumline - High Hopes Check out two great pieces on "High Hopes," one by Top 40 Theory and the other by Rolling Stone article citing Flypaper's Dean Olivet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	When you drive a Chevy electric vehicle, you're getting more than a way to get from point A to point B.
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0:17.0	Chevy is making EVs for everyone, everywhere.
0:20.0	Go to chevrelay.com slash electric to learn more.
0:30.0	Welcome to Switched on Pop. I'm musicologist Nate Sloan.
0:35.0	And I'm a songwriter, Charlie Harding.
0:37.0	Okay, Charlie. Today I want to start by reading you a tweet that we received from Travis Parker Martin.
0:44.0	Hey, Switched on Pop. Can anyone explain why I didn't like the new Taylor Swift song during the first year of the year?
0:52.0	I was hooked on the song and instantly had to replay it. I feel like there's some sorcery going on.
0:57.0	And quote. So I want to take Travis Parker Martin's query today about the sorcery.
1:04.0	I want to take Travis Parker Martin's query today.
1:09.0	I want to take Travis Parker's query today.
1:13.0	Yeah.
1:14.0	The sorcery behind the new Taylor Swift song, Me, try and break it down musically.
1:19.0	First half, second half, we pivot to the collaborator on this track, Branden Uri, of Panic at the Disco, to break down their song, High Hopes.
1:29.0	That sounds wonderful.
1:31.0	Okay, let's start. I want to start right with the despicable bridge of this.
1:36.0	New Taylor Swift track. Okay, so we're just going to jump right to the bridge of this song.
2:06.0	Sorry to say, but I hate it. Okay, so you and Travis are aligned here. This is not a good bridge. No, I mean, it just sounds like a school yard game from a very mature artist at the top of their game.
2:27.0	Hey, kids, spelling is fun. Okay. But then right after this moment, we get to the third chorus.
2:34.0	And this is the moment when for this listener, like he's captured by the song. He comes around. And I'm kind of with him.
	...

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