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Switched on Pop

The 1980s jam that gave Latto and Mariah Carey Big D*** Energy

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 31 May 2022

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you've heard Latto's swaggering track "Big Energy"—and after 30 weeks on the Hot 100, you probably have—you may have heard a resemblance to Mariah Carey's 1995 hit "Fantasy." That's because both songs borrow a groove from the 1981 hit "Genius of Love," a genre-defying smash made by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. "Genius of Love" was made when Frantz and Weymouth took a break from playing in the band Talking Heads to let loose at the Island Records studio in the Bahamas with the help of some reggae luminaries. The original "Genius of Love" mashed up funk, new wave, disco, and rap, capturing the diverse sounds of 1980s downtown New York City, shouting out their musical influences in the process. From there, the song wended its way through hit after hit, from Grandmaster Flash to "Return of the Mack." Why does "Genius of Love" continue to spark musicians', and audience's, imaginations forty years after its release? Tune in to find out. Songs Discussed Latto - Big Energy Mariah Carey - Fantasy Mariah Carey ft Ol Dirty Bastard - Fantasy (Remix) Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love Grandmaster and the Furious Five - It's Nasty Busta Rhymes and Erykah Badu - One Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Shopped Amazon for last minute gifts

0:02.5

Great deals for everyone on your list

0:04.9

Gifts for mom and gifs for dad

0:07.4

Even for your sister and your brother chat

0:09.9

Ah shoot, we didn't realize you were supposed to get a gift for our dog, what her guy

0:14.7

We almost forgot about her, then to start to curve

0:17.2

We didn't expect to get a gift from her

0:19.8

Or our cousin might forget his name

0:22.1

He got us something nice, better as it would hate

0:24.6

For last minute deals I give some people

0:26.3

You forgot, get past the free shipping at Amazon

0:29.8

You forgot?

0:31.8

Check out the box

0:35.8

Switched on pop

0:41.8

Welcome to Switched on pop

0:43.8

I'm a music college student, Nate Sloan

0:45.8

And I'm a songwriter, Charlie Harding

0:47.8

Songwriter, Charlie Harding, we got an email recently

0:50.8

Can I read it to you?

0:51.8

Please!

0:52.8

Hi Switched on pop team

0:53.8

Love the show

...

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