About this episode

The episode explores the significance of song verses compared to choruses, featuring insights from songwriter Audrey Hobert.

Everybody sings the chorus, but superfans quote the verse. On this episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate trace the verse from Shakespeare through opera to TikTok, and songwriter Audrey Hobert shares her philosophy of specific verses and anthemic choruses: you can't have the payoff without the setup. CREDITS Reanna Cruz: Producer Iris Gottlieb: Illustrator Charlie Harding: Host, Executive Producer Dion Lee: Art Director Brandon McFarland: Audio Engineer Nick Ripps: Video Editor Nate Sloan: Host Lissa Soep: Editor Zach Tenorio & Jocie Adams: Theme Composers Switched On Pop is a co-production of Vox Media Podcast Network, Vulture, and Rock Ridge Productions. Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠ Songs discussed: Aretha Franklin, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" Edward Meeker, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Third Eye Blind, "Semi-Charmed Life" Zara Larsson, "Lush Life" John Denver, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" Rick Astley, "Never Gonna Give You Up" William Smith, Choir of New College, Oxford, Edward Higginbottom, "Opening Versicles and Responses" Georges Bizet, Michel Plasson, Angela Gheorghiu, Les Éléments, Orchestre National Du Capitole De Toulouse, "Bizet: Carmen, WD 31, Act 1…

People in this episode

Hosts: Charlie Harding, Nate Sloan

Guest: Audrey Hobert

Topics covered

• music analysis
• songwriting
• chorus vs verse
• cultural references
• song structure
• TikTok trends

Keywords

• song verses
• choruses
• music history
• songwriting philosophy
• TikTok music
• cultural references
• music analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Switched On Pop, Vox Media Podcast Network, Vulture, Rock Ridge Productions

Books & works: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Semi-Charmed Life, Lush Life, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Never Gonna Give You Up, Opening Versicles and Responses, Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: Habanera. "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Carmen, Chœur), Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Joyride

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