Yearning for Connection: The Power of Song in a Post-Pandemic World

Five years ago, Charli XCX released the track "party 4 u," a melancholic ode to throwing a function for that one specific person. Now, in 2025, the song has gotten a renewed life – motivated by a foolproof cocktail of TikTok trends, the Billboard Hot 100, and a post-Brat Summer clamor for Charli.

It's rare for pop songs like this to get a second wind. So, on this episode of Switched On Pop, Reanna, Nate, and Charlie put on our detective hats on to dissect the five-minute song's vocals, textures, and structures to understand just why people are reconnecting with it, half a decade later.

Songs discussed:

• Charli XCX – party 4 u
• Charli XCX – claws
• Charli XCX – 4 in the Morning
• Charli XCX – anthems
• Lesley Gore – It's My Party

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices