Joining the discussion is Chris Molanphy, a pop music critic and chart analyst known for his insightful work on music podcasts. The conversation kicks off with a lively debate over the 'Song of the Summer,' featuring tracks from artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Morgan Wallen. They dissect the evolving music landscape, highlight the unique dynamics for women in the industry, and explore intriguing indie sounds, including the mystery of S-J's 'Seventeen.' Expect a nostalgic journey filled with playlists, personal connections, and cultural reflections.
The podcast celebrates the tradition of creating a massive summer playlist, showcasing diverse songs that embody the joy of summer.
It discusses the competitive landscape for 'Song of the Summer,' highlighting notable contenders like Sabrina Carpenter and Post Malone.
The speakers emphasize the growing influence of international genres like Afrobeats and K-pop in the U.S. music landscape, reflecting global connectivity.
Deep dives
Menards and Purdy Painting Tools
Menards offers a wide range of Purdy painting tools including brushes, rollers, and kits, emphasizing their quality and craftsmanship. Purdy brushes are handcrafted in the USA and are highly regarded among professional painters, underscoring their reputation as the number one brand within the industry. The episode highlights potential savings for customers looking to complete their next painting project, making it beneficial for DIY enthusiasts. Menards positions itself as America's leading home improvement retailer, as noted in satisfaction surveys.
Summer Strut Tradition and Musical Discovery
The speakers discuss an annual tradition that began when a call for new summer songs was made to listeners, aiming to create a playlist filled with exciting music that embodies the spirit of summer. This tradition has evolved into an extensive exploration of diverse songs from various genres and decades, culminating in a playlist of 49 hours. The exploration of music not only includes popular hits but also gems from around the world, highlighting the speakers' engagement with both new and nostalgic tracks. This year, their selections showcase the creativity and depth of modern music, with a focus on songs that inspire a sense of joy and movement.
Contenders for Song of the Summer
The discussion turns to the competitive landscape for the title of 'Song of the Summer,' featuring notable contenders like Sabrina Carpenter and Post Malone. Sabrina Carpenter is highlighted for having two songs in the top ten, with one, 'Espresso,' gaining significant traction despite only reaching number three on the charts officially. Meanwhile, Post Malone collaborates with Morgan Wallen on 'I Had Some Help,' previously dominating the charts. Additionally, Shaboozy’s 'Tipsy,' a blend of country and hip-hop, stands out as a strong contender, showcasing the blending of genres within contemporary music.
Album and Artist Dominance
The speakers note an interesting phenomenon where entire albums, rather than single tracks, are dominating the charts this summer. Artists like Charli XCX and Taylor Swift are producing well-received albums that showcase multiple hits, yet none have emerged as a definitive 'Song of the Summer.' This suggests that listeners are gravitating toward complete bodies of work rather than isolating individual tracks, a shift from traditional music consumption patterns. The discussion emphasizes the rising influence of female artists, particularly as numerous women are showing strong album performance but not necessarily topping the singles charts.
Cultural Impact of Music Genres
The conversation touches on the cultural significance of various music genres and the rise of international influences like Afrobeats and K-pop within the U.S. music landscape. The speakers recognize the crossover success of artists like Asake, who merges English and Yoruba in his lyrics, drawing attention to the growing acceptance of multilingual music. They also highlight the increasing presence of K-pop, with groups like New Jeans achieving notable success on American charts, indicating a shift in musical trends and tastes. This blending of genres and cultures enriches the contemporary music scene, reflecting diverse influences and global connectivity.
On this week’s show, it’s the return of a Cultfest favorite: The Annual Summer Strut Episode! As per tradition, the panel is joined by Slate’s pop music critic and chart analyst (and host of the podcast Hit Parade) Chris Molanphy to celebrate his tenth (!!) year of Summer Strutting —before the four dive into their favorite picks from this year’s massive playlist, populated with song recommendations from our lovely listeners.
You can find the panel’s collective favorites here, at the Summer Strut ‘24 Shortlist. In addition, Dana, Julia, and Stephen, have also published their personal best-of lists.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel breezes through two additional lightning rounds of Strut picks, including a very cool, pastiche track from the Avalanches called “Because I’m Me.”
