The rise of surrealist pop: KATSEYE and ADÉLA
EPISODE 501
The music of global girl group KATSEYE might be confusing on first listen. A less-generous read might consider their songs to be rudimentary: the lyrics are mostly nonsense, the instrumentals evoke lesser 2010s pop songs, and the aesthetic can’t decide whether it’s targeted to children or adults. However, maybe the nonsensical nature of KATSEYE is also… the point? And maybe that point is tethered to early surrealist movements of the early twentieth century?
On this episode of Switched on Pop, producer Reanna makes the case to Nate that KATSEYE and ADÉLA are indicative of a larger shift in pop music, one that tethers itself to Marcel Duchamp and the dada movement.
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.
Link to Charlie and Nate’s live event with Jensen McRae at USC!
Songs Discussed
The Lonely Island, Emma Stone – Turn Up The Beef
KATSEYE – Gnarly
KATSEYE – Animal
KATSEYE – Hootie Frutti
KATSEYE – PINKY UP
Fifth Harmony – I’m In Love With a Monster
Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still
Britney Spears – Toxic
Britney Spears – Circus
Da Hool – Meet Her at the Loveparade
Little Richard – Tutti Frutti
ADÉLA – Ain’t In La
Miley Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
ADÉLA – Nicole Kidman