
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Can political protest exist within the confines of commercial popular music? Songwriter Justin Tranter is equal parts songwriter and activist. You've likely heard his contributions to songs by Britney Spears, Julia Michaels, Selena Gomez, Janelle Monae and Ariana Grande, but unless you were paying close attention, you may have missed the essential subtext in his work. As an LGBTQ activist and board member of GLAAD, Justin brings his activism into Top 40 pop music lyrically and otherwise. On this episode, he breaks down his newest hit "Swan Song" which was co-written with Dua Lipa. This song is a triple threat serving as the end credits for the film Alita: Battle Angel, a Billboard hit, and a protest against the silencing of marginalized people. Justin shows us how representation in songwriting is inseparable from politics. And he's creating an open mic for new voices and stories that have been historically ignored by the pop industry.
Songs Discussed:
Dua Lipa - "Swan Song"Charlie Puth - "Attention"Selena Gomez - "Good For You"Imagine Dragons - "Believer"Taylor Swift - "Love Story"Halsey - "Bad At Love"Haydn - "Farewell" Symphony No. 45Shea Diamond - "Seen It All"
Listen to D. Orxata's Queering Pop Music playlist.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
By Vulture4.6
26252,625 ratings
Can political protest exist within the confines of commercial popular music? Songwriter Justin Tranter is equal parts songwriter and activist. You've likely heard his contributions to songs by Britney Spears, Julia Michaels, Selena Gomez, Janelle Monae and Ariana Grande, but unless you were paying close attention, you may have missed the essential subtext in his work. As an LGBTQ activist and board member of GLAAD, Justin brings his activism into Top 40 pop music lyrically and otherwise. On this episode, he breaks down his newest hit "Swan Song" which was co-written with Dua Lipa. This song is a triple threat serving as the end credits for the film Alita: Battle Angel, a Billboard hit, and a protest against the silencing of marginalized people. Justin shows us how representation in songwriting is inseparable from politics. And he's creating an open mic for new voices and stories that have been historically ignored by the pop industry.
Songs Discussed:
Dua Lipa - "Swan Song"Charlie Puth - "Attention"Selena Gomez - "Good For You"Imagine Dragons - "Believer"Taylor Swift - "Love Story"Halsey - "Bad At Love"Haydn - "Farewell" Symphony No. 45Shea Diamond - "Seen It All"
Listen to D. Orxata's Queering Pop Music playlist.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11,489 Listeners

6,004 Listeners

7,856 Listeners

10,756 Listeners

3,147 Listeners

1,500 Listeners

9,497 Listeners

3,646 Listeners

3,150 Listeners

4,150 Listeners

1,486 Listeners

2,070 Listeners

2,118 Listeners

1,014 Listeners

3,463 Listeners

2,164 Listeners

5,974 Listeners

23,614 Listeners

715 Listeners

6,450 Listeners

2,300 Listeners

526 Listeners

1,217 Listeners

4,440 Listeners

150 Listeners

1,043 Listeners

1,753 Listeners

1,741 Listeners

1,152 Listeners

1,352 Listeners

586 Listeners

424 Listeners

34 Listeners