One Shot: The Surreal World of Porter Robinson's Cheerleader

09/09/2025 19 min

Listen "One Shot: The Surreal World of Porter Robinson's Cheerleader"

Episode Synopsis

In this One Shot edition of Rewind & React, Adam and Rob dive into the kaleidoscopic world of Porter Robinson’s 2024 music video “Cheerleader.”They break down the sensory overload of styles—live action, CGI, stop-motion, 2D and 3D animation—that collide to create a hyperpop visual journey about fandom, obsession, and the blurry lines between reality and fantasy.Here’s what we’re covering:The parasocial relationship at the heart of the video and how it compares to classics like Eminem’s StanThe wild mashup of aesthetics—from karaoke rooms to kaiju sequences—that keep viewers on their toesNostalgia nods, from 90s “build-your-own-character” games to anime-inspired designsHow the video turns extreme fandom into a looping narrative of gummies, Godzilla, and surreal transformationsA closer look at Porter’s creative process in building Cheerleader’s soundPlus, the guys cap things off with a new trivia game—Porter Robinson or Gwen Stefani?—where cheerleaders meet Hollaback Girls in a battle of pop culture facts.Cheerleader may be a recent release, but it’s already pushing the boundaries of what a music video can be.Stream the episode now and subscribe so you don’t miss the next One Shot.

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