Rewind and React Music Video Podcast

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

Sep 9, 2025

About This Episode

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 Stan

  • The wild mashup of aesthetics—from karaoke rooms to kaiju sequences—that keep viewers on their toes

  • Nostalgia nods, from 90s “build-your-own-character” games to anime-inspired designs

  • How the video turns extreme fandom into a looping narrative of gummies, Godzilla, and surreal transformations

  • A closer look at Porter’s creative process in building Cheerleader’s sound

Plus, 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.

Episode Transcript

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