- #140 Musik
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<p>What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever.</p><br><p>Get more of Hit Parade with Slate Plus! Join for monthly early-access episodes, bonus episodes of "The Bridge," and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe directly from the our show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or visit slate.com/hitparadeplus to get access wherever you listen.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a>; for more information.</p>
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Going to Graceland Edition
<p>Four decades ago, Paul Simon broke out of a middle-age slump with a collaborative project few saw coming. Join Chris Molanphy as he explores the musical brilliance, polarizing legacy—and of course, the chart history—of 1986’s <em>Gracela
Near-Miss Hits: ‘80s Edition
<p>The 1980s yielded a bumper crop of near-miss hits—songs that stalled out at No. 2, No. 11, or No. 41 during their original Billboard runs but were vindicated in the streaming era. The song that lent its title to a Molly Ringwald movie mi
Choosin’ Dolly Edition
<p>In the 1970s, Dolly Parton parlayed her Nashville success into megawatt pop-culture icon status—yet many of her familiar hits of the era barely scratched the Top 40. Parton finally crossed over at the turn of the ’80s by courting pop fan
Decoder Ring: Why Do Actors Act Like They Can Sing?
<p>When an actor opens their mouth to sing in a movie, chances are high that the voice you hear will be their own. Even in music biopics, movie stars without much singing experience regularly go to great lengths to impersonate the most belo
The Harrisong Edition
<p>In the 1960s, the Beatles were defined by the success of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership. But in the digital era, we discovered that the Fab Four’s most popular song wasn’t written by John <em>or</em> Paul. In fact, it had n
Her Heart Will Go On Edition
<p>Céline Dion is set to emerge from her career dormancy into a sold-out Paris residency—a triumph over a rare neurological illness that, until recently, prevented her from singing. Her silence seemed unimaginable. Only a few decades ago, a
The Run This Town Edition
<p>Jay-Z recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut <em>Reasonable Doubt</em> with a three-night residency at Yankee Stadium featuring superstar guests like Pharrell, Nas, Alicia Keys and, of course, Beyoncé. The marathon event w
The Chart Side of the Moon Edition
<p>Pink Floyd’s <em>The Dark Side of the Moon</em> is one of the most played, purchased and praised albums of all time. Yet its enduring legacy might be its supernatural chart longevity. Officially, the 1973 long-player has spent nearly a t
Don’t Fear the Repeat Edition
<p>We’re all familiar with the concept of a one-hit wonder, but what about artists who hit it big a <em>second </em>time—and never again? This week on Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy lays out the ground rules for one of pop's most misunderstood
More Than a Feeling Edition
<p>If you were watching cable TV around midday at the turn of the millennium, there’s a good chance you saw a commercial for a compilation CD called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbuXyjftq1U" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_bl
Near-Miss Hits: ’70s Edition
<p>In 1979, Sister Sledge changed the sound of wedding receptions forever with “We Are Family.” Believe it or not, the Chic-penned banger never made it to No. 1. Steely Dan helped invent Yacht Rock with 1977’s jazzy bop “Peg.” (They would h
Dancing With Himself Edition
<p>The opening riff of “White Wedding” is instantly recognizable—a skittering, syncopated guitar line quickly swallowed by pummeling drums. But the song itself is a bit of an enigma. Is it rock? Pop? New wave? Rockabilly punk? Like much of
Introducing History Daily: "The Launch of MTV"
<p>Hit Parade is on a brief break, but if you need a daily dose of fascinating stories, check out History Daily. Host Lindsay Graham (the history guy! not the senator!) explores what happened "on this day in history," with a broad mix of po
The Queen of Disco Edition Part 2 (Encore)
<p>Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte were formative in dance, electronic, and rock music, influencing everyone from David Bowi
The Queen of Disco Edition Part 1 (Encore)
<p>Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte were formative in dance, electronic, and rock music, influencing everyone from David Bowi
Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 2
<p>The 100th episode of Hit Parade has put host Chris Molanphy in a reflective mood. So in Part 2, he unfurls the story of the late, great <em>American Top 40</em> host Casey Kasem—a perennial inspiration for this podcast and the chart king
Feet on the Ground, Reaching for the Stars Edition Part 1
<p>To mark Hit Parade’s 100th episode, host Chris Molanphy is doing something he’s never done: He’s going to talk about himself—and just how nerdy you have to be to host a show like Hit Parade. Chris reflects on the origins and depth of his
Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 2
<p>These days, country and pop acts regularly invade each other’s territory. But in Nashville during the 1970s, “crossover” was a dirty word. Then came two rising stars who offered up a new hybrid of Americana-style pop.</p><br><p>John Denv
Country Roads and Summer Nights Edition Part 1
<p>These days, country and pop acts regularly invade each other’s territory. But in Nashville during the 1970s, “crossover” was a dirty word. Then came two rising stars who offered up a new hybrid of Americana-style pop.</p><br><p>John Denv
Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 2
<p>Chameleon: That’s long been the word used to describe David Bowie, pop music’s shapeshifting extraterrestrial. He shifted personas, genres, and looks, emerging from swinging London with psychedelic folk before steamrolling through glam r
Starman to Blackstar Edition Part 1
<p>Chameleon: That’s long been the word used to describe David Bowie, pop music’s shapeshifting extraterrestrial. He shifted personas, genres, and looks, emerging from swinging London with psychedelic folk before steamrolling through glam r
The Bridge: Slate’s Music Club 2025
<p>The Slate Music Club returns, in this special year-end edition of Hit Parade’s The Bridge! Host Chris Molanphy joins New York Times pop music critic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/AMP"><u>Lindsay Zoladz</u></a>, and
Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 2
<p>If you need confirmation of Hollywood’s vast influence on mass culture, look no further than the pop charts. From the 1937 classic <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs</em> through this year’s <em>KPop Demon Hunters</em>, soundtracks have
Hooked to the Silver Screen Edition Part 1
<p>If you need confirmation of Hollywood’s vast influence on mass culture, look no further than the pop charts. From the 1937 classic <em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs</em> through this year’s <em>KPop Demon Hunters</em>, soundtracks have
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 2
<p>When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to mind. But … Robert “Mutt” Lange? Probably not. Yet Lange was by some measures the biggest hitmak
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 1
<p>When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to mind. But … Robert “Mutt” Lange? Probably not. Yet Lange was by some measures the biggest hitmak
The Slate Culture Gift Guide
<p>Hark, the holiday season is upon us—and with it, the most solemn of festive traditions: a gift guide! In this video and podcast special, Slate hosts Dana Stevens, Chris Molanphy, and Willa Paskin beam in from their collective hearths to
If You Love Sting, Set Him Free Edition Part 2
<p>Walk into any store or flip on a radio, and you’ll probably hear the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” sooner or later. Thanks to that ubiquity, the swooning, menacing megahit’s songwriter—Sting—is a very wealthy man.</p><p>Now his former
If You Love Sting, Set Him Free Edition Part 1
<p>Walk into any store or flip on a radio, and you’ll probably hear the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” sooner or later. Thanks to that ubiquity, the swooning, menacing megahit’s songwriter—Sting—is a very wealthy man.</p><p>Now his former
Toppermost of the Poppermost Edition Part 2
<p>In the rarefied world of smash pop singles, there are No. 1s—and there are No. 1 <em>debuts</em>. Entering <em>Billboard</em>’s Hot 100 at the top is one of the hardest tricks in music. In fact, it wasn’t possible in the U.S. until 1995.
