Hit Parade | Music History and Music ...
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.
51
Decoder Ring: "We Got Ourselves a Convoy"
How a fake country star gave voice to frustrated truckers across America.
30 min
52
I Got Five on It Part 2
Hit Parade celebrates its fifth anniversary with a Top 20 countdown of your favorite episodes.
53 min
53
I Got Five on It Part 1
Hit Parade celebrates its fifth anniversary with a Top 20 countdown of your favorite episodes.
49 min
54
Killing Me Softly Part 2
How four R&B queens—Dionne, Patti, Roberta and Chaka—evolved into chart-toppers through the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
58 min
55
Killing Me Softly Part 1
How four R&B queens—Dionne, Patti, Roberta and Chaka—evolved into chart-toppers through the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
74 min
56
We Invented the Remix Part 2
In part 2 we continue to story of the remix.
60 min
57
We Invented the Remix Part 1
Today on Hit Parade, we trace the multifarious history of the remix.
64 min
58
Rock ’n Soul, Part 2
The second part of our deep dive on how Hall and Oates took a decade to find their sound, created their own ’80s genre and made their dreams come true.
56 min
59
Rock ’n Soul, Part 1
Hall and Oates took a decade to find their sound, created their own ’80s genre and made their dreams come true.
56 min
60
One Year: Hey Macarena!
A musical phenomenon that wormed its way into our brains, and maybe never left.
58 min
61
Chestnut Roasters, Part 2
The second part of our festive retrospective on the artists whose holiday hits outperform the rest of their catalog combined.
45 min
62
Chestnut Roasters, Part 1
A festive retrospective on the artists whose holiday hits outperform the rest of their catalog combined.
61 min
63
Be the One to Walk in the Sun, Part 2
73 min
64
Be the One to Walk in the Sun, Part 1
64 min
65
I Write Sins, Not Tragedies, Part 2
The pop-punk and emo boom of the ’90s and ’00s, continued.
59 min
66
I Write Sins, Not Tragedies, Part 1
The pop-punk and emo boom of the ’90s and ’00s shows how punk keeps selling out and buying in.
42 min
67
Spirit of ’71, Part 2
The hits of 1971 in a very special episode of Hit Parade, continued.
60 min
68
Spirit of ’71, Part 1
Did music 50 years ago really “change everything”? How a new generation of singer-songwriters rebooted the charts.
67 min
69
What a Fool Believes, Part 2
Chris Molanphy's deep dive on Yacht Rock, continued.
41 min
70
What a Fool Believes, Part 1
This is the story of Yacht Rock.
55 min
71
Tramps Like Us, Part 2
Chris Molanphy's deep dive on The Boss, continued.
68 min
72
Tramps Like Us, Part 1
Bruce Springsteen went from “new Dylan” to pop pinup when he learned to keep the catchy songs for himself.
70 min
73
Say My Name, Say My Name, Part 2
Chris Molanphy's deep dive on when rappers started singing, continued.
66 min
74
Say My Name, Say My Name, Part 1
Rappers are singing and singers are rapping. When did these styles merge?
49 min
75
Blame It on the Feign, Part 2
Chris Molanphy's analysis of the surprising impact of controversial act Milli Vanilli, continued.
44 min