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.
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176
The Twerking and Chatrouletting Edition
Even before the launch of MTV, the music video has been making pop songs buzzworthy.
63 min
177
Music Trivia: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Edition
Hit Parade, Slate’s music history podcast, is here to quiz you with some trivia.
19 min
178
Hit Parade: The You Give Rock a Bad Name Edition
Over the objections of critics, Bon Jovi entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this month. What is the band’s legacy? Like it or not, they do have one.
69 min
179
Music Trivia: Welcome to Hit Parade—The Bridge
Welcome to The Bridge
10 min
180
Hit Parade: The Veronica Electronica Edition
In 1998, at a crossroads, Madonna rebooted her career by fusing electronics with matters of the heart—and turned digital music into viable pop.
71 min
181
Hit Parade: The Def Jams Edition
Today, rap is ubiquitous on pop radio. But the genre’s first crossover hit required a little help from some out-of-favor rock stars. This month, how Run-DMC met Aerosmith, and provided career boosts to them, LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys.
86 min
182
Hit Parade: The B-Sides Edition
Live from the Bell House, in Brooklyn New York, it’s a very special Hit Parade about B-sides that improbably became classics, or even No. 1 hits. Plus special guest Ted Leo!
82 min
183
Hit Parade: The Silver Medalists Edition
On the Billboard Hot 100, two is often the loneliest number. This month, Chris Molanphy profiles No. 2 songs that went on to become historic, from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Go-Go’s and Kelly Clarkson.
51 min
184
Hit Parade: The Queen of Disco Edition
Donna Summer set chart benchmarks and managed to stay relevant on the radio and in clubs for more than three decades. Why didn’t she get more respect from the rock establishment?
72 min
185
Hit Parade: Le Petty Prince Edition
Tom Petty and Prince only played together once. But their careers paralleled each other for four decades.
70 min
186
Hit Parade: The Great War Against the Single Ed...
The story of how the recording industry made you shell out $18 for one good song in the ’90s.
76 min
187
Hit Parade: The Charity Megasingle Edition
In the mid-1980s, big, loud, multicelebrity pop songs were briefly all over the charts and the radio. How’d that happen?
66 min
188
Hit Parade: The Imperial Elton and George Editi...
George Michael and Elton John were friends, collaborators, and for one week, chart rivals
69 min
189
Hit Parade: The Fab Four Sweep Edition
How a major label screw up helped The Beatles sweep the Billboard Top Five.
49 min
190
Hit Parade: Red, Red Wine Edition
How a rogue DJ took a flop to #1
38 min