Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Chart history and the stories behind songs that dominated popular music AI summary

Slate Podcasts Visit website › Music · EN · 225 episodes · latest 2026-10-30

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What it is about

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.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Latest episodes

Going to Graceland Edition

2026-10-30 · 51 min

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…
Near-Miss Hits: ‘80s Edition

2026-10-07 · 44 min

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…
Choosin’ Dolly Edition

2026-09-23 · 49 min

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…
Decoder Ring: Why Do Actors Act Like They Can Sing?

2026-09-04 · 58 min

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…
The Harrisong Edition

2026-08-21 · 38 min

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 or Paul. In fact,…
Her Heart Will Go On Edition

2026-08-08 · 44 min

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…
The Run This Town Edition

2026-07-25 · 40 min

Jay-Z recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut Reasonable Doubt with a three-night residency at Yankee Stadium featuring superstar guests like Pharrell, Nas, Alicia Keys and, of course, Beyoncé. The…
The Chart Side of the Moon Edition

2026-07-16 · 57 min

Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon 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…
Don’t Fear the Repeat Edition

2026-06-27 · 52 min

We’re all familiar with the concept of a one-hit wonder, but what about artists who hit it big a second time—and never again? This week on Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy lays out the ground rules for one of pop's most…
More Than a Feeling Edition

2026-06-13 · 51 min

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 Monster Ballads. It promised you more than two hours of musical…

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Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 04/2017 · over 9 years
Typical length: 51 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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