Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Author: Slate Podcasts Language: English Episodes: 100
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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 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 Hit Parade show page on...
Episodes
Angry Young Men Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:33
Punk was meant to be angry. But the so-called Angry Young Men of the late ’70s U.K. scene were secret sophisticates in punk clothing. They delivered withering lyrics and snarling attitude over melodies a pop fan could lo…
Give Up the Funk Edition Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:21
In the ’70s, funk was pop—the cutting edge of Black music and the way listeners got their groove on, before disco and hip-hop. After James Brown taught a generation a new way to hear rhythm, and George Clinton tore the r…
Give Up the Funk Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
In the ’70s, funk was pop—the cutting edge of Black music and the way listeners got their groove on, before disco and hip-hop. After James Brown taught a generation a new way to hear rhythm, and George Clinton tore the r…
At Last, My Legacy Has Come Along Edition Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:46
What do you call a song that bombed on the charts back in the day, that now booms out of radios and streaming apps nationwide? Chris Molanphy has a name for these songs: legacy hits. Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” Etta Jame…
At Last, My Legacy Has Come Along Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:07
What do you call a song that bombed on the charts back in the day, that now booms out of radios and streaming apps nationwide? Chris Molanphy has a name for these songs: legacy hits. Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” Etta Jame…
Still Billy Joel to Me Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:35
So, sure—Billy Joel’s first Top 40 hit, way back in 1974, was “Piano Man,” and the nickname stuck. But for a guy who became famous sitting behind 88 keys, few of his biggest hits are really piano songs. In fact, on all t…
Still Billy Joel to Me Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:22
So, sure—Billy Joel’s first Top 40 hit, way back in 1974, was “Piano Man,” and the nickname stuck. But for a guy who became famous sitting behind 88 keys, few of his biggest hits are really piano songs. In fact, on all t…
Point of No Return Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:58
After the so-called-but-not-really “death” of disco, dance music in the 1980s moved to its own beat. There was synthpop, electro, hi-NRG and house. But the scrappy genre that seemed to pull it all together was called fre…
Point of No Return Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
After the so-called-but-not-really “death” of disco, dance music in the 1980s moved to its own beat. There was synthpop, electro, hi-NRG and house. But the scrappy genre that seemed to pull it all together was called fre…
A Deal with the TV God Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:27
For decades, British alt-pop goddess Kate Bush had never had a Top 10 hit in America. Now, in 2022, she finds herself in the Hot 100’s Top Five—and television got her there. Her classic “Running Up That Hill” is featured…

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