Don’t Fear the Repeat Edition

Don’t Fear the Repeat Edition

Author: Slate Podcasts June 27, 2026 Duration: 52:22

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 misunderstood chart distinctions and sorts through the roster of this ultra-exclusive club, which counts Gloria Gaynor, Hozier, the Clash, and Dead or Alive among its members. Then, Chris counts down his favorite fluky examples of two-hit wonders.


Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.


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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...
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Podcast Episodes
Material Girl in an Imperial World Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:19
In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commerc…
The Freewheelin’ Edition Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:48
At the movies, A Complete Unknown depicts Bob Dylan as a 1960s “it” boy—played by a 2020s “it” boy, Timothée Chalamet. But the film ends in 1965. What happened in the six decades after that?Dylan not only kept recording.…
The Freewheelin’ Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:39
At the movies, A Complete Unknown depicts Bob Dylan as a 1960s “it” boy—played by a 2020s “it” boy, Timothée Chalamet. But the film ends in 1965. What happened in the six decades after that?Dylan not only kept recording.…
Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:53
To kick off the New Year, we're sharing a podcast that we think Hit Parade listeners are going to love: Broken Record. Check out this episode with singer/songwriter Norah Jones, co-hosted by Blue Note Records President D…
The Bridge: Slate Music Club 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
The Slate Music Club is back, in a special edition of Hit Parade – “The Bridge”! Our year-end panel of critics—NPR Music’s Ann Powers, Hearing Things’ Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Slate’s own Carl Wilson and Hit Parade ho…
I’d Like to Teach the World to Buy Edition Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
That damned jingle! In that infernal commercial trying to sell you cars, sneakers, soda, gum! Can’t get it out of your head? Well, what if we made it longer, had a famous singer perform it, and put it on the radio? How w…
I’d Like to Teach the World to Buy Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:42
That damned jingle! In that infernal commercial trying to sell you cars, sneakers, soda, gum! Can’t get it out of your head? Well, what if we made it longer, had a famous singer perform it, and put it on the radio? How w…
Say a Little Prayer Edition Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:25
You know her honorific: Queen of Soul. And heavy is the head that wears the crown. In her lifetime, Aretha Franklin didn’t just want to be revered. She wanted hits. But Franklin made pop come to her, not the other way ar…
Say a Little Prayer Edition Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:00
You know her honorific: Queen of Soul. And heavy is the head that wears the crown. In her lifetime, Aretha Franklin didn’t just want to be revered. She wanted hits. But Franklin made pop come to her, not the other way ar…