Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

A podcast by Slate Podcasts

Categories:

Music

179 Episodes

  1. The Freewheelin’ Edition Part 1

    Published: 1/18/2025

  2. Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"

    Published: 1/3/2025

  3. The Bridge: Slate Music Club 2024

    Published: 12/27/2024

  4. I’d Like to Teach the World to Buy Edition Part 2

    Published: 12/27/2024

  5. I’d Like to Teach the World to Buy Edition Part 1

    Published: 12/13/2024

  6. Say a Little Prayer Edition Part 2

    Published: 11/29/2024

  7. Say a Little Prayer Edition Part 1

    Published: 11/15/2024

  8. With or Without U2 Edition Part 2

    Published: 10/25/2024

  9. With or Without U2 Edition Part 1

    Published: 10/11/2024

  10. What’s 1984 Got to Do with It Edition Part 2

    Published: 9/27/2024

  11. What’s 1984 Got to Do with It Edition Part 1

    Published: 9/14/2024

  12. Building a Herstory Edition Part 2

    Published: 8/30/2024

  13. Building a Herstory Edition Part 1

    Published: 8/10/2024

  14. Song(s) of the Summer Edition Part 2

    Published: 7/27/2024

  15. Song(s) of the Summer Edition Part 1

    Published: 7/13/2024

  16. I Wanna Rock with Q. Edition Part 2

    Published: 6/29/2024

  17. I Wanna Rock with Q. Edition Part 1

    Published: 6/15/2024

  18. Be My Baby-Baby-Baby Edition Part 2

    Published: 5/31/2024

  19. Be My Baby-Baby-Baby Edition Part 1

    Published: 5/17/2024

  20. We Want It That Way Edition Part 2

    Published: 4/27/2024

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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. Want more Hit Parade? Join Slate Plus to unlock 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 Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/hitparadeplus to get access wherever you listen.