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 Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/hitparadeplus to get access wherever you listen.
| Title | Date published | ||
| What’s 1984 Got to Do with It Edition Part 2 | 2024-09-27 | ||
| What’s 1984 Got to Do with It Edition Part 1 | 2024-09-14 | ||
| Building a Herstory Edition Part 2 | 2024-08-30 | ||
| Building a Herstory Edition Part 1 | 2024-08-10 | ||
| Song(s) of the Summer Edition Part 2 | 2024-07-27 | ||
| Song(s) of the Summer Edition Part 1 | 2024-07-13 | ||
| I Wanna Rock with Q. Edition Part 2 | 2024-06-29 | ||
| I Wanna Rock with Q. Edition Part 1 | 2024-06-15 | ||
| Be My Baby-Baby-Baby Edition Part 2 | 2024-05-31 | ||
| Be My Baby-Baby-Baby Edition Part 1 | 2024-05-17 | ||
| We Want It That Way Edition Part 2 | 2024-04-27 | ||
| We Want It That Way Edition Part 1 | 2024-04-13 | ||
| Gotcha Covered Edition Part 2 | 2024-03-29 | ||
| Gotcha Covered Edition Part 1 | 2024-03-16 | ||
| Hello, Gorgeous Edition Part 2 | 2024-02-24 | ||
| Hello, Gorgeous Edition Part 1 | 2024-02-10 | ||
| And the Grammy Goes to… Edition Part 2 | 2024-01-26 | ||
| And the Grammy Goes to… Edition Part 1 | 2024-01-13 | ||
| Second-Chance Hits Edition Part 2 | 2023-12-29 | ||
| Second-Chance Hits Edition Part 1 | 2023-12-16 |