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 | ||
| One and Done, Part 2 | 2020-10-02 | ||
| One and Done, Part 1 | 2020-09-18 | ||
| The Bridge: Yacht Or Nyacht? | 2020-08-28 | ||
| Wednesday Night Live: Music Trivia | 2020-08-14 | ||
| What a Fool Believes Edition | 2020-07-31 | ||
| The Bridge: Lilith’s Winding Road | 2020-07-17 | ||
| Building a Herstory Edition | 2020-06-30 | ||
| The Bridge: Many Ways to be OutKasted | 2020-06-12 | ||
| Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture Edition | 2020-05-29 | ||
| The Bridge: Piano Man, Everyman | 2020-05-15 | ||
| Still Billy Joel to Me Edition | 2020-04-30 | ||
| The Bridge: Hits Don’t Lie | 2020-04-17 | ||
| La Vida Loca Edición | 2020-03-31 | ||
| The Bridge: Wesley on Whitney | 2020-03-13 | ||
| I'm Your Whitney Tonight Edition | 2020-02-28 | ||
| The Bridge: Living in an Amish Paradise | 2020-02-14 | ||
| The White and Nerdy Edition | 2020-01-31 | ||
| The Bridge: Legacy of the Elusive Chanteuse | 2020-01-17 | ||
| Make My Wish Come True Edition | 2019-12-23 | ||
| The Bridge: Queens Bey, Rih and Robyn Reign Different Kingdoms | 2019-12-13 |