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.
| Title | Date published | ||
| 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 | ||
| Ride ’til I Can’t No More Edition Part 2 | 2023-11-24 | ||
| The Bridge: Can’t Tell Me Nothin’ | 2023-11-18 | ||
| Ride ’til I Can’t No More Edition Part 1 | 2023-11-11 | ||
| This Ain’t No Party?! Edition Part 2 | 2023-10-27 | ||
| This Ain’t No Party?! Edition Part 1 | 2023-10-14 | ||
| Insert Lyrics Here Edition Part 2 | 2023-09-29 | ||
| Insert Lyrics Here Edition Part 1 | 2023-09-16 | ||
| Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture Edition Part 2 | 2023-08-25 | ||
| Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture Edition Part 1 | 2023-08-11 | ||
| Lenny on Mars Edition Part 2 | 2023-07-28 |