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 | ||
| Lenny on Mars Edition Part 1 | 2023-07-14 | ||
| Yes We Can Can Edition Part 2 | 2023-06-30 | ||
| Yes We Can Can Edition Part 1 | 2023-06-17 | ||
| Champagne Supernova Edition Part 2 | 2023-05-26 | ||
| Champagne Supernova Edition Part 1 | 2023-05-13 | ||
| The British Are Charting Edition Part 2 | 2023-04-28 | ||
| The British Are Charting Edition Part 1 | 2023-04-15 | ||
| Raise Your Glass Edition Part 2 | 2023-03-24 | ||
| Raise Your Glass Edition Part 1 | 2023-03-11 | ||
| A Little Love and Some Tenderness Edition Part 2 | 2023-02-25 | ||
| A Little Love and Some Tenderness Edition Part 1 | 2023-02-11 | ||
| Thinking About Tomorrow Edition Part 2 | 2023-01-28 | ||
| Thinking About Tomorrow Edition Part 1 | 2023-01-14 | ||
| Hits of the Year Edition Part 2 | 2022-12-30 | ||
| Decoder Ring: The New Age Hit Machine | 2022-12-26 | ||
| Hits of the Year Edition Part 1 | 2022-12-16 | ||
| Angry Young Men Edition Part 2 | 2022-12-03 | ||
| Angry Young Men Edition Part 1 | 2022-11-19 | ||
| Give Up the Funk Edition Part 2 | 2022-10-28 | ||
| Give Up the Funk Edition Part 1 | 2022-10-15 |