Hit Parade

What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more.

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About the Show

Chris Molanphy, a 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.

Host

  • Chris Molanphy is a feature writer and critic who writes widely about music and the pop charts.

The Bridge: Tell Her Sweet Little Lies

Critic and Christine McVie eulogizer Alfred Soto says she was Fleetwood Mac’s songwriter for the morning after.

Thinking About Tomorrow Edition

How the late Christine McVie kept Fleetwood Mac afloat during fallow periods until they became chart conquerors.

Hits of the Year Edition

Why Glass Animals beat Harry Styles for Billboard’s top song of 2022—year-end upsets date back to the Stones vs. Sam the Sham.

The Bridge: Pub Rock, Power Pop and New Wave

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine breaks down the scenes and sounds that led to—and flowed out of—punk.

Angry Young Men Edition

How three British post-punkers named Joe, Graham, and Elvis helped “write the book” on New Wave.

The Bridge: Chi-Town, Soul Town

Chicago music expert Ayana Contreras says the Great Migration made the Midwest funkier and more soulful.

Give Up the Funk Edition

In the ’70s, funk tore the roof off the charts, and taught a generation what it meant to get on the One.

The Bridge: Lost Hits vs. Legacy Hits

Radio analyst Sean Ross says the airwaves are the ultimate arbiter of which hits endure—or disappear.

At Last, My Legacy Has Come Along Edition

What is a “legacy hit”? A chart flop back in the day that’s now a classic—from “Tiny Dancer” to “What I Like About You.”

The Bridge: Let Me Be the One

Boston Globe and Time critic Maura Johnston says freestyle, however fizzy, was also profoundly emo.

Point of No Return Edition

How freestyle—a frenetic, synthetic Latin-flavored ’80s dance genre—bridged the disco and hip-hop eras while racking up scores of hits.

The Bridge: Sync Is Both Stranger and Shameless

Publishing exec and TV-sync expert Mara Kuge says placing a song on a show is a songwriter’s jackpot.

 A Deal with the TV God Edition

How the tube has turned songs into hits for 60 years—and why Kate Bush’s TV hit might be the biggest of all.

The Bridge: Like the Legend of the Phoenix

Music scholar Jason King explains how Pharrell stays turned on, tuned in and far out.

Flip It and Reverse It Edition

How Pharrell, Timbaland, and Missy—three nerds from Virginia—added quirk to pop and gave us all a dope beat to step to.

The Bridge: Podcast Folklore, Hit Parade Evermore

Steve Lickteig, podcast expert and our original producer, talks about what makes Hit Parade stories work.

I Got Five On It Edition

Hit Parade celebrates its fifth anniversary with a Top-20 countdown of your favorite episodes.

The Bridge: All Hail the Queens

Danyel Smith, author of a new book about Black women in pop, says legends Dionne, Gladys, and Patti still aren’t getting their due.

Killing Me Softly Edition

How four R&B queens—Dionne, Patti, Roberta, and Chaka—evolved into chart-toppers through the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

The Bridge: On the Wheels of Steel

Author and dance critic Michaelangelo Matos says remixing is like songwriting: there’s no one right way to do it.