January 2014 - Chris Molanphy

It’s been an interesting couple of days since the Grammy Awards. Critics and cultural observers have tried to make sense of the crossover-heavy spectacle: assessing why white artists supported by black artists keep winding up on top; dissecting Macklemore’s heartfelt but self-serving apology to Kendrick Lamar; and calling the spectacle everything from sublime to a [...] Read more

Ke$ha and Pitbull have basically recorded this generation’s “Cotton Eye Joe.” Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Slate Why Is This Song No. 1?

Why Is Pitbull and Kesha’s “Timber” No. 1?

20 January 20142 February 2019

“Timber,” the single currently topping Billboard’s authoritative Hot 100 chart, is America’s second consecutive No. 1 hit to mine the male-rapper-plus-female-hook-singer shtick, coming right on the heels of the Eminem–Rihanna pairing “The Monster.” It’s by Pitbull, the Cuban-American club-pop action figure, and features the gleefully trashy pop star Kesha. It’s also a quintessential wintertime hit, [...] Read more

Pitchfork

From Nirvana to the Frozen Soundtrack, Why Kids Have Always Taken Over the Charts in January

10 January 20142 February 2019

It’s been just over two weeks since Americans unwrapped the bounty under the tree, and the Billboard charts have settled into their usual post-holiday funk. But the last couple of weeks on Billboard’s flagship album and singles lists—reflecting sales and airplay from the 12 days after Christmas—are revealing in their own way. I call it [...] Read more