Slate Archives - Chris Molanphy

The White and Nerdy Edition

31 January 20203 February 2020

Novelty songs were a tough way to make a music career. Until one self-proclaimed Weird guy turned parodies into pop classics. <audio title="The White and Nerdy Edition" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT1451379869.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The White and Nerdy Edition" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT1451379869?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> View Transcript Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Google [...] Read more

Slate Why Is This Song No. 1?

2020 Might Have Just Gotten Its “Old Town Road”

18 January 202025 January 2020

How TikTok—and a squeaky noise—made Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” the biggest song in America. Back in January 2006, the Billboard Hot 100 was overtaken for one week by a quirky rap track by a group that would never have a major hit again. “Laffy Taffy” was the handiwork of a troupe calling themselves D4L, an [...] Read more

Hit Parade Slate

The Bridge: Legacy of the Elusive Chanteuse

17 January 202025 January 2020

Chris Molanphy and guest Rich Juzwiak on Mariah Carey’s chart history, whether she’ll score that 20th No.1 hit, and why imperfect pop stars are the best kind. <audio title="The Bridge: Legacy of the Elusive Chanteuse" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT6999940179.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The Bridge: Legacy of the Elusive Chanteuse" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT6999940179?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> Listen & [...] Read more

Hit Parade Slate

Make My Wish Come True Edition

23 December 201927 December 2019

How Mariah Carey overcame the chart bias against Christmas music to score a No. 1 holiday song after 25 years. <audio title="Make My Wish Come True Edition" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT8261523327.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="Make My Wish Come True Edition" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT8261523327?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts [...] Read more

Slate Why Is This Song No. 1?

Why Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Is Finally No. 1

20 December 201927 December 2019

For her wish to come true, it took changes in technology and chart rules. Jimmy Fallon didn’t hurt, either. At a time of year that brings us oft-told holiday fables and yarns about Christmas miracles, the moral of this story is simple: When it comes to the Billboard charts, never, ever count out Mariah Carey. [...] Read more

Slate Why Is This Song No. 1?

The Weeknd’s Latest No. 1 Hit Proves He’s the New AC/DC

13 December 201927 December 2019

On “Heartless,” the singer keeps on recycling the same old tricks, and America still can’t get enough. For years—really, decades—AC/DC bandleader Angus Young has been finding creative ways to restate the maxim “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” in interviews. The guitarist can often come off as self-satisfied about his Rock Hall–inducted band’s endurance. [...] Read more

Hit Parade Slate

The Bridge: Queens Bey, Rih, and Robyn Reign Over Different Kingdoms

13 December 201927 December 2019

Chris Molanphy and Bridge producer Asha Saluja discuss who won the 2010s in music. <audio title="The Bridge: Queens Bey, Rih, and Robyn Reign Over Different Kingdoms" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT9916162235.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The Bridge: Queens Bey, Rih, and Robyn Reign Over Different Kingdoms" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT9916162235?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: [...] Read more

Slate Why Is This Song No. 1?

Post Malone Might Finally Be Getting His Wish to Escape Hip-Hop

5 December 20196 December 2019

On his latest No. 1, the singer shows why he might just be our era’s most defining star. With less than a month to go in the 2010s, the decade that has utterly confounded our understanding of what genre even means in popular music, perhaps it’s appropriate that genre-obliterator Post Malone has the top song [...] Read more

Hit Parade Slate

Hit Parade: Rolling in God’s Royal Uptown Road Edition

27 November 201930 November 2019

How memes, streams, and crossover dreams drove the hits of the 2010s. <audio title="Rolling in God’s Royal Uptown Road Edition" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT5546651747.mp3" class="audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="Rolling in God’s Royal Uptown Road Edition" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT5546651747?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> View Transcript Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts TuneIn Spotify Stitcher Overcast [...] Read more

Hit Parade Slate

The Bridge: Genre vs. Generation, ’80s to ’10s

15 November 201930 November 2019

Chris Molanphy and Ned Raggett discuss the ’80s wave of British alt-rock. <audio title="The Bridge: Genre vs. Generation, ’80s to ’10s" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT5231165333.mp3" class="audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The Bridge: Genre vs. Generation, ’80s to ’10s" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT5231165333?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> View Transcript Listen longer Slate Plus members get ad-free versions of all Slate podcasts, plus [...] Read more

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