The so-called Piano Man often avoided the ivories, turning a range of styles and genres into Billy Joel music. <audio title="Still Billy Joel to Me Edition" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT9742275194.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="Still Billy Joel to Me Edition" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT9742275194?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> So, sure—Billy Joel’s first Top 40 hit, way back in 1974, was [...] Read more

Chris Molanphy talks to guest Eduardo Cepeda about Latin music’s journey to the center of American pop. <audio title="The Bridge: Hits Don’t Lie" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT1545811346.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The Bridge: Hits Don’t Lie" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT1545811346?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, originally aired on Facebook as part of Slate Live’s Q-Tip [...] Read more

How Ricky, J.Lo and Shakira changed Latin crossover—taking America from “La Bamba” to “Despacito” <audio title="La Vida Loca Edición" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT3162109488.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="La Vida Loca Edición" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT3162109488?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> Hit Parade takes you back to the turn of the millennium when, for a couple of years, it seemed like a [...] Read more

Chris Molanphy talks to guest Wesley Morris about Whitney Houston’s vocal genius and crossover means. <audio title="The Bridge: Wesley on Whitney" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT3761267886.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The Bridge: Wesley on Whitney" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT3761267886?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Wesley Morris, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic, New [...] Read more

Whitney Houston’s chart history helps explain why she was so unprecedented—and remains so controversial. <audio title="I’m Your Whitney Tonight Edition" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT7021953633.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="I’m Your Whitney Tonight Edition" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT7021953633?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts TuneIn Spotify Stitcher Overcast RSS Feed Get Your [...] Read more

Chris Molanphy talks to preeminent Weird Al chronicler Nathan Rabin about Yankovic’s many phases, monocultural satire, and use of nostalgia to stay relevant over a decadeslong career. <audio title="The Bridge: Living in an Amish Paradise" src="https://traffic.megaphone.fm/SLT9098919342.mp3" class="slate-megaphone__audio-player" tabindex="0" preload="metadata" controls></audio> <iframe title="The Bridge: Living in an Amish Paradise" src="https://player.megaphone.fm/SLT9098919342?light=true" frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe> Listen & [...] Read more

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

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