How does advertising turn earworms and odd ditties into hits? You might be surprised at the bops that started as jingles.   That damned jingle! In that infernal commercial trying to sell you cars, sneakers, soda, gum! Can’t get it out of your head? Well, what if we made it longer, had a famous singer [...] Read more

Black-music scholar Emily Lordi says Aretha Franklin personified soul by bringing the church to the pop mainstream. In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by Emily Lordi, an author, critic and Vanderbilt University professor who focuses on Black popular music and has written extensively on Aretha Franklin. In her book The [...] Read more

How Aretha Franklin became not only the Queen of Soul but a massive pop star, earning respect with amazing grace.   Advertisement   Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Please enable javascript to get your Slate [...] Read more

Critic and music historian Stephen Thomas Erlewine says U2 always carried themselves like rock stars, especially their frontman. Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Overcast TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Please enable javascript to get your Slate Plus feeds. [...] Read more

How Bono and the boys pivoted from the earnest ’80s to the ironic ’90s. They’ve always been both cool and cringe. U2 have millions of admirers—and haters: from the fans who regard them as rock’s conscience, to the cynics who blanch at lead singer Bono’s self-importance. Here’s the thing: U2 want to play to both [...] Read more

Author and 1984 music scholar Michaelangelo Matos says even the rockers that year wanted to make you dance. View Transcript Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Overcast TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Please enable javascript to get your Slate [...] Read more

How did the year of Prince, Madonna, Tina, Bruce and Cyndi come to be regarded as “pop’s greatest year”? View Transcript View Transcript   Advertisement   Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Overcast TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Please [...] Read more

Slate Culture Gabfester Julia Turner says the ideal summer bop has tempo but also swag—and she still likes “Blurred Lines.” Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Overcast TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Please enable javascript to get your Slate [...] Read more

When did America decide that every year there’d be one hot-weather hit to rule them all? (And why isn’t it “Espresso”?) View Transcript View Transcript   Advertisement   Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Overcast TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our [...] Read more

Author and critic Gavin Edwards studied “We Are the World” minute by minute and affirms the vital role Quincy Jones played in its existence. Listen & Subscribe Choose your preferred player: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Overcast TuneIn RSS Feed For questions about subscriptions or your Slate Plus feed, check our FAQ. Please enable javascript [...] Read more