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

Quincy Jones was a legend even before he met Michael Jackson. He redefined what a producer could achieve, from “It’s My Party” to “We Are the World.” 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 [...] Read more

New York Times critic Lindsay Zoladz says girl groups may fade into history, but we can still playlist our favorite bops. In this mini-episode of Hit Parade, host Chris Molanphy is joined by New York Times pop critic Lindsay Zoladz, writer of the paper’s music twice-weekly newsletter The Amplifier. Six years ago, when Lindsay was [...] Read more