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Chris Molanphy @cmmolanphy

Chart analyst/pop critic/host of #HitParadePod. Writer of Slate’s #WhyIsThisSongNo1? Pronouns—he/him/his. (This is a successor to @cmolanphy which was hacked.)

Joined April 2023
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Chris Molanphy@cmmolanphy
14 Oct 2023
My book 𝙊𝙡𝙙 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙍𝙤𝙖𝙙 earned a starred review from @LibraryJournal. I’m especially gratified by the “verdict”: “More than just an analysis of ‘Old Town Road’…has wide appeal for music and pop culture fans.” Exactly what I was going for! libraryjournal.com/review/ol… 📖⭐️🙌🏼
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Want to think about ANYTHING else right now? Here are 2 podcast chats about the legacy of the great #QuincyJones. I joined @byagoda for an episode of his podcast #TheLivesTheyreLiving. I broke down Q’s jazz background & the sound he pioneered by the ’80s: pod.link/1744211348/episode/…
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I’m also on this week’s @SlateCultFest memorializing #QuincyJones the joy he delivered. Steve Metcalf, @juliaturner, @thehighsign & I recap Q’s history from my recent #HitParadePod episode & dissect his pop genius—from “It’s My Party”to “We Are the World.” slate.com/podcasts/culture-g…

Memorializing Pop’s Renaissance Man, Quincy Jones

The legendary producer reinvented American music.

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I spoke to @AlexOfLoftus for this @BBCNews story about the new LP by @tylerthecreator dropping on a Monday rather than the global-standard Friday. Giving up 3 days of streams may not matter to Tyler, who is set to hit No1 on both sides of the Atlantic. bbc.com/news/articles/czxv7g…

Chromakopia: Tyler the Creator lands first UK number one album

The rapper hit the top spot despite his album only being available for four of the last seven days.

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Chris Molanphy retweeted
Stephen Thomas Erlewine@sterlewine
28 Oct 2024
Hey! If you happen to be a Slate Plus subscriber, please check out this week's installment of #HitParadePod to hear me talk about U2 with @cmmolanphy slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

U2 Always Knew They Were Rock Stars.

U2 observer and critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine says the Irish quartet were never much of a punk-rock band—but they did pick up where The Clash left off.

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On a new #HitParadePod–The Bridge, U2 critic/scholar @sterlewine says the Irish quartet couldn’t exist without Bono—a BS artist but not a bullshitter—& he’s why they always fronted like rockstars. Plus,trivia…& a preview that says a little prayer for you: slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

U2 Always Knew They Were Rock Stars.

U2 observer and critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine says the Irish quartet were never much of a punk-rock band—but they did pick up where The Clash left off.

slate.com
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Also! While #HitParadePod–The Bridge episodes are only for @SlatePlus members, non-Plus listeners can now hear Pt2 of our October show on U2—how they pivoted from the earnest ’80s to the ironic ’90s & back again, and kept scoring hits. Parts 1&2 are here: slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

U2 Are Messianic Masters of Image.

Exceptional shape shifters—even by pop standards—U2 went from sincere to sardonic and back again, and continued scoring hits over multiple decades.

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On your knees boy: My new @Slate #HitParadePod is about 4 Irish lads w/devout hearts, big mouths & decades of hits. How’d U2 pivot from earnest 80s to ironic 90s & back? What was up w/that Apple stunt? And after 40 yrs why can’t we live with or without U2? slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

U2 Are Messianic Masters of Image.

Exceptional shape shifters—even by pop standards—U2 went from sincere to sardonic and back again, and continued scoring hits over multiple decades.

slate.com
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Huge thanks to all who are enjoying #HitParadePod’s U2 episode. (Apparently it is *not* buggin’ ya!) As requested, we now have an accompanying Spotify playlist—a collection of soaring anthems & (The) Fly grooves. Check the @Slate show page—or just go here: open.spotify.com/playlist/2J…

Slate's Hit Parade: With or Without U2 Edition

Playlist · slate_magazine · 90 items · 38 saves

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Chris Molanphy retweeted
Ron Filipkowski
@RonFilipkowski
10 Oct 2024
I have waited so long for this argument to be made.
Acyn
@Acyn
10 Oct 2024
Obama: Some think I remember that economy when he first came in being pretty good. Yeah, it was pretty good, because it was my economy. It wasn't something he did. I spent eight years cleaning up the mess that the Republicans had left me
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On a new #HitParadePod–The Bridge, @matoswk75—author of the definitive book on 1984 hits—says crossover made the year great, as rockers after ‘Thriller’ packed LPs w/potential hits &made everybody dance. Plus, trivia…& a preview that don’t mean ta bug ya. slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

1984 Music Was All About Crossover.

The author of the definitive book on 1984's music says after Thriller, pop stars believed multiple hits across genres were possible—so they went for it.

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Also! While #HitParadePod–The Bridge episodes are only for @SlatePlus members, non-Plus listeners can now hear Pt2 of our September show on what made 1984 “Pop’s Greatest Year”—from Prince to Bruce,Tina to Madonna,Cyndi to George,VH to DD. Pts1&2 are here: slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

1984 Was Pop’s Greatest Year

Rain was purple. Feet were loose. The reflex was a lonely child, and girls just wanted to have fun: in 1984 cutting-edge sounds became mass-appeal pop.

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Also! While #HitParadePod–The Bridge episodes are only for @SlatePlus members, non-Plus listeners can now hear Pt2 of our September show on what made 1984 “Pop’s Greatest Year”—from Prince to Bruce,Tina to Madonna,Cyndi to George,VH to DD. Pts1&2 are here: slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

1984 Was Pop’s Greatest Year

Rain was purple. Feet were loose. The reflex was a lonely child, and girls just wanted to have fun: in 1984 cutting-edge sounds became mass-appeal pop.

slate.com
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Least favorite? Weirdly, it’s not by Bon Jovi! I like “Runaway.” I have to go pretty far down the ’84 hit roster to find one I actively dislike (vs. just don’t care for—e.g., the Julio Iglesias duets). But this No20 hit by a former Eagle does gross me out: youtube.com/watch?v=O4thy1Qq…

Glenn Frey - Sexy Girl

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com
B NicROLLson@xraybrian08
18 Sep 2024
Replying to @cmmolanphy
What are your personal top 5 songs for 1984? What is your least favorite tune from the Hot100 for that year?
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As for the personal Top 5, it changes all the time—the parade of greats that year is miles long—but off the dome… • “When Doves Cry” • “Self-Control” • “Jam on It” • “Smalltown Boy” • “Time After Time” Ask me in a week, I’ll swap at least four of these.
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This is what it sounds like when pop’s fly: my new @Slate #HitParadePod is about 1984, “Pop’s Greatest Year”—4 decades ago how did Prince, Bruce, Madonna, Cyndi, Tina, VH & DD make the Top 40 awesome? I give 8 reasons why ’84 ruled & walk thru 20 No1 hits. slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

1984 Was Pop’s Greatest Year

Rain was purple. Feet were loose. The reflex was a lonely child, and girls just wanted to have fun: in 1984 cutting-edge sounds became mass-appeal pop.

slate.com
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Huge thanks to all who are enjoying #HitParadePod’s 1984 episode. (Nostalgia’s a powerful drug! Even for those born after ’84.🤤) As requested, we now have an accompanying Spotify playlist—a collection of (She-)Bops. Check the @Slate show page, or go here: open.spotify.com/playlist/1v…

Slate's Hit Parade: What’s 1984 Got to Do with It Edition

Playlist · slate_magazine · 122 items · 187 saves

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Chris Molanphy retweeted
Slate
@Slate
16 Sep 2024
The year of “Purple Rain,” “Like a Virgin” and “Jump” set a template for what pop could be—colorful, multigenre and iconic. slate.trib.al/oW7LwNn

1984 Was Pop’s Greatest Year

Rain was purple. Feet were loose. The reflex was a lonely child, and girls just wanted to have fun: in 1984 cutting-edge sounds became mass-appeal pop.

slate.com
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Kudos to @ehleight for this @Billboard explainer—I feel like I manifested it 3 days ago when I saw #SabrinaCarpenter’s album beat #TravisScott’s by less than 1K units & I thought, “There’s some industry shenanigans/skulduggery here.” Answer: you betcha! billboard.com/pro/how-digita…

How Digital Album Sales Are Affecting the Race for No. 1 on the Charts

No. 1 on the Billboard 200 was decided by fewer than 1,000 units between Sabrina Carpenter and Travis Scott. Digital album sales strategies are key.

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On a new #HitParadePod–The Bridge, @juliaturner—inventor of @SlateCultFest’s annual Summer Strut—talks hot-weather bops, why Nelly Furtado rules & whether there’s really a #SongoftheSummer every year. Plus,trivia…&a preview that’s Footloose not Orwellian. slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

Summer Songs Are Strutty.

Slate Culture Gabfest cohost Julia Turner posits maybe there just isn’t a Song of the Summer every year—and maybe the annual debate is the whole point.

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Also! While #HitParadePod–The Bridge episodes are only for @SlatePlus members, non-Plus listeners can now hear Pt2 of our July show on the history of #SongOfTheSummer—how we pick one hot hit to rule them all a ranking of 6 decades of SotS. Pts1&2 are here: slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

Song of the Summer Is America’s pastime.

“Summer in the City.” “I Feel the Earth Move.” "Bette Davis Eyes." “Get Lucky.” “Espresso.” None of these hits was Billboard’s official Song of the Summer.

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I’ll admit I’m bummed 8wks@No1 wasn’t enough for Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song(Tipsy)” to topple Post/Wallen’s early-summer juggernaut “I Had Some Help”as @Billboard’s official 2024 #SongOfTheSummer. I’d love to see the underlying data—bet it was a photo finish. billboard.com/music/chart-be…

Post Malone & Morgan Wallen’s ‘I Had Some Help’ Finishes at No. 1 on Billboard’s 2024 Songs of the...

Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, rules as the No. 1 title on Billboard’s Songs of the Summer chart for 2024.

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A late-summer treat for #HitParadePod listeners—a previously @slateplus-exclusive episode is now available to all ( ads, in 2 parts). It’s our show on Lilith Fair, the late ’90s all-women festival that captured the moment ladies commanded alt-rock&hip-hop. slate.com/podcasts/hit-parad…

How Sarah McLachlan Capped a Decade of Female Chart Dominance by Launching Lilith Fair

For decades, tour promoters and radio programmers thought back-to-back women performers were commercial poison. Lilith gave the lie to that old man’s tale.

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