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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 4h

This coming Friday. In months with 5 Fridays, it's always the middle one.

Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 4d

Knew you’d put the Weird Al version in Bonus Beats—thank you. Normally I get annoyed when an act’s legacy is reduced to an Al parody (e.g. too many Greg Kihn obits last year put Al in the headline) but I confess to this day, in my head, the PUSA song ends w/“And that’s all/I have to say/ABOUT THAT.”

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 6d

Thx for the shout-out. I like Harry better than you but agree his acclaim is greater than the cromulent tunes deserve. My opinion took a downturn after ‘Harry’s House’ won AotY at the Grammys over Beyoncé; she could’ve checked that box before ‘Cowboy Carter,’ but this serviceable pop LP won instead.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 8d

I must say, this latest chapter in their apparent cold war suggests that what Taylor did to Charli last summer on the UK charts was every bit as deliberate as fans surmised.
www.theguardian.com/music/articl...

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 9d

The guy best equipped to answer this is my friend, fellow chart columnist & famed übertall person @tombreihan.bsky.social. He has strong incentive to know…& in his @stereogum.bsky.social column #TheNumberOnes he guesstimates that Montell Jordan was indeed tallest: www.stereogum.com/2179979/the-...

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 11d

P.S. re:lyrics—I agree they’re pseudo-profound but I like how she cops to it within the song: “I haven't got it all figured out just yet.” This is the essence of Morissette/JLP’s relatability & why the CD sold 16m copies—half-assed poetry & I’m-just-figuring-it-out is a very pure teen/20s sentiment.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 11d

Love the song, love the video. TIL it was shot in Brooklyn, about 10mins from where I’m sitting—awesome, had no idea. I like "I'm brave, but I'm chicken shit" where a band-marcher steps in a pile of horse poo—it worked especially well on MTV cuz they had to blank “shit” but the visual made it plain.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 13d

“Cardigan” isn’t my favorite ‘Folklore’ either, but it’s a mood, sometimes exactly the mood I want. The bitterness of the refrain, “When you are young, they assume you know nothing,” kind of haunts me in a good way. The Taylor track you’re doing next is an even moodier mood & my fave of this period.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 13d

Also! While #HitParadePod –The Bridge episodes are only for Slate Plus members, non-Plus listeners can now hear Pt2 of our September episode on the chart history of No1 debuts—from Mariah to Olivia…Britney to Bieber…& all those random Idol winners, beefing rappers & fluke hitmakers. Pts1&2 are here:

The Odd Alchemy That Sends a Brand-New Song to the Top of the Charts

For decades, No. 1 debuts were unheard of in America. Then the record labels and digital music hacked the Hot 100.

slate.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 13d

On a new #HitParadePod –The Bridge—now live on @slate.com —my guest Chris Dalla Riva, author of ‘Uncharted Territory,’ says songs that debut@No1 usually have an extra-musical X-factor. But the song is the song—whether good Drake or bad Drake. Plus, trivia & a next-episode preview sending out an SOS.

The Secret Sauce Behind No. 1 Debuts.

Can a hit single be simultaneously a chart-topper … and a misfire?

slate.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 18d

Maybe it’s cuz it hasn’t been overplayed the way that other GGD ballad you’re gonna cover later was/still is, but “Name” always struck me as pretty & sounds good when I run across it now. Also, the lyrics aren’t Dylan but they are trying to express something. Good ending, too. A respectable 7 to me.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 20d

In Part2 of my latest #HitParadePod on the history of No1 debuts (link below) I used data gathered by @rossonradio.com to track how songs that opened atop #Hot100 do on the air now. In the June week Sean checked the stats “Trollz” got 3 radio spins. I’d love to know who still plays that shit at all.

The Odd Alchemy That Sends a Brand-New Song to the Top of the Charts

For decades, No. 1 debuts were unheard of in America. Then the record labels and digital music hacked the Hot 100.

slate.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 23d

You don't see the un-paywalled version if you roll your podcatcher app forward to August 2022? That's where it should be.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 23d

Eventually @slate.com released ad-supported versions of all 4 of the 2020 paywalled episodes. In the case of Billy Joel, from the show page: "This episode was released in April 2020 exclusively for Slate Plus listeners. As of August 2022, it’s available for non-subscribers."

How Billy Joel Became a 20th-Century Pop Zelig, Celebrating His Heroes by Imitating Them

He earned fame as the “Piano Man”—but none of Joel’s No. 1s are really piano songs, and his hits ranged more widely than any artist of his era and stature.

slate.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 24d

It never was, for the predictable reason MTV would've been too powerful, as the only nationwide "radio station," so to speak. Actual radio stations were included because they were more diffuse and represented regional US listening. And YouTube made more sense to include later cuz it's user-selected.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 25d

Pet theory: You feel about Rossdale the way I feel about Jon Bon Jovi. It’s the age we each were in 1994–95 & 1986–87 respectively—we wrote off this pretty boy w/ambition & poseur vibes & haven’t let go of that scorn in middle age. Accordingly, I have less animus for Bush—their songs are fine to me.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 27d

When we talk about how the 2020s haven't produced any major new rap stars & we’re stuck obsessing over rappers from prior decade(s) the 2021 implosion of DaBaby is Exhibit A.

P.S. You must be more immune to guitar arpeggios than I am cuz in the moment I kinda loved “Rockstar.” Still sounds pretty.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · 28d

Just a sweet sweet fantasy: My new #HitParadePod at @slate.com is on the history of No1 debuts. How do songs score a fast pass to the penthouse? They’re not always classics—Idol coronations…rap beefs…boy-band soloists…superstar throwaways. For every “Fantasy” “Hello” or “Vampire” there’s a “Trollz.”

The Odd Alchemy That Sends a Brand-New Song to the Top of the Charts

For decades, No. 1 debuts were unheard of in America. Then the record labels and digital music hacked the Hot 100.

slate.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 10

“It’s like if a teen rapper came out now calling himself the Prisoner Of Azkaban or some shit. Lil Captain Underpants.” 🤣 No exaggeration, I loudly LOLd at this.

Happy mutual birthday to us! 🎂 Have a good Chart Columnist Day. Kinda hilarious you wrote about a teen grunge band & pondered mortality.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 8

I’m w/ @chrisdeville.bsky.social—one of that year’s best tracks. Thx for helping explain why it hits so hard—the filter-disco vibes blend w/the gospel-lite soar.

There’s a moment in the video I just love where Gaga/Grande+the dance crew jump & the whole camera-angle does a 180° pivot. Irresistible.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 5

On the latest episode of #BeyondYachtRock2000 I join @jdryznar.bsky.social, @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social & Dave Lyons for a countdown of some of the oddest videos from MTV’s first day. From the Buggles (no…not that one) to Pete Townshend…Kate Bush to Todd Rundgren…it’s an all-new way to #KeeptheFire.

125. What the Heck? MTV’s First Day

Podcast Episode · Beyond Yacht Rock 2000 · 09/04/2025 · 1h 4m

podcasts.apple.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 3

Hey @augetoffmygold.bsky.social —this is an entertainingly debatable ranking (eg if you weren’t gonna give PG No1 I’d have flipped your 1 & 3).But my big quibble: You mention the Cars’ shadow from defeated “Thriller” but the same goes for VH beating Nirvana. I’d put “Right Now” lower for that alone.

Every VMA Winner for Video of the Year, Ranked

Here's how Billboard ranks the 41 music videos that have won video of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards so far.

www.billboard.com

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 3

Thanks for making me appreciate subtleties in this addendum of a hit I never noticed before, and…man, I’m so sorry that happened to your family. I’m relieved you’re all right (very best to the missuz), touched you shared that info and inspired you found sustenance from this song. Peace.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 2

Feel like I wished this into being. I realize David &
@rilaws.bsky.social are seeking fulltime employment which—as warned—may include some competing podcast. But man…nothing beats the 3 of you w/ @kateyrich.bsky.social as ringmaster—if y’all basically rebooted LGM here permanently I’d be delighted.

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Chris Molanphy @cmolanphy.bsky.social · Sep 1

Single of the year AFAIC. I fully cosign you that Bey’s vocal is this glorious slow-mo explosion—she starts precise & gradually bursts. Also the bars work even in radio-edit mode—I put “Savage Remix” on my Summer 2020 mix (my then-stepkids were listening) & the flow’s so good the edit loses nothing.

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