Hit Parade: "Music Trivia: The MTV and Alt-Rock Edition"

Podcast: Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Host: Chris Molanphy with Steve Lichtai
Date: June 15, 2018
Guest: Jesse Rifkin, Slate Plus member

Overview

This episode of Hit Parade: The Bridge is a special music trivia edition focusing on the birth and impact of MTV and the rise of alternative rock, with a nostalgic nod to 1980s and early 1990s chart history. Host Chris Molanphy and producer Steve Lichtai reflect on the challenges of producing a music history podcast, the influence of the music video era, and the evolution of genres like hair metal and alternative rock. The centerpiece is a music trivia segment with listener/contestant Jesse Rifkin, testing knowledge about Miley Cyrus, alternative rock breakouts, and iconic music videos. Throughout, the episode is rich with insights, pop chart data, and playful banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Art of Producing a Music History Podcast

• Behind the Scenes: Steve describes the challenge of finding the most impactful music snippets, especially for songs he’s less familiar with (e.g., Miley Cyrus vs. classic '80s hits).
  • "Those Miley Cyrus songs… I had to listen through to them to pick those spots. And the thing about those songs, which is really interesting to me, is there’s kind of multiple places that you can bring them into the clear." – Steve (03:07)
• Creative Editing Choices: Chris appreciates Steve’s production instincts, especially dropping in song snippets mid-sentence for effect.
  • "You cut me off mid sentence to play little, you know, snatches of hits... I was like, oh, that’s ingenious. I’m so glad he did that." – Chris (04:24)

The Power of MTV and Music Videos

• Listener Question: Kevin from New York asks how MTV helped mainstream hair metal and hip hop (05:20).
• Data-Driven Perspective: Chris explains the before/after effect MTV had on chart success:
  • "The only thing that’s changed in those six years is the rise in value of a double entendre in a pile of hair." – Chris (06:24)
  • Example: AC/DC's “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980) peaked at #35, but Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986) hit #1, largely due to MTV’s visual impact.
• Effect Beyond Metal: MTV’s influence also propelled hip hop, e.g., Tone Lōc's “Wild Thing” (1988) soared to #2, compared to Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (1980) only reaching #36.
  • "As [MTV] becomes entrenched and helps fuel the music video... It makes these genres bigger, it makes these little micro movements bigger." – Chris (07:32)

Music Trivia Segment

• Contestant: Jesse Rifkin, a culture writer and trivia enthusiast (09:14).
• Question 1: Miley Cyrus’s first top 10 hit
  • Jesse deduces correctly: “See You Again” (10:34).
• Question 2: Which Beatle was inspired by “Rock Lobster”?
  • Answer: “John Lennon with Double Fantasy” (11:46).
• Question 3: 1983 Alt-Rock Album of the Year in Rolling Stone
  • Correct answer: “R.E.M.’s Murmur,” though Jesse guesses incorrectly (13:09).
    • "Among the other albums that REM’s murmur top in the Rolling Stone critics poll was U2’s War." – Chris (13:27)

Contestant Flips the Script

• Jesse’s Trivia Question: Most-viewed 20th century music video on YouTube
  • Chris guesses “Thriller”; answer is actually “November Rain” by Guns N' Roses. (15:04)
    • "You’re gonna have to go one month later for November Rain by Guns N’ Roses." – Jesse (15:04)
    • Chris reacts: "That was an excellent question…I enjoyed it because it was informative to me." (15:26)

Sneak Peek: Alternative Rock and the Next Hit Parade Episode

• The next month’s episode will focus deeply on the origins of alternative rock in the 1980s, exploring bands like R.E.M. and the B-52s, and the transition from post-punk/new wave to modern alt-rock.
  • "This episode will be the first Hit Parade episode that really focuses on what you might call alternative rock... back when… it went by many different names… post punk to new wave." – Chris (16:24)
• Steve expresses personal excitement for the nostalgia and music of his teenage years.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Miley Cyrus:

  • “I actually really like Wrecking Ball. I think it’s a pretty terrific song.” – Chris (02:18)

• On MTV’s impact:

  • “The only thing that’s changed in those six years is the rise in value of a double entendre in a pile of hair.” – Chris (06:24)

• On 80s nostalgia:

  • “I knew all the '80s. I knew 'Jessie’s Girl' and 'Sledgehammer' and Aha.” – Steve (01:57)

• On creative audio editing:

  • “You cut me off mid sentence to play little… snatches of hits… I was like, oh, that’s ingenious.” – Chris (04:24)

• On music video trivia:

  • “You’re gonna have to go one month later for November Rain by Guns N’ Roses.” – Jesse (15:04)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–02:18: Intro, co-host banter; producing the previous Miley Cyrus episode
• 02:55–04:49: Behind-the-curtain: music editing for unfamiliar songs
• 05:00–08:54: Listener question: MTV’s role in music trends; data-driven genre growth
• 09:14–13:27: Music trivia contest with Jesse Rifkin
• 13:54–15:50: Jesse quizzes Chris: iconic music videos on YouTube
• 16:07–17:22: Preview of alternative rock episode; show wrap-up

Conclusion

This Bridge episode delivers a lively exploration of music history through fun, data-driven insights, and a spirited trivia contest. Listeners enjoy personal stories from the hosts’ own chart obsessions, inside views on podcast editing, and clear explanations of how MTV and the music video boom transformed pop and rock music. With nods to nostalgia and expert commentary, it’s both an entertaining and informative listen for music fans—preparing the ground for a deep dive into alternative rock in the next installment.