Music Trivia: Welcome to Hit Parade—The Bridge

Summary

Hit Parade: The Bridge — Music Trivia

Podcast: Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Host: Chris Molanphy
Guest: Kim Lombardini
Date: April 20, 2018
Episode: Music Trivia: Welcome to Hit Parade—The Bridge

---

Episode Overview

This debut mini-episode of "The Bridge," a new interlude format within the Hit Parade series, features host Chris Molanphy reflecting on the previous full episode (focused on Madonna), engaging a listener (Kim Lombardini) in pop music trivia, and teasing the subject of the upcoming main episode. The format encourages audience interaction and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how episodes are crafted, as well as playful trivia exchanges.

---

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Madonna Episode Reflections

• Chris discusses feedback received about the Madonna episode, noting that listeners wanted even more exploration of her hits, especially from the 1980s.
  • Chris Molanphy (00:44):
    “The challenge with an artist, frankly a pop legend like Madonna, is knowing what to leave out. That's why I made that comparison to the Beatles in that episode. Madonna is at that level, at least in terms of depth of catalog.”
• He humorously regrets little about leaving out Madonna’s "American Pie" remake and acknowledges the struggles of condensing an artist's vast catalog into one episode.

2. Introduction of “The Bridge” Mini Episodes

• “The Bridge” will be a recurring mid-month mini-episode featuring:
  • Reflections on past episodes
  • Music trivia with a listener
  • Clues about upcoming episodes

3. Music Trivia Segment with Contestant Kim Lombardini

• Guest Introduction: Kim joins from Amagansett, NY, expressing her fandom and appreciation for the show:
  • Kim Lombardini (02:50):
    “Thank you. You're making me appreciate the little things about artists that I really hadn't stopped to think about, especially like George Michael and Donna Summer... I'm a big fan.”
• Format: Chris quizzes Kim on Madonna and 1980s hair metal trivia, while Kim gets her chance to quiz Chris in return.

Trivia Questions for Kim (Madonna & Hair Metal Focus)

1. (03:42)
   • Q: What was Madonna's last number one hit of the 1990s on Billboard’s Hot 100?
     • Choices: A) Take a Bow, B) Frozen, C) Ray of Light, D) Music
     • Kim’s Guess: Ray of Light
     • Correct: A) Take a Bow
     • Chris Molanphy (04:20):
       “Take a Bow, which went to number one in 1995... was still the last number one by her in that decade.”
2. (05:10)
   • Q: Which of these 80s hair metal songs went to number one first?
     • Choices: A) Def Leppard “Photograph”, B) Quiet Riot “Come on Feel the Noise”, C) Van Halen “Jump”, D) Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name”
     • Kim’s Guess: “Photograph”
     • Correct: C) Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
     • Chris Molanphy (05:48):
       “Neither the Leopard song nor the Quiet Riot track went to number one, the Bon Jovi did but not until 1986. Jump got there first. In 1984.”
3. (06:00)
   • Q: Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" was Billboard’s top album of which year?
     • Choices: A) 1986, B) 1987, C) 1988, D) 1989
     • Kim’s Guess: 1988
     • Correct: B) 1987
     • Chris Molanphy (06:24):
       “Even though Slippery When Wet came out in 86, it spent more weeks at number one in 87 and was that year’s top LP...”

Notable Moment:
Kim, though not a hair metal fan, gamely takes on the questions and takes her losses in stride, laughing with Chris about her guesses.

Kim’s Trivia Question for Chris (07:15)

• Q: In 1998, Madonna’s “Ray of Light” won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording. That same year, which hip-hop artist became the first to win the Grammy for Album of the Year?

  • Chris’s Guess: Lauryn Hill
  • Correct: Lauryn Hill (“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”)

• Chris expands on Grammy trivia:

  • Chris Molanphy (08:27):
    “The only other hip hop winner of album of the year was by Outkast. [‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’ in 2004].”

4. Behind-the-Scenes & Upcoming Episode Teaser

• Contestant Opportunity: Chris explains that the trivia segment is open to Slate Plus members, who can sign up to be contestants in future Bridge episodes.
• Next Episode Tease (09:46):
  • The upcoming full episode will center on a “superstar act” Chris dislikes—a first for the podcast.
    • Chris Molanphy (09:46):
      “It's the first time we're revolving a whole show around a superstar act that I can't stand. I have hated this act since high school. In fact, you might call them my first worst. That's a clue for those of you who are creative Googlers... Even though I'll be playing a wealth of music I don't care for, I think you'll find the episode fun and hopefully enlightening.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chris Molanphy (00:44):
  “The challenge with an artist, frankly a pop legend like Madonna, is knowing what to leave out.”
• Kim Lombardini (02:50):
  “Thank you. You're making me appreciate the little things about artists that I really hadn't stopped to think about, especially like George Michael and Donna Summer.”
• Chris (04:20, on Madonna):
  “Take a Bow, which went to number one in 1995... was still the last number one by her in that decade.”
• Chris (08:27, Grammy trivia):
  “The only other hip hop winner of album of the year was by Outkast. [‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’ in 2004].”
• Chris (09:46, episode tease):
  “I have hated this act since high school. In fact, you might call them my first worst. That's a clue for those of you who are creative Googlers.”

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:44 – Reflections on Madonna episode and catalog challenges
• 02:37 – Contestant Kim Lombardini introduction
• 03:42 – Start of Madonna/hair metal trivia questions for Kim
• 07:15 – Kim quizzes Chris (Grammy awards trivia)
• 08:27 – Chris’s bonus trivia about hip hop Album of the Year winners
• 09:46 – Teaser for next full episode and call for Slate Plus contestants

---

Summary

This inaugural mini-episode of “The Bridge” creates a dynamic, participatory extension of Hit Parade’s trademark blend of music history and chart geekery. Chris Molanphy shares insights into episode creation, challenges with covering vast artist catalogs (notably Madonna), and foreshadows upcoming themes. The trivia segment, featuring listener Kim Lombardini, adds a personal, community touch and reinforces the show’s friendly, knowledgeable atmosphere. Signature wit and deep music knowledge (as well as a playful adversarial stance toward certain musical acts) suffuse the episode, making it an enjoyable, accessible listen for both dedicated fans and pop chart novices.

Transcript

[A]

You're listening ad free on Amazon Music.

[B]

Hello and thanks for joining us. I'm Chris Melanfy, host of Hit Parade, a monthly podcast of pop chart history from Slate Magazine about the hits from coast to coast. So what are we doing here? I am not here today with a new full episode that will come in a few weeks. But starting today we're going to be checking in with you a bit more in the Hit Parade feed. Welcome to our new mini episode, the Bridge. In this short mid month episode, I'll reflect on our previous show. I'll be joined by a contestant to answer some music trivia and you'll get some clues about what's to come in our next full episode. So in our last full episode of Hit Parade, we focused on Madonna. Our feedback was generally positive, which I think reflects how affectionate many of us are toward Madonna all these decades later. In fact, if I got any pushback, it's from listeners who wanted to hear more Madonna. Where were more of her 80s hits? Where was her remake of American Pie or her James Bond theme to Die Another Day? First off, I do not regret leaving off that misbegotten remake of American Pie. And I suspect even Madge herself wants to forget that movie. The next best thing. But the challenge with an artist, frankly a pop legend like Madonna, is knowing what to leave out. That's why I made that comparison to the Beatles in that episode. Madonna is at that level, at least in terms of depth of catalog. In fact, Madonna has recorded more albums than the Fab Four did. And she has lasted as a recording artist three to four times longer than they did as a group. And that's why we get in and out of the 80s so quickly. In that episode, I could have killed another half hour telling stories from Madonna's first five years. She packed so much life and so many hits into that period. But I digress. Now we have a game we want to play, some Hit Parade trivia. In each mini episode, I'll ask one contestant three pieces of music trivia and they will get the chance to quiz me. So who's our first contestant, Glory seeker?

[A]

I'm Kim Lombardini. Hello.

[B]

Hello. Hi, Kim. How are you?

[A]

I'm good, I'm good. What a pleasure to talk to you.

[B]

Thanks for joining us for our first ever version of Hit the Bridge.

[A]

Oh yeah, I'm happy to do it. I'm a big fan. So pleased that you're increasing the amount that you're going to be doing the podcast. So thank you. You're making me appreciate the little things about artists that I really hadn't stopped to think about, especially like George Michael and Donna Summer. Yeah. Really, really enjoying what you're doing with the podcast. So thank you very much. It's fun to be first.

[B]

Wonderful. And where are you joining us from, if you don't mind me asking?

[A]

I am joining you from the seaside location of Amagansett, New York.

[B]

Oh, you are definitely in a more glamorous place than I am right now. I'm staring at the four walls of a recording studio, so that sounds delightful. So shall we start with my trivia questions to you and then you can go ahead and turn the tables on me?

[A]

Sure, let's do it.

[B]

All right, great. So let's start with a trivia question first. First, about the subject of our last episode, who was, of course, Madonna. Okay, so here we go. Question one. What was Madonna's last number one hit of the 1990s on Billboard's Hot 100? A, take a bow. B, frozen. C, ray of light or D, Music?

[A]

Ooh. Ah. The last one. I'm going to guess Ray of light.

[B]

I'm sorry. The correct answer was A, Take a bow.

[A]

Oh, shoot.

[B]

The key to this question is that the question was Madonna's last number one hit of the 1990s. All of the parts of the question are important because Take a Bow, which went to number one in 1995, which leaves half of the 90s left, was still the last number one by her in that decade. Neither of the tracks from the Ray of Light album, neither Frozen nor Ray of Light, went to number one. And while the song Music did reach the top, it did so in the year 2000.

[A]

Oh, okay. All right.

[B]

That was a tricky one. Now our next two questions are going to foreshadow the subject of our next Hit Parade episode. I'm going to reveal the broad topic of the episode without giving away too many details about the story or the song your hit parade marches to or any of that. So here are two more trivia questions. Are you ready, Kim?

[A]

I hope so, yes.

[B]

Okay, question two. Which of these 80s hair metal songs went to number one first? A, Def Leppard photograph. B, Quiet Riot. Come on, feel the noise. C, Van Halen jump. Or D, Bon Jovi, you give love a bad name.

[A]

Photographed by Def Leppard.

[B]

I'm sorry, the correct answer is C. Van Halen's Jump, because neither the Leopard song nor the Quiet Riot track went to number one, the Bon Jovi D. But not until 1986. Jump got there first. In 1984.

[A]

Fudge.

[B]

You are so confident. I really thought you had that one.

[A]

I did too.

[B]

All right, all right. One more. One more shot at glory here. Are you ready?

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

All right, Kim, let's try this Last 1. Question 3. Bon Jovi's slippery When Wet was Billboard's top album of what year? A, 1986, B, 1987, C, 1988, or D 1989?

[A]

Okay, I'm not a big hair metal person, but 1988.

[B]

Oh, you're so close. The correct answer is B, 1987. Even though Slippery When Wet came out in 86, it spent more weeks at number one in 87 and was that year's top LP or since it was the 80s and the peak of the Walkman, the top cassette. By 88, the band was already onto their second number one album, New Jersey, which kept generating hits into 1989. Wow. I really wish we would have given you one. You would have gotten. But I appreciate your being willing to be game, especially since you are not apparently a hair metal fan. But, Kim, now is your chance to pull the rug out from under me. Now is your time to quiz me. So I have been a music journalist for about 25 years and a pop chart geek for more than 30. So let's see what you've got.

[A]

Okay, so in 1998, Madonna's Ray of Light won a Grammy Award for the best dance recording. That same year, this artist became the first hip hop performer to earn a Grammy for album of the year. Name the artist.

[B]

I think we're talking about Lauryn Hill.

[A]

You're right. Lauryn Hill won for the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It's the first hip hop album to win a Grammy for album of the year. Girls, you know, you better watch out. Good job.

[B]

That is an excellent, excellent question. Can I ask a follow up that you may know? Cause this is fun. There's a lot of trivia going around about Lauryn Hill and the miseducation of Lauryn Hill right now, particularly in light of Cardi B, who had a number one hit just six months ago. That was the first solo female rapper to have a number one hit. But since you bring up the Grammys, let me ask this. There have actually Only been ever 2 album of the year winners in the hip hop genre. Do you know what the other one was?

[A]

No, I don't think I do.

[B]

This is just a fun bonus, but I thought it might be fun to bring up the Other one in 2004 for the 2006, 2003 Grammy year was Speaker Box the Love Below by Outkast. That is the only other hip hop winner of album of the year. There have been several nominees. Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z. But Eminem several times. But the only other hip hop winner of album of the year was by Outkast.

[A]

Very good. Very good.

[B]

Thank you so much for playing along with us, Kim. And now, while this bridge episode is available to all Hit Parade subscribers, we are only opening our contestant hotline to Slate plus members. So before you go, Kim, I'd just like to remind everybody who'd like to take part in this little experiment in future months, if you'd like to enter to play, just become a Slate plus member and after you've signed up for your membership, you can visit Slate Me Hitparade to enter yourself as a contestant. If you're already a Slate plus member, you can also enter just visit Slate Me Hitparade and fill out the form including your Slate plus membership in info. Well, Kim, this has been delightful. Thank you so, so much for taking part.

[A]

Thank you so much. And I'm sorry I suck so bad.

[B]

Yeah, no, that's okay. Thank you, Kim.

[A]

Okay, thanks, everybody.

[B]

Now, I want to tell you a little bit about the episode we're cooking up, which will drop later in the month. I don't want to reveal too much, but I will say that this episode is a first for Hit Parade. It's the first time we're revolving a whole show around a superstar act that I can't stand. I have hated this act since high school. In fact, you might call them my first worst. That's a clue for those of you who are creative Googlers. Even though I'll be playing a wealth of music I don't care for, I think you'll find the episode fun and hopefully enlightening. We even talk about some hits of the 2010s by the end. Thanks so much. And as I say every month, keep on marching on the one. Until next time, I'm Chris Melanfi.