
The odd alchemy that sends a brand-new song to the top of the charts.
Loading summary
A
Still looking for a natural way to relieve aches and discomfort. Introducing Cornbread Hemp's CBD Gummies Cornbread Hemp's CBD Gummies are made to help you feel better, whether it's stress, discomfort or just needing a little relaxation. They only use the best part of the hemp plant the flower for the purest and most potent cbd. Formulated to help relieve discomfort, stress and sleeplessness. All products are third party, lab tested and USDA organic to ensure safety and purity. Right now, Hit Parade listeners can save 30% on their first order. Just head to cornbreadhemp.com hitparade and use code hitparade at checkout. That's cornbreadhemp.com hitParade and use code Hit Parade. Race the rudders. Raise the sails. Raise the sails. Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching. Over. Roger, Wait.
B
Is that an enterprise sales solution? Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors. With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title, and more. Start converting your B2B audience today. Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a free $250 credit for the next one. Get started today@LinkedIn.com campaign terms and conditions apply. Welcome back to Hit Parade, a podcast of Pop chart history from Slate magazine about the hits from coast to coast. I'm Chris Melanfy, chart analyst, pop critic, and writer of Slate's why Is this Song Number One? Series. On our last episode, we talked about the history of songs that debut on the Hot 100 at number one. For most of the 20th century, this explosive chart feat was considered impossible, but in the 21st century era of digital music, it became not only only possible, but more commonplace. However, many of the songs that opened on top of the chart were flukes, from American Idol coronation songs to forgotten superstar follow ups to better remembered hits. So which of these Insta hits have actually endured? We are now going to walk through some categories of number one debuts, examining their modern radio spins and online streams to see which ones have stood the test of time. Earlier this summer, radio consultant Sean Ross, a friend of our podcast who's been a guest on Hit Parade the Bridge, wrote a piece for Radio Insight investigating the history of number one debuts on the Hot 100. And echoing what we covered in part one of this episode, Sean affirmed that these hits have always been flukey. The number one debut, which should indicate an undeniable hit, has instead included songs that come with an asterisk since the very beginning. To support his point, Sean went a step further. He checked the weekly radio spins for the dozens of number one debuts across chart history to see which ones are still receiving airplay in 2025. As you might guess, the results were all over the map. Songs that debuted at number one as little as two years ago are now receiving few to no spins. For example, slime you Out, a Drake song featuring R and B superstar SZA that opened atop the Hot 100 in the fall of 2023, was played just once on terrestrial radio during the week in early June 2025 that Sean investigated. And on the other hand, Miley Cyrus's self empowerment anthem Flowers, which also debuted at number one earlier that same year, 2023 was still getting played on the radio in 24,200 times a week. Now that's a legacy hit, so I will use Sean Ross's radio data plus historical Spotify play counts plus my own critical lens to categorize hits that have debuted at number one over the last 30 years. To recap, 85 songs in total have opened at the top of the Hot 100 since Michael Jackson first achieved the feat in 1995. We've already addressed many of them in part one of our show, and ranking them all would take too long. But also some of the number one debuts are just not exceptional or remarkable songs.
A
I ain't joking. Do it sound like I'm kidding? I've been making like 2000aminute so high up through the clouds.
B
For example, Polo G's hit Rap Star, which debuted at number one in the spring of 2021, is a perfectly fine piece of melodic hip hop. It's the rapper's only solo top 10 hit, and as of 2025 it gets spun on the radio a little over 50 times a week. Not great, but not nothing. So I won't be going into detail on all of these unremarkable insta hits. Still, some of these old hits are notable because they have faded into the background. For our first category, let's cover what I call superstar momentum Number one debuts. These are songs that opened on top mainly because the artist was on a roll. For example, in the first part of our show, I mentioned that Mariah Carey scored an early pair of back to back number one debuts in 1995 and 96. But a year later, Carey actually scored a third number one debut. Honey was the first single from Carrie's 1997 album Butterfly. Produced and co written by Sean Puff Daddy Combs, Honey is best remembered today for its high budget music video, which presented Mariah being held hostage in a mansion which satirized her own real life failing marriage to Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola. As for the song, Honey receives only modest airplay today, about 40 terrestrial radio plays a week less than either fantasy or One Sweet Day, and its lifetime Spotify streams of 100 million are lower than any of Carrie's other late 90s 1 hits. Or if I told you Katy Perry had just one number one debut, one song that opened atop the Hot 100, what would you guess? California Girls? Firework Roar? Well, no. Actually it was this. Part of Me was a bonus Track on the 2012 special edition of Perry's blockbuster Teenage Dream album. The original version of that album had generated a record five number one hits in 2010 and 2011 California Girls, Teenage Dream, Firework E.T. and last Friday night, all five climbed into the top spot the regular way. So by 2012, Perry was at her imperial peak and Part of Me instantly entered the Hot 100 at number one. Today, part of me receives only 23 spins a week at US radio, and its lifetime Spotify plays are lower than any of Perry's other number one hits. Or how about this superstar momentum chart.
A
Topper I want your body now Would you hold it Against Me?
B
Hold It against me was the first single from Britney Spears 2011 album Femme Fatale. Britney fans were eagerly anticipating the album after a three year gap following 2008's Circus. So when Hold It Against Me arrived, it sold a staggering 4,411,000 downloads in its first week, the highest singles sales total of Britney's career. And it racked up a great opening radio audience too. But the burnout on the song was remarkably quick, and Spears fans and critics generally agreed that the follow up single Till the World Ends was the real Britney classic. Til the World Ends peaked at number three in a longer chart run, but Hold It Against Me was the one that debuted on top, mostly due to timing, anticipation and momentum. Today, Hold It Against Me is only played on the radio eight times a week, according to Sean Ross's data, and its Spotify plays are less than half that of Til the World Ends Again, it's not where you start, it's where you finish.
A
If I said I want your body, would you hold it against me?
B
Before we leave the superstar momentum category, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Taylor Swift. She's debuted ATOP the Hot 100 a remarkable seven times. I've already highlighted a couple of them, including the unimpeachably popular Shake it off and the Moody Cardigan, which benefited from Swift's surprise 2020 pandemic album Folklore and.
A
When I felt like I was an old cardigan under someone's be, you put me on and said I was your favorite.
B
But arguably the number one debut Swift scored less than five months later, the lead single from her other Pandemic album, Evermore was even more momentum driven, the ghostly ballad Willow the more that you.
A
Say the less I know Wherever you stray I follow I'm begging for you to take my hand My plans that's my man.
B
If Willow were by any artist other than Taylor Swift, it would not have gone near number one because it was by Swift and the lead single from an LP that was itself a conceptual follow up to Folklore. This captivating track opened to 30 million streams, nearly 60,000 downloads and a radio audience of over 12 million. Five years later, Willow falls short to Cardigan in lifetime Spotify streams. But according to Sean Ross, Willow now receives more 2025 radio spins than Cardigan. Sometimes a shadow can haunt the airwaves the longest life was a willow and.
A
It bent right to your window they count me out time and time.
B
Another category of number one debut I've identified is what I call the history making hit. These songs opened on top thanks to a meta narrative bigger than the song itself. In the first part of this episode I mentioned Puff Daddy's 1997 tribute to the deceased Biggie Smalls, I'll be missing you. But the biggest history making number one debut of that year was Elton John's tribute to an even more world renowned figure who died too soon.
A
And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind, Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in.
B
Candle in the Wind 1997 Elton John's tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was a cultural phenomenon. The best selling single in Hot 100 history with 11 million sold in America alone, second only in the record books to Bing Crosby's White Christmas, which predates the Hot 100. This re recording of Elton's 1970s tribute ballad to Marilyn Monroe not only debuted ATOP the Hot 100 in September of 97, it spent 14 weeks there. The song was so massive it even turned its B side, the stately Something about the Way youy Look Tonight, into a hit in its own right in America. Something actually wound up the bigger radio hit over Candle and I can't explain.
A
But there's something about the way you look tonight.
B
Sean Ross reports that Candle in the wind 1997 is scarcely ever played in 2025. The week he surveyed it was on the radio only four times your candles.
A
Burned out long before your lips legend ever will.
B
Frankly, I'm surprised it was even that many. The song is wedded in the public's mind with a tragedy. Meanwhile, another historic song that Debuted at number one more recently but is now played even less than Elton's re recorded Candle is this 2020 hit by K pop boy band BTS, life goes on could be categorized more than one way. It's a momentum driven number one debut because it came just a couple of months after BTS's first number one debut, the better remembered hit Dynamite. But the reason I call Life Goes On History making is its language. The song is sung mostly in Korean. Only a few lines of the chorus are in English. That makes sense. Life Goes on, the first and to date the only Hot 100 number one sung largely in Korean. The reason it debuted at number one was due mostly to the loyal fandom of the BTS army, and today the song has no modern airplay footprint. Zero spins on terrestrial radio in 2020, but its cultural status was momentous. And at a time when Korean pop is back atop the charts this year thanks to the recent Netflix musical K Pop Demon Hunters. And by the way, those songs are also partially sung in Korean. BTS's life goes on deserves recognition for helping to pave the way for this globalism on the American pop charts. Some other historic number one debuts include the 2021 chart topper by Taylor Swift. Yes, her again with her RE recording of her classic power ballad All Too well. Why historic? It's the longest number one song in Hot 100 history. Longest? As in running time, the re recording lasts over 10 minutes. Indeed, Swift even titled her re recording Ahem, All Too well. Parentheses 10 minute version parentheses Taylor's version Parentheses from the Vault when this single debuted at number one in November 2021, it beat two prior long playing number one hits, the Beatles 7 Minute Plus Hey Jude and Don McLean's 8 Minute Plus American Pie. I started singing Pie Miss American Pie. McLean held the record for running time for nearly 50 years, but Swift beat him by two minutes. The length of the song and fans curiosity about the story embedded in its lyrics about Taylor's breakup with a famous Hollywood actor fueled the number one debut even more than the song's acclaim.
A
Remember it all too well.
B
The last wave of history making number one debuts came just last year in 2024 when a series of hip hop diss tracks topped the Hot 100 for the first time. As I argued in our July episode of Hit Parade on the History of Dis or Beef records an early 2024 number one debut by Megan the Stallion, a sharp tongued track called Hiss, was arguably the first rap Beef record to top the big pop chart.
A
Everybody wanna kick it when you ain't a threat y' all goofy look so dumb every time y' all celebrate Fake News.
B
Megan's short lived but history making hit never received much airplay. Sean Ross counted three radio spins in a week this summer and its Spotify streams are also modest. But Hiss opened the cultural floodgates for an even bigger 2024 rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. That beef was kicked off by Kendrick's smash Like that with Future and Metro Boomin and his solo joint Not Like Us. All of these songs not only commanded the zeitgeist, they all debuted at number.
A
One.
B
In rap lore. Beef Records make history and lest we forget, sometimes history has an edge.
A
Minor.
B
We'Ll be back momentarily.
A
They not like us. They not like us. They not like us. They not like us. They not like us. They not like us.
B
This podcast is brought to you by Progressive Insurance do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy. Just drop in some details about yourself and see if you're eligible to save money when you bundle your home and auto policies. The process only takes minutes and it could mean hundreds more in your pocket. Visit progressive.com after this episode to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance company and affiliate. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. This episode is brought to you by Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue makes it easy to get creative with your personal style and find the best arrivals for fall. Whether you're trying out the latest fashion trends or curating a closet that stands the test of time, Saks has you covered. Their trusted in store stylists are there to guide and inspire you, helping you find pieces that fit every aspect of your lifestyle. Prefer online shopping? Saks.com offers a curated selection tailored to your taste from new arrivals by your favorite designers like Prada jackets and Gucci loafers to stylish pieces for your everyday needs. If you want shopping to be fun and easy, then head to Saks Fifth Avenue for inspiring ways to elevate your personal style every day. A third category of number one debut is what I call the spin off. These are seemingly new soloists who enter at number one because they are spinning off from an already established group. One of the number one debuts I mentioned in part one, Lauryn Hill's 1998 smash Doo Wop. That thing qualifies for this category because even though it was Hill's first ever single, her prior success with the Fugees gave her entree to the penthouse right away. You might say Hill was a debutante, but also a veteran. One of the most popular sources of spin off acts is the Boy band. In the mid 2010s, the first member of British boy band Won direction to go solo was Zayn Malik, and his first single was a smash right out of the box. Ironically, with that single, Malick achieved something that had eluded the boy band. He scored an American number one hit. In its five years together, 1D only got as high on the Hot 100 as number two recorded under the mononym, Zane 2016's Pillow Talk entered on top by the way. Curiously, the One Direction member who went on to the most successful solo career by far, Harry Styles, did not score a number one hit for several years after 1D's hiatus, and he didn't score his first number one debut until 2022. With the blockbuster as It Was by then, Harry was a long established superstar with his boy band days well behind him. This debut was not really a spin off, you know. It's not the same as It Was.
A
As It Was as It Was because.
B
Harry Styles is now the bigger star as It Was has a much larger radio profile than Zane's hit does. Pillow Talk was only played 44 times on US radio in a week this year as It Was, which was also 2022's song of the summer is still played over 2700 times a week. Week still in the chart history books. Both Zayn and Harry have number one debuts to their names. Another boy band that has spun off multiple soloists with number one debuts is the aforementioned BTS, which went on a multi year hiatus in the mid-2020s while its members served out their mandated South Korean military service. During the hiatus, two members of BTS scored American number ones and both debuted on top in 2023. Jimin, who took his techno bop like crazy to number one in the spring of 20, and Jungkook, who teamed with American rapper Latto for his Summer 23 Banger 7. Between the two BTS soloists, Jungkook's hit has proven more enduring with more than 70 US radio spins a week. Jimin's had none and Seven also has nearly twice as many lifetime Spotify streams as Like Crazy does. Before we leave bts, I should note that they also kinda sorta spun off another number one debut a few years ago by teaming with a veteran rock band. Their duet with Coldplay, 2021's My Universe Gave the Chris Martin fronted British band their only number one debut. Is it really fair to regard Coldplay as a side effect of the popularity of BTS for this one song? Yes, it was Coldplay's first number one hit of any kind since Viva La Vida in 2008, more than 13 years earlier. As of 2025, though, My Universe only garners 17 radio spins a week on Spotify. Its 1.5 billion streams ranks the song among Coldplay's most streamed hits, higher even than older hits like Clocks or Speed of Sound. Talk about the bts.
A
Bu.
B
Sure, it was weird for a British rock band to team up with a South Korean boy band, but that's hardly the oddest insta hit ever. Let's talk about another category weird number one debut. We've talked about Harlem Shake, the fluke hit by Philadelphia DJ Bauer in several prior Hit Parade episodes. It qualifies as both a novelty song and a quasi instrumental hit. And its debut at number one was fueled by a Billboard policy change in 2013 when the magazine began counting YouTube views for the Hot 100 for the first time. The meme ability of Harlem Shake helped it rack up over 100 million video views in its first week on the chart, giving Bauer, who'd never touched the Hot 100 before, a freak number one debut. According to Sean Ross, it now receives no radio spins. But then, radio was never a major part of the whole Harlem Shake phenomenon. And speaking of YouTube sensations, when's the last time you heard this Is America by Childish Gambino, the nom de rap of actor, writer, singer Donald Glover? Probably not in a long time. Sean Ross clocked it at just 11 radio spins a week, and on Spotify, its lifetime plays are lower than five other Childish Gambino hits. But back in 2018, Glover's indictment of American culture was a sensation, coming in at number one on the Hot 100 a week after its disturbing, inflammatory and much memed videos premiered the same night Glover debuted the song on Saturday Night Live. That video did more to fuel this Is America's Number One debut than the song itself did, but it would go on to win the Grammy for Song and Record of the year in 2019. With its blend of Afrobeats, hip hop and withering satire. There's never been a Hot 100 chart topper quite like this is America.
A
Yeah, yeah, I'mma go into this. Yeah yeah. This is gorilla. Yeah yeah, I'm gonna go get the bed. Yeah yeah or imma get the pad.
B
I would also classify many of rapper Travis Scott's chart toppers in the weird category, especially his 2020 number one debut the Scots, whose artist credit was officially listed as the Scots.
A
Let's go straight from outside.
B
The Scots was a one time only name for the duo of Travis Scott. With veteran rapper Scott Miscooti, better known as Kid Cudi, Travis Scott dreamed up the song as the soundtrack to a special appearance in the World Building online video game Fortnite Battle Royale. Scott premiered the Scots Again, that's the name of both the group and the song within Fortnite before releasing it as a single with that massive gamer audience who were also stuck at home at the height of the 2020 pandemic, the Scots exploded onto the Hot 100 at number one, fueled by 42 million streams and 67,000 downloads. And now the Scots was played only 10 times on the radio in a week in 2025, according to Sean Ross, Stereogum1's columnist Tom Bryan aptly calls this meandering song a chart topping pop hit that does not exist. These weird hits by Childish Gambino and the Scots were by artists who had at least scored hits before. Maybe the weirdest number one debut of all was by a performer who'd never touched a chart before. He'd barely even recorded before. And yet in the summer of 2023, the first ever chart hit by a man with a beard and a couple of sleeping dogs entered the Hot 100 at number one.
A
I've been selling my soul Working all day overtime hours for bullshit pay so.
B
I can Oliver Anthony Born Christopher Anthony Lunsford, he released his songs under the pseudonym Oliver Anthony Music recorded an acoustic folk screed called Rich Men north of Richmond on video with a scraggly beard and a couple of snoozing pooches, an inchoate rant that was hard to summarize politically. In the lyrics, Anthony complains about both billionaires and welfare recipients. The unadorned recording caught fire as the 2024 presidential race was just starting to heat up. Tens of millions of Americans bought and streamed the song, pushing it onto both the pop and country charts, where it instantly materialized on top. As you can imagine, this happened. Instance of a hit did not have long coattails. Anthony scored only one more Hot 100 hit, a twangy B side called Ain't Got a Dollar, which peaked at number 82. And then Oliver Anthony Music never touched the Hot 100 again. Rich Men north of Richmond lasted 20 weeks on the Hot 100 before falling off two years later. Sean Ross clocked the song, receiving one spin on US radio in early June 2025. I'd love to know what station played it this year and why. And its lifetime Spotify total of 321 million streams is higher than some Mariah Carey hits. So let's say this for Oliver, he left his mark and in 2023, he may have foreshadowed the results of the 2024 election. Wish I could just wake up and it not be true, but it is. Oh, it is. We'll be right back.
A
This podcast is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart Choice Progressive loves to help people make smart choices and that's why they offer a tool called Auto Quote Explorer that allows you to compare your progressive car insurance quote with rates from other companies so you can save time on the research and can enjoy savings when you choose the best rate for you. Give it a try after this episode@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states and situations. Prices vary based on how you buy. When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more at WhatsApp.com the new Popeyes and Hot Ones menu is the definition of fire flavor. We've got the sizzling Sriracha dippers. 10 out of 10. Time to take it up a notch with the smoking Rojo chicken sandwich. Mm, that's so hot. But it's so good. Now onto the daring dab Ghost wings. Yep, there it is. I love the spice level. Attempt the Popeyes and Hot Ones menu in stores. Our hottest collaboration yet. Love that chicken from Popeyes. Limited time in participating U.S. restaurants for.
B
My last couple of categories, let's cover the most dubious and the most glorious number one debuts. And with apologies to Spike Lee, let's go lowest to highest on the low end. My bucket of lamest number one debuts includes most of the American Idol coronation songs songs I already mentioned. None of them is great. Among the more modern number one debuts in the lame category, we have to talk about Drake. Not to beat up on the guy after Kendrick Lamar took him to the cleaners last year, but here's the thing Drake currently holds the record for most number one debuts in Hot 100 history. This, by the way, is mostly a reflection of how prolific Drake is. Besides his enduring popularity, an amazing nine of Drake's 13 career one hits started in the penthouse, and at least half of those number one debuts are terminally lame.
A
Okay, all right, that's fine. Okay, okay. I'm feeling too sexy to accept requests.
B
These number one debuts are not even representative of Drake's best work. You might suppose his chart toppers would include consensus faves like Take Care, Started from the Bottom or Our Hotline Bling. And no, probably none of those Drake standouts even reached number one, let alone debuted there. If I told you the titles of some Drake songs that have debuted on top, you'd have to be a pretty big Drake fan to even recall them. They're a mishmash of, huh, Jimmy Cook's what's Next? The aforementioned Slime you Out, and my vote for Drizzy's lamest overall number one debut, the instructional dance record yes, you heard me 2Z slide. It's Drake's version of the Hokey Pokey.
A
I'mma show you how to get it. It go Right foot up, Left foot slide Left foot up, right foot Slide.
B
Drake named Toosie Slide after an Atlanta based influencer and dance performer who calls himself Toosie. Drake asked Toosey to help him come up with a dance he could describe in a song. The dance they came up with, Left Foot Up, Right Foot Slide, is childlike in its simplicity, and it's paired with some of the least exciting, least danceable music imaginable. The fact that Drake released it at the start of the 2020 pandemic and shot its video wearing a mask by himself in an empty Toronto mansion may have contributed to the song's dour mood. Stereogum's Tom Bryan calls Toosie Slide, quote, a lockdown throwaway. According to Sean Ross's data, too C slide does garner a little over 50 spins a week, which isn't nothing. But Drake has had much better hits, even better number one debuts. We'll come back to him. Just a few weeks after Toosey Slide debuted at number one in the spring of 20, another hip hop track opened on top that might be even worse. Trolls, spelled with a Z and performed by the aggressively provocative rapper 6ix9ine with help from female rap legend Nicki Minaj.
A
Come getter. Even your man on.
B
Professional Troll Daniel Hernandez, aka Tekashi69, recorded this song specifically to score a number one debut and prove a point about the corruptibility of the Billboard charts. He and Nikki made it as lewd and leering as possible, and they were rewarded on the chart. Five years later, Trolls generates only three radio plays a week. I kind of wish it were none Like Drake, Nikki is a vitally influential rapper whose highest charting hits do not represent her well. Two years after the 69 joint, she scored a number one debut of her own, the Rick James sampling Super Freaky Girl. It's, well, at least better than Trolls, but that's mostly because Super Freaky Girl is built out of a big chunk of James's classic Super Freak. Three years after it opened on top, Super Freaky Girl still scores about 150 radio shows spins a week, according to Sean Ross. So those are my votes for the lamest number one debuts. What about the enduring ones? You can subdivide the cream of the crop between the number one debuts that have proven eternally popular and those I actually love, the former category are the Earworms. You've gotta give it up up for Love them or hate Them, they were phenomena. I'm thinking of, for example, Justin Timberlake's aggressively cheerful Can't Stop the Feeling, which opened at number one in 2016. Timberlake's catchy smash still gets spun on the radio more than than 600 times a week or the following year. Ed Sheeran's brain fungus shape of youf, which not only debuted on top, Sheeran's first ever chart topper, it stayed at number one a dozen weeks. I have both poked at and praised this song in prior Hit Parade episodes. It's both annoying and irresistible, and it still gets spun nearly 1500 times a week on US radio.
A
I'm in love with your body every day Discovering something brand new I'm in love with the shape of you.
B
By the way, Sheeran's Shape of youf has something in common with the following year's Drake smash God's Plan, one of his more respectable number one debuts.
A
She say do you love me? I tell her only partly I only love my bed and my mom. I'm sorry.
B
She Shape of youf and God's Plan are the only two number one debuts in Hot 100 history to be named Billboard's number one hit of the whole year, 2017 and 2018 respectively. It's harder for a number one debut to wind up as the year's top hit. As we discussed in our Hits of the Year episode, generally slower growing songs tend to take the title explosive. Number one debuts tend to have fewer weeks on the chart overall, but the Sheeran and Drake hits outlasted the competition, and God's Plan still gets played around 225 times a week in 2025.
A
God's Plan God's Plan I can't do this on my own.
B
Hey, as for my personal favorites, I've already discussed several of them, songs that are both musically exceptional and still generate hundreds of radio spins and thousands of Spotify streams to this day. They include Mariah Carey's Fantasy, Lauryn Hill's Doo Wop that Thing, Adele's hello, and Lady Gaga's culture shifting pro LGBTQ anthem Born this Way. Believe it or not, Drake has one of my favorites, 2018's Nice for what, his follow up to God's Plan. Both songs debuted atop the Hot 100 back to back. Nice for what is, I'd argue, the better song and one of Drake's most infectious bangers, apparently radio listeners agree. Nice for what generates higher radio spins in 2025, nearly 300 a week, about 30% higher than God's plan.
A
Without a mention. You really piping up on these. You gotta be Nice for what to these I understand.
B
Among Ariana Grande's seven number one debuts, I still enjoy 2018's thank youk. Next, her sweet and salty kiss off to her famous former lovers. It still generates over 100 radio plays a week in 2025, though it doesn't receive quite as much airplay for perhaps obvious reasons. I'm also a fan of Cardi B and Megan the Stallion's gleefully ribald WAP, a number one debut in 2020. In 2025 it's played fewer than 80 times a week at US radio, but considering the song, that's a pretty impressive number. I'd call WAP a bold statement of women's sexual freedom, but that would sell short just how fun it is. Among boy band BTS's five number one debut debuts on the Hot 100, their best is still their first 2020's Dynamite, a disco style bop with silly lyrics and irresistible energy, it's still played around 60 times a week on US radio, but I think it should be more As K Pop becomes more entrenched among American DJs post K pop demon hunters, Dynamite may come to be regarded as a radio classic. Finally, I am a pretty big fan of the eclectic rock adjacent pop star Olivia Rodrigo, whose track record so far is unique. She has three number one songs on the Hot 100 total. She's the sole performer on all of them. No featured artists or duets, and all three of them debuted at number one. Rodrigo is the only artist with that exceptional chart record, a career sweep of number one debuts. And by the way, all three songs are 2020's pop classics, including her 2021 torch ballad Driver's License, which spent eight weeks at number one and still gets spun on the radio more than 300 times a week. Then there's Rodrigo's pop punk banger Good for you. It debuted on top a bit later in 2021, stayed there for only one week, but is to this day an even bigger airplay jam. More than 1200 radio spins a week in 2025. And finally, there's Rodrigo's most unique chart topper, the hybrid torch ballad and operatic rocker Vampire. I affectionately refer to it as Olivia's Bohemian Rhapsody.
A
Bleeding me dry like a Damn Vampire.
B
In 2023, Vampire debuted on top of the Hot 100, fell out of the number one spot for a while, then came back to number one nine weeks later. Talk about an enduring hit. Two years later, according to Sean Ross's data, Vampire is still heard on the radio nearly a thousand times a week. I was reflecting on the uniqueness of Vampire recently while watching footage of Rodrigo's Block blockbuster tour in support of her acclaimed 2023 album Guts. The tour took Rodrigo all over the world, and wherever she went, fans sang along lustily to Vampire and all of her hit. These are the fans who made Olivia's songs number one debuts in the first place. When each song dropped, these fans couldn't wait to hear them and play them over and over again. There were enough of these rabid fans that the songs exploded onto the charts, but in all cases, Rodrigo's songs gradually became favorites of more passive audiences, too. Ideally, this is how the charts are supposed to work. The loyal fan gets the fire started, and if the song is great, the larger public keeps it burning for weeks, months and years to come. I hope you enjoyed this episode of Hit Parade. Our show was written, edited and narrated by Chris Melanfi. That's me. My producers this month were Kevin Bendis and Olivia Briley. Our supervising producer is Joel Meyer, and the Executive Executive producer of Slate Podcasts is Mia Lobel. Check out their roster of shows@slate.com podcasts. You can subscribe to Hit Parade wherever you get your podcasts, in addition to finding it in the Slate Culture feed. If you're subscribing on Apple Podcasts, please rate and review us while you're there. It helps other listeners find the show. Thanks for listening and I look forward to leading the hit parade back your way. Until then, keep on marching on the one. I'm Chris Mullanfi.
A
Foreign.
B
This episode is brought to you by Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks Fifth Avenue makes it easy to get creative with your personal style and find the best arrivals for fall. Whether you're trying out the latest fashion trends or curating a closet that stands the test of time, Saks has you covered. Their trusted in store stylists are there to guide and inspire you, helping you find pieces that fit every aspect of your lifestyle. Prefer online shopping? Saks.com offers a curated selection tailored to your taste from new arrivals by your favorite designers like Prada jackets and Gucci loafers to stylish pieces for your everyday needs. If you want shopping to be fun and easy, then head to Saks Fifth Avenue for inspiring ways to elevate your personal style every day.
A
ABC Wednesday Shifting Gears is back. He has arisen. Tim Allen and Kat Dennings return in television's number one new comedy. What what? With a star studded premiere including Jenna Elfman, Nancy Trapper, Travis and Hey buddy. A big home improvement reunion welcome. Oh boy, that guy's a tool. Shifting Gears season premiere Wednesday, 8, 7 Central on ABC and stream on Hulu.
Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Toppermost of the Poppermost Edition Part 2
Host: Chris Molanphy
Episode Date: September 26, 2025
In this episode, chart analyst and pop critic Chris Molanphy continues exploring the phenomenon of songs that debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. With the rise of digital downloads and streaming, “number one debuts” (songs entering the chart at the top) have become more common—but not all such hits are created equal. Chris uses radio spin data, Spotify streams, and historical context to sift through these insta-hits, assessing their staying power, cultural impact, and chart oddities from the past 30 years. Through trivia, anecdotes, and expert analysis, he explains what truly makes a “smash” and which songs stand the test of time.
[00:52–05:41]
[05:41–13:18]
Chris identifies superstar momentum as a key driver: these songs top the charts not necessarily for their own merit but because the artists were at their career peak.
Seven #1 debuts, including “Shake It Off,” “Cardigan,” and “Willow.”
“Willow”’s airplay in 2025 surpasses “Cardigan”—momentum is fleeting, but sometimes leaves a lingering radio presence.
[13:18–21:29]
These songs owe their chart-topping status to extraordinary contexts or cultural moments.
[21:48–29:14]
Chris covers solo debuts by former group members whose collective popularity ensured chart success:
A crossover #1 debut more reflective of BTS’s global wave than Coldplay’s momentum.
[29:14–36:59]
A look at odd, viral, or meme-fueled chart-toppers that don’t necessarily follow normal hit patterns.
Folk/country viral sensation during campaign season; huge initial impact, minimal later career.
[38:34–45:54]
Chris’s “lamest” #1 debuts are often tied to manufactured hype, virality, or artist momentum—rather than lasting popularity.
[45:54–53:32]
Chris closes by celebrating those rare #1 debuts that are both cultural milestones and enduring pop favorites. He splits them into breaking “earworms” and personal favorites.
Chris ultimately argues that the true test of a “smash” is whether it endures beyond cult fandom and initial hype—picking up recurrent airplay and streaming from a broader public. Only a handful of #1 debuts can claim this alchemy of timing, cultural resonance, and genuine listener love.
For listeners:
This episode is a treasure trove of pop chart trivia, inside radio numbers, and critical wit—perfect for anyone curious about how the biggest songs become, and remain, hits.
Further listening/reading:
To hear song snippets or dig deeper into the chart stories, check out Chris Molanphy’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” column at Slate. For bonus episodes and ad-free listening, explore Slate Plus.
End of Summary