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You Wanted a Hit!

A discussion of unlikely, perplexing, and positively bizarre hit songs that swept the nation, and often the world.

A discussion of unlikely, perplexing, and positively bizarre hit songs that swept the nation, and often the world. Have you ever heard a classic song and thought, "why on Earth was this popular?" Or "How did this even ge

Latest episode

  • Frank & Moon Zappa "Valley Girl" (w/ Eliza Thorn)

    01:28:30|
    Theo tells the story of the LA-via-Baltimore musical iconoclast and his daughter's 1982 novelty hit that forever changed American vernacular. Nashville singer/songwriter Eliza Thorn joins the conversation.

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  • Nada Surf "Popular" (w/ Sofia Loporcaro)

    01:22:02|
    Michael tells the story of the New York City alternative rock band's 1996 sarcastic, spoken-word singalong. Podcaster and music journalist Sofia Loporcaro joins the conversation.

  • Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy"

    01:11:47|
    Theo tells the story of the Birmingham, England pop rock band's genre-defying 1989 chart-topper

  • Re-Hit: Buster Poindexter "Hot Hot Hot"

    01:09:46|
    In light of David Johansen's passing earlier this week, we are revisiting our 2023 episode about his alter-ego's 1987 calypso crossover smash “Hot Hot Hot.”

  • Deniece Williams "Let's Hear It for the Boy"

    01:02:57|
    Michael tells the story of the Indiana singer's 1984 last-minute soundtrack smash

  • Richard Harris "MacArthur Park"

    57:02|
    Theo tells the story of the Irish actor's 1967 epic pop crooner turn that started a cultural domino effect.

  • Gerardo "Rico Suave"

    01:05:13|
    Michael tells the story of the Ecuadorian rapper's 1990 alter-ego bilingual blockbuster.