Usually on One Song we focus on the music's cultural impact. But this time we're talking about the meteorological impact! When Rihanna's Umbrella topped the charts in the UK, it coincided with a period of heavy rain and flooding. The same thing happened in Romania and New Zealand. Coincidence, or did Rihanna's hit change the weather?
On this episode of One ... Show More
Jul 23
The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back"
How do five brothers from Gary, Indiana arrive at Motown and change pop music almost overnight? This week, Diallo & LUXXURY dive into the Jackson 5’s explosive debut, “I Want You Back,” and break down the impossible chemistry behind the record that introduced Michael Jackson to t ... Show More
1h 10m
Jul 17
Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”
From the One Song archives, we’re going metal with one of the biggest riff monsters ever recorded: Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.” Diallo and LUXXURY break down a song bursting with musicianship, angst, and intricate instrumentation. Come for the stems of Lars Ulrich bashing awa ... Show More
55m 38s
Feb 2025
The Umbrella Effect: How Rihanna’s Breakout Hit Changed Pop Music Forever
In 2007, a 19-year-old Barbadian pop singer released the lead single off her third album. By doing so, she didn't just give us a timeless, undeniable banger -- she changed the way pop music is made, and became the global superstar that we know Rihanna to be today. In this episode ... Show More
35m 24s
Apr 2025
Only Girl in the World Edition Part 2
It’s been nearly a decade since Rihanna released a studio album—and fans and critics alike have wondered when, if ever, a follow-up to 2016’s Anti might arrive. Which is ironic, because in her heyday, Rihanna was the most productive hitmaker on the charts.Churning out at least on ... Show More
51m 40s
Oct 2019
Rihanna Party! (with Gina Delvac)
Last year, NPR Music ran an audacious headline: "Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician." Millions and millions of fans the world over agree, and while we try to avoid overt expressions of pop favoritism, we think they’ve got a strong case. It’s for that reason a ... Show More
54m 15s
May 2020
After Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande’s ‘Rain On Me,’ Which Other Superstars Still Need to Team Up?
On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, the team discusses why -- in an era of wall-to-wall music collaborations -- Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain On Me" has broken through the pop culture noise as an event record. Plus, the Pop Shoppers pontificate on what superstars they’d ... Show More
25m 41s
Apr 2022
37. Rihanna : Your Favorite Good Girl Gone Bad
We are giving the public a Patreon episode this week! It's finally time to talk about your favorite good girl gone bad, Rihanna! We spend over two hours diving into her alleged partying, relationships, and of course the Jay and Bey of it all! So light up a blunt (or don't) and ch ... Show More
2h 21m
Oct 2020
The Pop Music Forecast (with Lauren Michele Jackson)
Shawn Mendes, BTS, Alicia Keys, 24kGoldn, Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber & Chance The Rapper are all in the Hot 100 with songs that attempt to cope with the state of the world. What do they tell us about the sound of popular music and our collective psyche? Charlie is joined by writer, ... Show More
40m 43s