You Wanted a Hit!

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You Wanted a Hit!

Michael Smith & Theo Beidler

95 episodes

1 week ago

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 get played on the radio?" Well, we're here to answer these questions for you. Each episode we will explore the backstory, creation, and success of one unlikely smash hit. The catch? Only one host knows which song will be the topic. Hosted by music fanatics and pop culture enthusiasts Michael Smith and Theo Beidler.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Music Commentary

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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 get played on the radio?" Well, we're here to answer these questions for you. Each episode we will explore the backstory, creation, and success of one unlikely smash hit. The catch? Only one host knows which song will be the topic. Hosted by music fanatics and pop culture enthusiasts Michael Smith and Theo Beidler.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show more...

Music Commentary

Episodes (20/95)

You Wanted a Hit!

Toadies "Possum Kingdom" Part 2

2 of 2 parts: Michael tells the story of the Fort Worth alternative band's creepy, cult-ish 1994 rock radio staple.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 week ago

56 minutes 26 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Toadies "Possum Kingdom" Part 1

1 of 2 parts: Michael tells the story of the Fort Worth alternative band's creepy, cult-ish 1994 rock radio staple.

[WARNING: This episode contains historical depictions of gruesome and graphic violence. Listen discretion is advised.]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 weeks ago

53 minutes 27 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Chuck Mangione "Feels So Good"

Theo tells the story of the Rochester flugelhorn player's super smooth 1977 jazz-pop crossover sensation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 weeks ago

1 hour 26 minutes 5 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Dave "Baby" Cortez "The Happy Organ"

Michael tells the story of the Detroit singer/songwriter/organist's 1958 instrumental chart-topper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 month ago

57 minutes 34 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Geggy Tah "Whoever You Are"

Theo tells the story of the California experimental rock duo's 1996 funky, feel-good driving song.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 months ago

1 hour 13 minutes 46 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing" (w/ Steve Sladkowski of PUP)

Michael tells the story of the English band's 1978 breakout pub-rock hit. Steve Sladkowski, lead guitarist of PUP, joins the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 months ago

1 hour 33 minutes 19 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Spin Doctors "Two Princes"

Theo tells the story of the jammy New York pop-rock band's inescapable 1991 smash.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 months ago

1 hour 24 minutes 35 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Discussion: Top Albums of 2025 So Far

Michael and Theo try something new and discuss their respective five favorite albums of the year thus far.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 months ago

59 minutes 43 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta" Part 2 (w/ Matt Gudernatch)

2 of 2 parts: Michael tells the story of the journalistic Seattle alternative rock band's snarky yet snappy 1997 smash. Actor, writer, and comedian Matt Gudernatch joins the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 months ago

1 hour 8 minutes 27 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta" Part 1 (w/ Matt Gudernatch)

1 of 2 parts: Michael tells the story of the journalistic Seattle alternative rock band's snarky yet snappy 1997 smash. Actor, writer, and comedian Matt Gudernatch joins the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 months ago

51 minutes 50 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Jill Sobule "I Kissed a Girl"

Theo tells the story of the Denver singer-songwriter's witty, groundbreaking 1995 gay anthem

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 months ago

1 hour 1 minute 8 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Jimmy Dean "I.O.U."

Michael tells the story of the Texas singer/songwriter, actor, TV host, and meat purveyor's 1976 sentimental spoken-word ode to moms

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 months ago

58 minutes 54 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

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

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 months ago

1 hour 28 minutes 30 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Nada Surf "Popular" (w/ Sofia Loporcaro)

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 months ago

1 hour 22 minutes 2 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy"

Theo tells the story of the Birmingham, England pop rock band's genre-defying 1989 chart-topper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 months ago

1 hour 11 minutes 47 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Re-Hit: Buster Poindexter "Hot Hot Hot"

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.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 months ago

1 hour 9 minutes 46 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

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

Michael tells the story of the Indiana singer-songwriter's 1984 soundtrack smash

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes 57 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Richard Harris "MacArthur Park"

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 months ago

57 minutes 2 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

Gerardo "Rico Suave"

Michael tells the story of the Ecuadorian rapper's 1990 alter-ego bilingual blockbuster.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 months ago

1 hour 5 minutes 13 seconds

You Wanted a Hit!

The Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping"

Theo tells the story of the Ohio new wave band's distinctively cool 1981 Christmas classic, with a bonus dive into Kurtis Blow's 1979 holiday hip hop hit "Christmas Rappin'."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 months ago

50 minutes 43 seconds