On a new #HitParadePod—The Bridge, @timmysommer, who signed Hootie &the Blowfish to Atlantic, makes the case for them as “Generation R.E.M.” & assesses why their followup album led to their downfall. Plus, trivia…and a preview that gets the party started.

Every year I look fwd to @Thirdmanmovies’ predix, especially his breakdown of the Best Pic ranked ballot. I’m a bit surprised he thinks AQotWF is gonna start in the middle of the pack—I’m convinced (dreading?) that movie has deep “steak-eater” love—but I like the result here, so.

Here’s the 2nd 2023 @podbelowtheline episode about #Oscars music—@LouisWeeks, Tom Peyton & I join host Skid to cover Best Original Song. Must Diane Warren win a competitive prize? Why did Gaga & Rih go so trad? Will “NaatuNaatu” be the banger of the night? https://t.co/GvPHbo48bJ

Also! While #HitParadePod—The Bridge episodes are only for @SlatePlus members, non-Plus listeners can now hear pt2 of our Feb show on Hootie, and how Darius Rucker defied convention twice—1st as lead Blowfish, then as a country superstar. Pts 1&2 are here:

Another #Oscars season means I got to do another music nominees chat on @podbelowtheline. I join @LouisWeeks, Jennie Armon &host Skid to talk #BestScore: Is John Williams as overdue as Spielberg? Will SonLux be swept in w/‘EEAAO’ or Hauschka w/‘All Quiet’? https://t.co/hPlgUFEHe8

Dunno how—if “Cry Me a River” is a 10 (it is)—this isn’t one too (T.I.’s rap alone!) but still a great read. I mark the popifying of @pitchfork as a 2-step process: the ’04 Annie rave, in which @scottplagenhoef told off PF’s readership; followed by the “My Love” year-end ranking.

@Slate Glad everybody’s been enjoying the Blowfish parade. If—Darius help you—you’re craving *even more* Hootie, the Spotify playlist for this #HitParadePod episode is now live on the @Slate show page, or at this link:

The bad news for anyone awaiting #RihannaAlbum9: looks like we can keep waiting. That didn’t feel like an album launch. ⌛️ 🤷🏽‍♂️

#Rihanna stats—I counted 6 No1s (*) out of a 12-song set: “Bitch Betta Have My Money” “Where Have You Been” * “Only Girl(In the World)” * “We Found Love” * “Rude Boy” * “Work” “Wild Thoughts” “Pour It Up” “All of the Lights” “Run This Town” * “Umbrella” * “Diamonds” No new songs!

Imma read the inclusion of “All of the Lights” as an act of reclamation from Ye. 🤔 #RihannaBowl

“Only Girl” was the 3rd in the set but the 1st No1 hit…but it’s been all chart-toppers since. #RihannaBowl

#Rihanna getting her message to the NFL over with in the 1st song. #bettahavemymoney

P.S. Before anyone corrects that now-outdated screenshot, “Work” wound up spending 9 weeks@No1. Her 2nd-longest run on top after “We Found Love.”

Here’s the full list of #Rihanna No1s on the #Hot100. Anyone wanna guess how many she hits tonight? I’ll go w/an even 7. #RihannaBowl List taken from this 2016 article—last time I got to write about Rih for @Slate’s #WhyIsThisSongNo1?, 7 long years ago: https://t.co/OHVndpiqVF

This @Slate #HitParadePod’s gonna love you the best that it can—how Hootie &the Blowfish, ’90s normcore icons, defied the cool kids to rule the Zeitgeist. And how singer Darius Rucker pivoted from jangle-rock to R&B(?!) to country(!!) & ruled charts again.

#RIPBurtBacharach. Co-sign this—kudos to @AUgetoffmygold. (And let's please give Dionne her flowers while she's still with us.) https://t.co/d68pIFQRh6

Joe updated his list of worthy artists who still haven't made the ballot (and was very excited to finally take Joy Division/New Order & George Michael off the list!)

One of the many frustrating things about Beyonce and Album of the Year is that there is perhaps no major star who's been more thoughtful & insistent about the continued importance of the album as a singular piece of art, designed to be understood and appreciated in its totality.

Note that at the end of “God Did” Mr. Beyoncé was guzzling his prop wine for real. I feel you, rap’s Frank Sinatra. #Grammys 🍷

P.S. I’m a pretty big Beck fan but him beating her in 2015 is still the most nonsensical of the losses. Just FTR.