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PODCAST

Hits of Our Lives

Can Cihan and Murat Çolakoğlu

Welcome to Hits of Our Lives (HooL) — your weekly breakdown of the Billboard charts and the data driving the hits. We’re Can and Murat, two chart nerds following the numbers, trends, and surprises behind the Hot 100 and Billboard 200. If you"re into stats, shifts, and everything in between — you’re in the right place. New episodes every week. 🎧📊

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:30:05

It’s Time: Ophelia vs. Golden Showdown

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/28

“The Fate of Ophelia” still holds at #1, but “Golden” has suddenly closed the gap with a major airplay surge. Predictions have them neck-and-neck — and with Halloween week ahead, this is shaping up to be one of the most suspenseful chart races of the year.We break down how this happened so quickly, what might come next, and how seasonal returns could disrupt everything. We also look at Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas earning their first Top 10 hits, Olivia’s rising momentum in the U.S., Kehlani’s Folded

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00:42:15

Billboard Gets a Reset — and New Voices Rise

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/26

Billboard just hit refresh — and it’s already changing the game.In this week’s episode, we dive into the new recurrent rule reshaping the Hot 100, the songs finally making their exits, and the fresh faces stepping into the spotlight. Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” still reigns supreme, but the “Golden” showdown we’ve been waiting for hasn’t arrived… yet.We talk Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas finally breaking into the Top 10 and Kehlani’s steady climb with Folded. Plus, the inevitable rise of

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00:31:50

Taylor's "Ophelia" Reigns as "Golden" Waits

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/19

Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” continues its historic run, holding the No.1 spot and extending The Life of a Showgirl’s dominance for a second week — but the countdown to a “Golden” showdown is officially on. With K-Pop Demon Hunters ramping up their promo ahead of Halloween and aiming for a November takeover, the next Hot 100 battle could be one of the year’s biggest.We break down the sustainability of Taylor’s numbers, how long this era can keep the top spot locked, and why “Golden” is

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00:44:33

Showgirl Week: Taylor’s 12 for 12 with 4M+ Units

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/12

Taylor Swift rewrites the record books: The Life of a Showgirl storms past 4M+ first-week units (and sets a new pure-sales mark) while “The Fate of Ophelia” logs the biggest streaming week ever. We break down the sales math, platform records, and the looming Hot 100 sweep (12-for-12)— plus how Taylor stands up for her work vibrantly despite the variants strategy and the criticism around her album.Elsewhere, sombr shines in New York; HUNTR/X step further into the spotlight off “Golden”; Olivia Dean

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00:48:06

Taylor Swift and The Life of a Record-Breaker

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/05

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has turned release week into a global spectacle — breaking streaming and sales records across every platform and setting sights on Adele’s all-time debut. But behind the glitter and the variants, we ask: is this pure dominance or a perfectly engineered record-breaking machine?This week, Can and Murat don’t entirely see eye to eye — diving into the balance between artistry and strategy, authenticity and ambition. Murat reports live from New York, sharing his

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00:32:42

Female Power Takes Over The Charts

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/28

The divas are here — and they’re running the charts. 🎤 Cardi B storms back with Am I the Drama? debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, Doja Cat experiments with an ‘80s-inspired vibe, and Mariah Carey makes a triumphant return with Here For It All. Olivia Dean drops a new album as Man I Need conquers streaming, while Kehlani sparks a career resurgence with two singles climbing fast.Plus: K-Pop Demon Hunters extend Golden’s reign as the longest-running soundtrack #1 in over a decade, Tate McRae scores

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00:39:07

Cardi B Is the "Drama" and the Mastermind

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/21

Cardi B storms back with Am I the Drama?, a savvy rollout mixing new tracks with past hits that’s powering her toward a #1 debut on the Billboard 200 and a flood of Hot 100 entries. K-Pop Demon Hunters extend their dominance as both Golden and the soundtrack album reign at the top, while Olivia Dean and sombr keep climbing with fresh peaks. We also touch on Ed Sheeran’s Play bowing modestly in the U.S. despite a U.K. #1 — and look ahead to a massive release week, with Doja Cat, Mariah, Olivia Dean,

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00:28:14

KPop Hunts the Charts with a Golden Season

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/14

K-Pop Demon Hunters make history as the soundtrack rises to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 while “Golden” is to hold strong on the Hot 100, scoring a rare double crown. We look at how long Golden can reign before Taylor Swift arrives, and what this moment means for the soundtrack’s legacy.We also dive into Sabrina Carpenter’s second week as “Tears” slips behind “Manchild,” and why timing matters so much for a No. 1 hit. Plus sombr’s steady climb with “12 to 12,” Olivia Dean’s breakthrough, and Ed

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00:33:25

Justin Bieber Reloads Swag II in a Three-Way Race

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/07

Justin Bieber reloads with Swag II and enters a three-way fight for the Billboard 200 crown against Sabrina Carpenter and K-Pop Demon Hunters. We look at Sabrina’s No. 1 debut and why, despite strong reviews, it feels less impactful than her breakout year. We also dig into the “changing” VMAs and what this shift says about the state of music videos. Plus Taylor Swift’s Target midnight rollout, Olivia Dean’s rise, fresh moves from Gunna and Burna Boy, and the Song of the Summer debate: was Ordinary

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00:35:24

Sabrina’s New Album Shines, But Is ‘Tears’ Outshined?

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/08/31

Sabrina Carpenter storms in with Man’s Best Friend, breaking records and securing her biggest week yet — but the glow comes with cracks. Her single Tears opens at No. 1 before quickly slipping, and the album itself is met with mixed reviews. At the same time, K-Pop Demon Hunters extend their golden run with four simultaneous Top 10 hits, while Morgan Wallen looks to hold on through a crowded fall release season. We also dive into the ripple effects of Taylor Swift’s engagement news and upcoming

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00:32:48

New Colors, New Sounds, and a Million in Preorders

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/08/24

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has already crossed a million preorders, with new colors and covers fueling demand ahead of its October 3 release. We look at the frenzy around her variants and what it means for another record-breaking rollout.On the Hot 100, Alex Warren’s Ordinary logs a 10th week at #1, but Golden looks ready to retake the crown as K-Pop Demon Hunters score their fourth Top 10 hit, joining an elite soundtrack club.And it’s not just chart titans — Laufey, Sombr, and Mariah the

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00:37:31

Charts, Brace Yourselves: Taylor Swift's Showgirl Era...

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/08/17

Taylor Swift breaks the internet with The Life of a Showgirl — a 12-track announcement already shaking up the chart climate ahead of its October 3 release — and we dig into what records might fall, how Golden continues its rise against Ordinary as Warren pushes to reclaim the No. 1 spot, why Shaboozey’s Good News is moving toward the top 10 on radio power alone, and how Cardi B’s Imaginary Playerz is struggling to match the momentum of Outside, plus what a crowded release slate in August through

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00:30:52

Golden Is “Going Up Up Up” — And Not Looking Back

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/08/10

This week, we dive into Golden’s continued rise as it secures another week of big gains in streaming, sales, and airplay, solidifying one of the year’s most remarkable chart runs. We look at the numbers behind its climb, what it means for the Hot 100 race, and its place among 2025’s standout hits. Plus, Chappell Roan is about to score her highest Hot 100 peak yet, the UK vs. US chart gap widens, Shaboozey inches closer to an all-time record, the VMAs deliver a fresh batch of nominations and

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00:28:15

Painful, Powerful, and Possibly #1 — Chappell Roan...

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/08/04

Episode 17 of Hits of Our Lives dives into the raw, rising momentum of Chappell Roan’s “The Subway” — a heart-wrenching release that’s turning heads and shifting charts.We unpack the emotional weight behind the track, its historic Spotify debut, and whether it can challenge the ongoing dominance of Alex Warren’s Ordinary and HUNTR/X’s Golden in this week’s tight chart race.We also reflect on the viral Drake backlash that shook our mentions, Morgan Wallen’s chart climb into Billboard history, and

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00:38:42

Tyler Wins the Week, Golden Wins the Season

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/07/28

Episode 16 of Hits of Our Lives breaks down the week Tyler, the Creator claimed the Billboard 200 with Don’t Tap the Glass — a #1 album pulled off in just four days, with ten Hot 100 entries but no breakout single.While Tyler wins the album chart, Alex Warren continues his radio-fueled reign atop the Hot 100, and K-pop Demon Hunters’ Golden proves it's more than just a trend — it’s the song of the summer.We also talk about Drake’s one-week wonders, Mariah’s Sugar Sweet rollout, Ozzy Osbourne’s

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00:34:09

Drake Disses, Bieber Misses, Warren Dances

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/07/20

Episode 15 of Hits of Our Lives unpacks a chaotic week of chart ambition, streaming wars, and public shade. Drake takes aim at Alex Warren after landing at #2, Bieber returns with SWAG and 18 Hot 100 entries but still might not reclaim the crown, and Warren casually twirls on both.We also dive into the continued rise of K-pop Demon Hunters, Ravyn Lenae’s "Love Me Not" turning into her biggest moment yet, and the “seismic rumblings” teasing a new Taylor Swift era — plus our take on

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00:24:15

Can Drake, Bieber & Travis Dethrone Wallen and Warren...

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/07/14

Episode 14 of Hits of Our Lives dives into a blockbuster New Music Friday as Justin Bieber returns with his surprise album SWAG, Travis Scott drops JackBoys 2, and Drake continues his What Did I Miss run. But even with all this firepower, the #1 spots remain fiercely guarded by Morgan Wallen and Alex Warren.We break down the numbers, the impact of Bieber’s new strategy, Blackpink’s “Jump” moment, KPop Demon Hunters and why the chart titans might not be as unstoppable as they used to be.

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00:39:43

Apple Music & Drake Both Ask: “What Did I Miss?”

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/07/06

Morgan Wallen’s reign continues, Drake makes a surprise return, and Ravyn Lenae climbs with quiet force — but the biggest debate this week? Apple Music’s Top 500 all-time list.In Episode 13, we break down what Apple’s decade-in-review reveals (and what it misses), why Spotify tells a different story, and how the streaming giants shape chart success. Plus: sombr hits No. 1 on US Spotify, Lorde scores big in the UK, and Benson Boone’s “Mystical Magical” finally gets its radio moment.

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00:38:29

Is Cardi B the Drama… or Just a Mastermind?

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/06/29

Cardi B’s new single “Outside” to debut in the Top 10, but her upcoming album Am I the Drama? is already stirring controversy — thanks to the inclusion of two No.1 hits from five years ago. Is it a smart chart strategy or just fan service?We also talk Rosé and Alex Warren’s low-key start with “On My Mind,” Ravyn Lenae’s continued Top 20 breakthrough, and why we think the criticism around Benson Boone’s new album is missing the mark.Plus: Morgan Wallen’s sustained dominance, the difference in

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00:35:59

Scroll Down for Something "Magical"

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/06/22

This week on Hits of Our Lives, we dig beneath the surface of the Billboard Hot 100 and find the real excitement in the latter half of the Top 20. While the Top 10 stays mostly frozen, Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not” keeps climbing, Benson Boone’s American Heart rollout sparks questions, and Alex is back at No. 1 with the ever-“Ordinary.” We also touch on rising country names, and whether “Mystical Magical” might finally crack the Top 20.Plus: a diva-packed release week ahead, the quiet impact of

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29 results

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