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Chart Beat Podcast: Camila Cabello's 'Havana' Deconstructed & Childish Gambino Chart Chat

"Forget about all the hooks for one second," Dave muses. "It's that organic quality about the song, and the way that Cabello connects with it. It's just natural."
Camila Cabello en 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards - Show
INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 11: Camila Cabello performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards which broadcasted live on TBS, TNT, and truTV at The Forum on March 11, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)Getty Images for iHeartMedia / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Welcome to the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast, where each week co-hosts Gary Trust and Trevor Anderson, from the Billboard charts department, discuss why what's on the charts … is on the charts, while also looking at current chart action in a historical context for even greater insights.

This week, Gary and Trevor welcome back Dave and Yael Penn from Hit Songs Deconstructed, as they analyze the compositional characteristics and songwriting and production techniques that helped make Camila Cabello's "Havana," featuring Young Thug, a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.

"Forget about all the hooks for one second," Dave muses. "It's that organic quality about the song, and the way that Cabello connects with it. It's just natural."

Plus, chart chat about Childish Gambino's "This Is America" and what helped it launch at No. 1 on the Hot 100 this week and a flashback to one of the biggest hits by Janet Jackson, who's set to receive the prestigious Icon Award at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Sunday (May 20).

And, you can keep calling our new Chart Beat Podcast hotline – 212-493-4021 (aka, "40-to-1" … like a countdown!) – with chart questions and observations for us to play back and respond to in upcoming episodes.

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Enjoy the latest Billboard Chart Beat Podcast and check back for additional upcoming episodes with artists, label executives, radio programmers and personalities, songwriters, producers and more. And, to receive every episode automatically in your inbox, subscribe to (and rate) the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast on iTunes!