Song 2

"Single first... then a song that sums up the album as the second track"

After having had a wonderful chat with the very friendly Simon Rix of Kaiser Chiefs, we could not let it end without tasking him on the subject of Song 2. I would say we are on a 50/50 split of those that agree and those that do not. Thankfully, Simon has a few things to say on the matter and, in fact, may just apply the rule to the next Kaiser’s album, due in 2024. Check out my interview with Simon, available in two parts on RTL Play.

This one has been a while in the offing, given that Wolf Alice played in Luxembourg back in 2022...

BUT this is a great response from Theo, who, despite genuine surprise that Bros (which will feature in a full episode later this year) was a Song 2 from their debut, takes some convincing on the merits of the so-called theory. He’s not convinced on Lithium, nor No One Knows by QOTSA and Rufus Wainwright’s opener to the album Poses, called Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk is the final nail in my coffin. Please got check out parts one and two of my in-depth interview with Theo on RTL Play. (Image: Band's Facebook)

This week we skip merrily along the street revisiting Jet’s mahoosiv cut, Are You Gonna Be My Girl?

...and look at why it did bring the band oodles of that ‘Ferrai Money’ they yearned for, but little else.

Quite possibly our most meandering answer yet, but we can be sure "it works for Fleetwood Mac, but not for The Beatles"

Not long before Royksopp took to the stage at Abbaye Neumunster earlier this year, Sam Steen caught Torbjørn and Svein to ask them whether or not they were potentially going to join the Song 2 club. This is one of our longest answers yet and flip flops more often than a Brit on a Spanish seafront… don’t forget to rate and subscribe, Song 2 is out every Wednesday and Friday and you can get it from wherever you chose to download your podcasts.

Image: Angelina Bergenwall

The London-based musician let's us in on his Song 2 take...

We spoke to Master Peace just when the hype trail was hotting up on his Peace Of Mind EP, and of course we took the time to ask him about Song 2. Though he does not apply it to his own records, he sees it everywhere when perusing others…especially when it comes to Bloc Party.

The Beatopia writer is a definite fan of the Song 2 theory and here also explains her take on the importance of tracklisting

Beabadoobee is as energetic as you might expect her to be, even when she has a cold, which she did at the time of us regarding this episode. We caught up with the alt--pop star ahead of her show in the Grand Duchy some time back now, it must be said. She is onboard with Song 2 in relation to her own recordings but not so sure regarding that of her peers....

In this week’s episode, I am not afraid to admit that I am bricking it...

…not so much that I can solve Luxembourg’s housing crisis, but enough to tack on a decent extension. This week we are taking on one of the biggest SONGS EVER, R.E.M's Losing My Religion.

The Belgian noisemakers remain unconvinced on my approach but do expand on their thoughts on tracklisting

Having released one of my favourite albums of 2022 in Unison Life, I was delighted to speak to Stijn and Stephanie from the powerhouse Belgian trio….neither of them agree with me, opting for a song being able to tell its own story – the full itvw is available on RTL Play.

This week we are taking a look at Maroon 5’s This Love, the second single to be taken from their multi million selling debut record, Songs About Jane.

Up until the world threatened to swallow Adam Levine in one gigantic meme-gasm late last year, Maroon 5 were one of the biggest and most well-known bands on the planet…and I know, judging from what must have been a collective intake of breath from many M5 fans (not motorway lovers), I believe this is a far superior track to the rather insipid mega smash She Will Be Loved.

It’s no real secret that Antony Szmierek is our bestie...

..well, maybe it is a surprise to him, but given that we’ve shared crisps tips, and that the galaxy’s favourite hitchhiker loves us here in the GD, it would only be right to ask him about the Song 2 theory. We recorded this just as Antony begun to take off in the UK, and since then he’s gone from strength to strength… recent single The Words To Auld Lang Syne is further proof of an incredible talent. Check out my interview with Antony on RTL Play. (Image: Artist's own via Facebook)