Song 2

This week, we’ve gone big and I mean BIG.

Perhaps I have, for want of a better phrase, shot my load too early (this is only the 5th episode of our second season after all), but I feel we need to address this particular track, right here and right now. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade and a half (and if so, is it listed on Air B&B, I could do with some quiet time), you will have heard MMMBop at least, uuhhmmmm, three thousand times. It was, in 1997, as inescapable as the pandemic was in 2020. If that sounds like I am doing the Hanson brothers a disservice, I am not intentionally being scornful or cynical. This track was everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE.

(Image: Roger Sargent/Shutterstock)

Rou suggests that my theory makes sense... stating that the second song is definitely the most important in maintaining listener's attention

In this week's episode, we spoke to Rou Reynolds of the incredible Enter Shikari just before the release of the band’s stellar LP A Kiss For The Whole World…this is what the flame haired front man had to say on Song 2s and track listing in general. Check out my interview with Rou, on RTL Play. (image: Rou Reynolds' Facebook Page)

One of the greatest one-hit-wonders of all time AND a mighty fine Song 2 entry to boot

For this week’s entry into the SONG 2 canon, we are heading back to 1995 and getting our teeth squarely into another massive ear worm….and this track both proves and disproves my theory…

While Andy gives little time to my argument, his comments on stellar album Troublegum and the importance of overall feel are bang on the money.

And so we are off and running with our second season of SONG 2, by now you should have had a listen to our first episode featuring the well-known and much-loved earworm that is You Get What You Give by the New Radicals, and here in our first guest episode we are chatting with Andy Cairns of the incredible Therapy? While Andy gives little time to my argument, his comments on stellar album Troublegum and the importance of overall feel are bang on the money. He also rates Billie Eilish very highly, which is a statement I would not have expected to write. Check out my interview with Andy about Therapy?’s latest LP Cold Hard Fire on RTL Play. Cheers.

What better way to kick off season 2 of, well, Song 2 than with an absolute no-arguments, no-brain required, ultimate banger.

If you don’t agree with this one, then I guess we can write off your subscription to the remainder of this whole flipping season. Was nice to meet you.. thank u, next

New Radicals were an American pop rock band that were only active for little over 2 years and hailed from Los Angeles. Their debut, and final record, ‘Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too’ released in 1998 quickly topped charts across the UK, USA, and Europe thanks in large parts to the catchy hit song, ‘You Get What You Give’.

We are bringing it back with a whole host of brand spanking new Song 2s

Stephen Steps Lowe's popular series returns for its second leg and with it comes it next level Song 2s.

End Of Year Round Up

It sounds dramatic, but really is not, Steps looks back over 44 episodes and discovers he's no further forward in the debate than when he began. Season Two - Mid-Jan 2023.

Steps may sound like he's underwater, but there's no mistaking that this is a BIG for the Song 2 theory...

You’ll know this one a nanosecond after it begins, assuming of course you have ended up here without reading the push notification, the link wording or indeed the title. Anyway it is the incredible, the unmistakable, the brilliant U Can’t Touch This from MC Hammer.

Starts off as definite, then reveals itself to be very up in the air indeed.

This one has been on the shelf for a couple months but Alan from Gilla Band has given one of the fullest and most informative answers we’ve yet had on Song 2 but doesn’t really give a view on the second track’s importance, despite the best efforts of our very own Sam Steen. What we do get is an insight into how the Dublin four-piece give a LOT of thought to track listing.

Gregory knows where his banger is, but best songs can be hiding in plain sight

Gregory Porter recently stopped by the Philharmonie for a wonderful show that thrilled the audience from beginning to end – I caught up with the full voiced singer in an interview which you can catch on RTL Play. I could not, though, let the friendliest man in music away without first answering the Song 2 question. Gregory prefers a surprise best track and suggests that bests songs are interchangeable anyway. Liquid Skin though, is a Song 2 and a banger… so I maintain I am right…