Song 2

Some twenty episodes in and we are no closer to hitting the sweet spot

For our latest installment of the short time Luxembourg number one podcast, Song 2, we get to pick the brain of Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and sometime genius, Olafur Arnalds, who arguably delivers the most on the nose response we have yet heard…it may not be the best but it is the most important… let’s hear what he has to say…

We are taking on a more recent track this week, and, given recent news it finds us in a strange, and contemplative mood.

Which is sort of the opposite of what Watermelon Sugar is. Harry Styles first debuted his song 'Watermelon Sugar', originally a promotional track his second album 'Fine Line', which was also filled with incredibly catchy bops such as 'Lights Up', 'Adore You' and the really rather good 'Golden'.

'Mon The Biff, but not 'Mon Song 2 apparently...

Despite having a bunch of proper, 'ave it, Song 2s to their name (27, The Ideal Height, Saturday Superhouse, That Golden Rule, Black Chandelier to name but a few), Ben's not going to allow the theory as fact... find out why here.

This one puts the cat among the pigeons

Often described as the breakup song from Kelis’ third album Tasty, this bone fide banger of a song has a distinct r&b flavour albeit tethered to with a driving beat and slathered with one of pop’s most instantly recognizable hooks.

This week we are visiting the mind of Billy Corgan and more specifically taking on one of the best Song 2’s ever written.

The second track on the willfully bonkers Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Tonight Tonight is, without question one of the songs that even those unfamiliar with Smashing Pumpkins music will be able to identify – it was even number in Iceland, for heaven’s sake. (image: Matt Ryan Tobin)

It’s time for yet another in the topsy turvy world of Song 2, where the voices of the music industry lend their weight to or against my theory.

This week, Lia from the incredible The Mysterines gives us her take on the Song 2 approach and immediately states that the second song on their debut LP is NOT their most important, but does the firebrand Liverpudlian musician subscribe to my idea, or not, find out here… (photo: Steve Gullick)

Is the second song on an album that record's best track?

The umpteenth episode of Song 2 sees Steps assertion that the second track on I Should Coco is the record's best.

Lachlan Stuckey is reluctant to add any weight to Steps' theory, though concedes there's something in it

Label disagreements aside, Stuckey maintains that his records are as they 'should be', as in building vibe and mood. PLUS, there are TWO song 2's...one on side-A and one on side-B.

Is the second song on an album that record's best track?

Stephen Steps Lowe is back in the hot seat and this week takes a look at the classic cut Sexy Boy by Air, the first single but second track on the seminal 1997 album Moon Safari.

The Melbourne based musician acknowledges but does not fully agree with the theory

Last songs are Grace's gravy...and she has little time, initially to listen to any talk of the second track being the best one.