“I think anyone you will speak to you on this will tell you that very real blood, sweat and tears go into sequencing”

Now that we can confirm that they are going to be hitting the Grand Duchy’s den Atelier on the 30th May, we can finally get to the dapper The Vaccines frontman Justin Young and his take on the Song 2 merry go round. Don’t forget to book tickets for the show on atelier.lu and listen to my two-part interview with Justin available on RTL Play.

On this week's Song 2, we’re taking a look at a rather emotional song that was a breakout for its star performer AND the precursor to a much bigger tune.

Now, let’s be clear here, I am not the authority to speak on Juice WRLD, that honour would to my two teenage sons – who may yet be struck down with MEGA cringe upon hearing this – fortunately I have had some assistance in getting this piece but together by Maja (our clued-up intern).

“If the first track is like a punch in the face, the second one needs to be a little calmer… at least for a couple of minutes”

This one has been a little while in the Song 2 queue, Haken’s most recent LP Fauna came out in 2023 and when the band passed by the Grand Duchy for a show at the Rockhal we of course caught up with riff master Richard Henshall, who finds the second song concept interesting, if not conclusive. We will file this one in the maybe folder... for now.

For episode 3, season 3 of Song 2, we are this week heading into double-denim-ed poodle rock territory.

New Jersey bound we go as we lap up the monumental rock anthem You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi. This iconic track captured the hearts of many in 1986 when it was released as the lead single from their classic album Slippery When Wet, cementing its way into the foundations of rock and roll history.

The Clockworks released an under the radar classic in 2023... do they agree with the Song 2 theory?

For our second episode of Season 3 we are chatting with Sean Connelly of the exciting Irish band The Clockworks, whose debut album Exit Strategy, is a tightly woven collection of atmospheric indie rock tunes, that will find a much wider audience as more and more fans get onboard. Sean is, though, not joining our club, stating quite succinctly that the penultimate song on a record is easily the best. So, I am one-nil down and one week into the season. Let’s hear what Sean had to say…

Back with our first episode of season 3, we are kicking things off with the enormous smash (sorry) hit from The Offspring… Self Esteem.

The Offspring’s third album Smash remains one of the greatest ‘little band gone big’ stories ever. While it is true that Come Out And Play was the first time the mainstream media suffered whiplash in relation to The Offspring - the band Themistocles never undersell its importance - it was Self Esteem that received blanket coverage on MTV and catapulted a popular, but not yet huge punk band, to international stardom.

The third season of our (sometimes) chart-topping podcast is coming soon...

Season 3 is on its way. Why is that big news, well it isn’t if you think any other song other than the second one on a record is the best. We have guests including Poppy, P.O.D, Des Rocs, Shed Seven, Marika Hackman, Ill Peach, Porij, Chastity Belt, Torres, Gruff Rhys, Sprints, Mando Diao, Alkaline Trio, Staind, Vaccines and many more…

Season 2 of Song 2 comes to an end

We will back in Jan 2024 with a whole heap of new (and not so new) Song 2 offerings....

In this week’s, and this year’s last, episode of Song 2 we are again tripping up over the warped stairwell of intros

3 Feet High and Rising is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group De La Soul. Released on February 6, 1989, by Tommy Boy Records which also had Digital Underground and Naughty By Nature on their roster, it was the first of three collaborations with the producer Prince Paul, and remains the critical and commercial peak of both parties.

Santigold - one of the nicest people in music. FACT. Also, does not think her second track is the best one. FACT.

Sam Steen talks with the global star on track listing and her own song 2, Nothing.