Did it take a trust fund to save rock and roll? This week, we’re traveling back to the rock revival epicenter, New York City in the early 2000s, to talk The Strokes and their 2003 single “Reptilia”. Diallo & LUXXURY get into the band’s not-so-humble origins and not-so-hidden influences, why 2001 was the year music fandom began to fragment, and Julian Casablancas’s process of “writing sideways”. 

Then, we break open the stems to get into the surprisingly symphonic composition, the human percussion that sounds like a drum machine, and the grungy lounge lizard-ness of Julian’s isolated vocals. 

Songs Discussed:

“It Never Rains in Southern California” (1972) - Albert Hammond

“The Air That I Breathe” (1972) - The Hollies

“Creep” (1992) - Radiohead

“Yellow Ledbetter” (1992) - Pearl Jam

“Hard to Explain” (2001) - The Strokes

“Since U Been Gone” (2004) - Kelly Clarkson

“In the End” (2000) - Linkin Park

“Blurry” (2001) - Puddle of Mudd

“It’s Been A While” (2001) - Staind

“Smooth Criminal” (2001) - Alien Ant Farm

“Flavor of the Weak” (2000) - American Hi-Fi

“Fat Lip” (2001) - Sum 41

“Rock and Roll” (1970) - The Velvet Underground

“American Girl” (1976) - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

“Last Nite” (2001) - The Strokes

“Freeze Frame” (1981) - The J. Geils Band

“Let’s Go Crazy” (1984) - Prince

“Bull in the Heather” (1994) - Sonic Youth

“12:51” (2003) - The Strokes

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

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Engineering by Katie Gilchrist

Produced by Eric Hicks and Demian Kendall

Edited and mixed by Eric Hicks

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As Spooky Season falls across the land, no mere more can resist the power of this 1983 smash hit. On this very special Halloween episode of One Song, Diallo and LUXXURY break down Michael Jackson’s spookiest pop song, “Thriller.” They discuss how the King of Pop teamed up with Quncy Jones to make the iconic title track for the best-selling album of all time (70 million+ copies!), and how its cinematic music video redefined what a music video can even be. And prepare yourself to hear Michael’s isolated and stacked vocals…they’ll make you jump right out of your seat!

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Our full Patreon interview with Kyle Gordon: comedian, musician, and internet sensation ("Mr. Jambo", "Planet of the Bass") emerges from behind the paywall! In the lead up to the release of his new album Kyle Gordon Is Everywhere, we discussed the fine line between music and comedy (and getting both right); parody vs. satire; and the delicate process of composing "Mr. Jambo" (spoiler: he learned some Zulu!)

Kyle explains how he drew inspiration from Paul Simon's Graceland, how his tour has evolved from a seated comedy show to a standing concert, and where he fits in the history of musical comedy.

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong to get access to exclusive interviews like this one.

Episode produced by Demian Kendall.

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What song taught you how to grieve? We’re getting emotional on this one as we dive into the foundational 90s hip hop track and dedication song: “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” by Pete Rock and CL Smooth. 

Diallo and LUXXURY discuss the emotional nature of the song’s production as a tribute to Pete Rock’s close friend, before getting into their own personal stories of connecting music and the loss of loved ones. 

Then, the stems breakdown brings us the return of Clyde Stubblefield from our James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” episode, as well as the 60s folk song that made Pete Rock cry and inspired a legendary hip hop sample. 

This episode is made in partnership with Spotify. SongDNA beta is available on Spotify Premium. Check out “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” on SongDNA via the Spotify mobile app. 

Songs Discussed:

“Scenario” (1991) - A Tribe Called Quest

“Extra Kings” (2000) - Avalanches

“Pour Out A Little Liquor” (1994) - Thug Life

“Renee” (1996) - Lost Boyz

“Tha Crossroads” (1996) - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

“Today” (1967) - Tom Scott, California Dreamers

“Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)” (1968) - James Brown

“I Got A Love” (1994) - Pete Rock and CL Smooth

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How many words can we use to describe Sade’s voice? Hint: the answer is more than ten. We’re kicking off a new season of One Song with an all-timer: Sade’s 1984 jazz-soul-pop classic, “Smooth Operator”. 

Diallo and LUXXURY discuss the origin and evolution of Sade from a backing singer to a star who blended style, sophistication, and sexiness in one iconic force of nature. We also argue a lot about how to pronounce her name (and there’s technically one correct answer). 

Then, we dive into the stems and get into a the bass line that never breaks a sweat, the chords that make you feel sexy even when you’re alone, the epitome of 80s saxophone, and of course, the unmistakable vocals of Helen Folasade Adu, aka Sade. 

Songs Discussed:

“Searching” (1980) - Change feat. Luther Vandross

“Like A Tattoo” (1992) - Sade

“Pride (When You Can’t Back Down)” (1982) - Pride

“Love Is Stronger Than Pride” (1988) - Sade

“Don’t You Want Me Baby” (1981) - The Human League

“Venceremos (We Will Win)” (1984) - Working Week

“When Am I Going to Make a Living” (1985) - Sade

“Is It A Crime (Live Aid at Wembley Stadium, London)” (1985) - Sade

“Kiss of Life” (1992) - Sade

“War of Hearts” (1985) - Sade

“Sweetest Taboo” (1985) - Sade

“Maureen” (1985) - Sade

“Paradise” (1988) - Sade

“No Ordinary Love” (1992) - Sade

“You Will Rise” (1996) - Sweetback feat. Amel Larrieux

“Manhood” (2000) - Victor Duplaix

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Check out the One Song Spotify playlist

Recorded at Spotify Studios

Engineering by Ryan Todd

Produced by Eric Hicks and Demian Kendall

Edited and mixed by Eric Hicks

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We’re revisiting an episode with all you ever wanted and all you ever needed from Diallo and LUXXURY. Okay, well, not everything, but in Part 2 of our Depeche Mode special, the guys break down the band’s biggest hit, “Enjoy the Silence.” Get ready to learn Depeche Mode’s techniques for crafting moodier, darker, and more atmospheric sounds, why this song took them to global superstar status, and how they paved the way for countless bands to create synth-driven, danceable music.

New episodes return next week! Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong for early/ad-free access and bonus episodes.

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This week, we’re revisiting an important question: How much do Diallo and LUXXURY love Depeche Mode? Answer – so much that they couldn’t pack it all into one episode. So get ready for a thorough two-part deep dive on these pioneers who defined the sound of electronic music! In Part One, the guys discuss Depeche Mode’s early years and their dynamic approach to using synthesizers and drum machines to make their music. Plus, they break down how “People Are People” was made—the song that took them global.

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Hey One Song Nation, we’re excited to announce a whole spate of new episodes coming your way starting October 15! We’ve got a new partner and a bunch of new songs to break down. But first, we’re opening the Patreon to share the full version of an instant classic: our contentious (but not really) interview with Geoff Barrow (Portishead, Beak>, Ex Machina) where we tried to answer the question: Does breaking down music ruin it? 

This feud began in the comments of our Pharcyde "Runnin'" episode where Barrow commented, “Why does everyone need to break everything down to weird maths?” Thus sparking a DM convo with LUXXURY which led to this, the debate of the century! (which is actually a very polite conversation by very nice men!) We also get into the hip-hop origins of Portishead, a few of Geoff’s wonderfully hot takes, and the process of composing music for film vs. a band.

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Check out the One Song Spotify playlist

Produced by Demian Kendall

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We’re revisiting an episode that goes beyond music’s cultural impact to talk about its meteorological impact. When Rihanna's Umbrella topped the charts in the UK, it coincided with a period of heavy rain and flooding. The same thing happened in Romania and New Zealand. Coincidence, or did Rihanna's hit change the weather? On this episode of One Song, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY explore the song's backstory, delve into the stems, and get to the bottom of how Rihanna arrived as a global megastar and made it rain. Literally.

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This episode is made in partnership with Spotify. SongDNA beta is available on Spotify Premium. Check out “Funky Drummer” on SongDNA via the Spotify mobile app.

Why did the drum beat that birthed hip hop only cost 50 bucks? In Part 2 of our “Funky Drummer” breakdown, Diallo & LUXXURY devote an entire episode to the genius and legacy of the funky drummer himself: Clyde Stubblefield. It’s our “Oops! All Drummers!” episode, so strap in for some syncopations, paradiddles, breaks, ghost notes, backbeats, ostinados, tresillos, and the eight simple bars of hi-hat, snare, and kick that birthed decades of great (and not-so-great) samples. 

We start in the stems, deep diving on what makes this iconic beat so damn good, including the four ideas that Stubblefield abandons along the road to the titular funk. Then, we get into the song’s legacy and the decades of samples that Stubblefield’s beat created, from 80s hip hop to 90s rock to 2000s cartoons. 

We’re giving Stubblefield his due. Because after all—the name of the tune is Funky Drummer. 

Songs Discussed:

“Cold Sweat” (1967) – James Brown

“Give It Up or Turnit a Loose” (1970) – James Brown

“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) – James Brown

“Mother Popcorn” (1969) – James Brown

“The Classy M.C.'s” (1985) – MC Quick Quintin and MC Mello J.

“It’s A Demo” (1986) – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo

“South Bronx” (1987) – Boogie Down Productions

“Jack the Ripper” (1989) – LL Cool J

“Mama Said Knock You Out” (1990) – LL Cool J

“Rock the Bells” (1985) – LL Cool J

“Rebel Without A Pause” (1987) – Public Enemy

“Bring the Noise” (1987) – Public Enemy

“Fuck Tha Police” (1989) – N.W.A.

“Run’s House” (1988) – Run-D.M.C. 

“Let Me Ride” (1992) – Dr. Dre

“Justify My Love” (1990) – Madonna

“To My Donna” (1991) – Young Black Teenagers

“Where I’m From” (1993) – Digable Planets

“The Next Movement” (1999) – The Roots

“The Magic Number” (1989) – De La Soul

“Freedom! '90” (1990) – George Michael

“2001” (1992) – Melissa Etheridge

“G-Bop” (1992) – Kenny G

“The Powerpuff Girls Theme” (1998) – James L. Venable, Thomas Chase, and Stephen Rucker

“In Effect” (1995) – DJ Red Alert & Mike Slammer

“Officer” (1992) – The Pharcyde

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Check out the One Song Spotify playlist

Engineering by Katie Gilchrist

Produced, edited, and mixed by Eric Hicks

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Was James Brown the inventor of funk? Diallo & LUXXURY dive into “Funky Drummer (Part 1)” the first half of the nine-minute funk epic that cemented James Brown as a true master of the genre. They get into the song’s legacy as a treasure trove for hip hop samples, James Brown’s unique presence as a bandleader, and what makes the song fit in the pantheon of perfect wedding DJ songs. Then, they bust out the stems to discuss the percussive nature of every instrument in the ensemble, including the greasy guitar licks, trumpet blasts, legendary sax and organ solos, a rarely heard set of James Brown vocals, and the titular funky drumming that combine to make a colossal 70s classic. 

Songs Discussed:

“Living in America” (1985) – James Brown

“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) – James Brown

“Please Please Please” (1958) – James Brown and the Famous Flames

“Try Me” (1958) – James Brown and the Famous Flames

“Buddy Bolden’s Blues” (1939) - Jelly Roll Morton

“Out Of Sight” (1964) - James Brown

“Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” (1965) - James Brown

“Cold Sweat” (1967) - James Brown

“Fun House” (1970) - The Stooges

“So What” (1959) - Miles Davis

“Mahna Mahna” (1977) - Mahna Mahna and The Snowths

“I Be Blowin’” (1993) - De La Soul ft. Maceo Parker

“The Grunt (Pts 1 & 2)” (1972) - The J.B.’s

“Protect Ya Neck” (1993) - Wu-Tang Clan

“Doing It To Death (Pts. 1 & 2)” (1973) - The J.B.’s

Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong

Check out the One Song Spotify playlist

Episode produced, edited, and mixed by Eric Hicks.

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