We’re taking you back to one of our very first episodes, talking mosquitos and libidos. That’s right, Diallo and LUXXURY are off on a sonic adventure with Nirvana’s 1991 grunge rock juggernaut, Smells Like Teen Spirit. Hear why Diallo thinks it’s one of the most important songs in pop culture, and strap in for some rarely heard Kurt Cobain vocal stems. There’s also a lot of talk about blap-um-blap-um drum patterns.

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We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes of One Song this week featuring award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster Danyel Smith (Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop). Danyel joins Diallo and LUXXURY to break down Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,” the 1978 disco crossover hit that launched her incredibly successful solo career. They discuss Chaka’s powerful, dynamic vocal range (just wait until you hear the isolated stems!), how the song became an anthem for female empowerment (among many other things), and Chaka’s professional and personal connections with Whitney Houston, who famously covered the song 15 years later for The Bodyguard soundtrack.

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How do you end one of the greatest albums of all time? Maybe you need to bring in a 40 person orchestra. This week on One Song, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY continue their two-part exploration of the Beatles with one of the greatest album closers of all time, “A Day In The Life.” They dive into the silly hats and carnival novelties that helped create the chaotic orchestral sections of the song, the headlines that inspired John Lennon’s lyrical odyssey, and debate whether or not Sgt. Pepper’s can truly be considered a concept album.

Songs Discussed:

“A Day In The Life” - The Beatles

“Within You Without You” - The Beatles

“Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!” - The Beatles

“People Are Strange” - The Doors

“Blue Jay Way” - The Beatles

“Tomorrow Night” - Elvis Presley

“Shook Ones, Pt. II” - Mobb Deep

“Hey Joe” - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“Hush” - Deep Purple

“2112” - Rush

“Sicko Mode” - Travis Scott feat. Drake

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A flaming ashtray. A saxophone mouthpiece. Blistered fingers. How did one of the Beatles’ most chaotic recording sessions lead to a raucous masterpiece that paved the way for metal? On the first part of this Beatles Two-Parter, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into the tumultuous creation of “Helter Skelter,” tracking its origins as a 30-minute mellowed out blues-rocker to the review that inspired Paul McCartney to crank the track up to an eleven. Plus, LUXXURY tries to convince Diallo to listen to Wings.

Songs Discussed:

“Helter Skelter” - The Beatles

“Mama’s Pearl” - The Jackson 5

“Helter Skelter” - Mötley Crüe

“Dear Prudence” - The Beatles

“I Can See For Miles” - The Who

“Holidays in the Sun” - Sex Pistols

“Fire” - Arthur Brown

“Birthday” - The Beatles

“Happiness Is A Warm Gun” - The Beatles

“You Really Got Me” - The Kinks

“Exciter” - Judas Priest

“Whole Lotta Love” - Led Zeppelin

“Paperback Writer” - The Beatles

“Long Tall Sally” - The Beatles

“She Loves You” - The Beatles

“Silly Love Songs” - Wings

“Arrow Through Me” - Wings

“Old Siam, Sir” - Wings

“Muzik” - Knoc-Turn’al

“Temporary Secretary” - Paul McCartney

One Song Spotify Playlist

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This week on One Song, we're re-sharing one of our favorite episodes, possibly the greatest ever apology song ever recorded: It’s OutKast’s multi-platinum ode to a complicated relationship and “baby’s drama mama”, Ms. Jackson.

One Song Spotify Playlist

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How did a 21-year-old unknown transform a deeply personal breakup into one of the defining hits of the ’90s? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette, unpacking the raw vocal performance, the Flea and Dave Navarro-driven groove, the genre-blurring production hidden in the stems, and the cultural moment that launched Jagged Little Pill into a 33-million-copy phenomenon.

Songs Discussed:

“You Oughta Know” - Alanis Morissette

“Only Happy When It Rains” - Garbage

“Unbelievable” - EMF

“Too Hot” - Alanis Morissette

“Straight Up” - Paula Abdul

“Let The Music Play” - Shannon

“All I Really Want” - Alanis Morissette

“Hand In My Pocket” - Alanis Morissette

“You Learn” - Alanis Morissette

“Head Over Feet” - Alanis Morissette

“Ironic” - Alanis Morissette

“Big Exit” - PJ Harvey

“Cornflake Girl” - Tori Amos

“32 Flavors” - Ani DiFranco

“Fast Car” - Tracy Chapman

“You Oughta Know (Jimmy the Saint Blend)” - Alanis Morissette

“Fools Gold” - The Stone Roses

“Pacifics” - Digible Planets

“Barracuda” - Heart

“Fuckin’ In The Bushes” - Oasis

“Little Miss Lover” - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“Bonin’ In The Boneyard” - Fishbone

“Walk On Water” - Thelonious Monster

“Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” - Primus

“Epic” - Faith No More

“Dungeon Vision” - Earth Tongue

One Song Spotify Playlist

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Is “Just Like Heaven” The Cure’s pop masterpiece? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into the 1987 crossover hit, unpacking what makes it the purest distillation of The Cure’s sound while tracing the band’s blend of goth atmosphere and euphoric pop across their discography.

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Songs Discussed:

“Just Like Heaven” - The Cure

“Hot n Cold” - Katy Perry

“Believe” - Cher

“I’m Like a Bird” - Nelly Furtado

“All Star” - Smash Mouth

“Irreplaceable” - Beyoncé

“Closing Time” - Semisonic

“Alone” - The Cure

“Lovesong” - The Cure

“Friday, I’m In Love” - The Cure

“High” - The Cure

“Let’s Go To Bed” - The Cure

“A Forest” - The Cure

“Spellbound” - Siouxsie and the Banshees

“Release The Bats” - The Birthday Party

“Eighties” - Killing Joke

“One Hundred Years” - The Cure

“The Lovecats” - The Cats

“The Walk” - The Cure

“Shake Dog Shake” - The Cure

“Fascination Street” - The Cure

“In the Air Tonight” - Phil Collins

“The End” - The Beatles

“Close To Me” - The Cure

“Hot Hot Hot!!!” - The Cure

“Why Can’t I Be You?” - The Cure

“Bandages” - Hot Hot Heat

“In Between Days” - The Cure

“The Blood” - The Cure

“Another Girl Another Planet” - The Only Ones

“Just Like Heaven” - Dinosaur Jr.

“A Forest” - Nouvelle Vague

One Song Spotify Playlist

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Why does “N.Y. State of Mind” still feel like the gold standard for hip-hop lyricism three decades later? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into Nas’ landmark track, tracing its origins from Queensbridge to Columbia Records, unpacking DJ Premier’s haunting piano sample, and exploring how a dream team of producers reshaped hip-hop forever.

Songs Discussed:

“N.Y. State Of Mind” - Nas

“Halftime” - Nas

“The Genesis” - Nas

“Professor Booty” - Beastie Boys

“Subway Theme” - DJ Grand Wizard Theodore

“Live At The Barbeque” - Main Source feat. Nas

“Life’s A Bitch” - Nas feat. AZ & Olu Dara

“It Ain’t Hard to Tell” - Nas

“Long Red” - Mountain

“The World Is Yours” - Nas

“Just A Friend” - Biz Markie

“I Love Music” - Ahmad Jamal Trio

“N.T.” - Kool & The Gang

“Gangsta Gangsta” - NWA

“Breathe And Stop” - Q-Tip

“Flight Time” - Donald Byrd

“Mind Rain” - Joe Chambers

“White Rabbie” - Jefferson Airplane

“Milkshake” - Kelis

“This Is How We Do It” - Montell Jordan

“Children’s Story” - Slick Rick

“Mahogany” - Eric B. & Rakim

“I’m Glad You’re Mine” - Al Green

“Five Man Army” - Massive Attack

“New York State of Mind” - Billie Joel

“SexyBack” - Justin Timberlake

“Gin And Juice” - Snoop Dogg

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How did one of rock’s most successful bands of all time accidentally create one of the darkest hits in pop history? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” unpacking the band’s complicated legacy and tracing the blend of American blues, surf rock, and global sounds that gave the song its spell-like power.

Songs Discussed:

“Paint It Black” - The Rolling Stones

“Start Me Up” - The Rolling Stones

“Miss You” - The Rolling Stones

“Emotional Rescue” - The Rolling Stones

“Brown Sugar” - The Rolling Stones

“Shattered” - The Rolling Stones

“Under My Thumb” - The Rolling Stones

“Boléro” - Maurice Ravel

“Norwegian Wood” - The Beatles

“Pipeline” - The Chantays

“Bir Eylül Akşamı” - Erkin Koray

“My World Is Empty Without You Babe” - The Supremes

“Lorelei” - Cocteau Twins

“Love Attack” - Konk

One Song Spotify Playlist

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How did “Crazy in Love” announce Beyoncé’s arrival as a solo superstar? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into this career-defining moment, breaking down the iconic Chi-Lites horn sample, Beyoncé’s commanding vocal performance, and an early demo from producer Rich Harrison that reveals how the song’s infectious hook came together.

Songs Discussed:

“Crazy In Love” - Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z

“Flat Beat” - Mr. Oizo

“Survivor” - Destiny’s Child

“Independent Women Part I” - Destiny’s Child

“Jumpin’ Jumpin’” - Destiny’s Child

“Bootylicious” - Destiny’s Child

“Work It Out” - Beyoncé

“‘03 Bonnie & Clyde” - Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé

“Me and My Girlfriend” - 2Pac

“I Used to Love H.E.R.” - Common

“I Gave You Power” - Nas

“Bonnie and Clyde” - Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainbourg

“Dilemma” - Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland

“Why Don’t We Fall In Love” - Amerie

“Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)” - The Chi-Lites

“Oh Girl” - The Chi-Lites

“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” - Beyoncé

“Talkin’ About” - Amerie

“1 Thing” - Amerie

“Get Right” - Jennifer Lopez

“Part Time Punks” - Television Personalities

“Blessings” - p-rallel & Sam Deeley

One Song Spotify Playlist

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How does a song with no bass and no chorus become a global anthem with the most recognizable riff of the 21st century? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY break down The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” exploring the cultural moment, the iconic bass-that-isn’t-a-bass riff, and the analog choices that turned a stripped-down idea into a modern classic.

SONGS DISCUSSED

“Seven Nation Army” - The White Stripes

“You’re Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)” - The White Stripes

“St. James Infirmary Blues” - The White Stripes

“St. James Infirmary” - Cab Calloway

“St. James Infirmary” - King Oliver

“Grinnin’ In Your Face” - Son House

“Fell In Love With A Girl” - The White Stripes

“Feral” - The Gories

“Symphony No. 5” - Anton Bruckner

“All By Myself” - Eric Carmen

“Otoma Da Naba” - Florence Adooni

“Dead End Love” - Phaidia

One Song Spotify Playlist

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