Song 2

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“Song 2”
“Song 2” cover
Single by Blur
from the album Blur
Released 7 April 1997
Format 7" vinyl, CD
Recorded 1997
Genre Alternative rock
Length 2:02
Label Food
Virgin Records America
Producer Stephen Street
Blur singles chronology
"Beetlebum"
(1997)		 "Song 2"
(1997)		 "On Your Own"
(1997)

"Song 2" is a song by Blur, and the second single released from their fifth album Blur in April 1997. The track, known for its overdriven chorus, is among the most well-known songs the band has recorded, particularly in the United States, where it remains their biggest hit to date.

The song is said to be a tribute to Bob Nastanovich's role in seminal indie rock band Pavement (possibly to his many yells on Pavement songs and live shows), but bears more similarity to Nirvana-like grunge, of which some consider it to be a parody[1].

Contents

[edit] Information

Damon Albarn stated at the song's debut live performance at the RDS in Dublin in June 1996 that "This one's called 'Song 2', 'cos we haven't got a name for it yet". The working title ended up sticking. Coincidences surrounding the number two eventually became associated with the song: it was the second track on the album, was the second single from the album to be released, and reached #2 in the UK singles chart, is exactly two minutes long, and is also the second track on their compilation Blur: The Best of. It also placed #2 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1997 in Australia.

[edit] Reception

In the UK, "Song 2" built upon the success of Blur's prior #1 single "Beetlebum", reaching, fittingly enough, #2 in the charts. It was also the band's biggest hit in the USA, reaching #6 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks. Though it is decidedly atypical of Blur's trademark style, in America it is the song most closely associated with the band.

The song became quite popular upon its release in 1997 on college and modern rock radio stations in the USA. Due to its catchy chorus, mainly the word "Woohoo", it has been licensed worldwide on numerous occasions. Its first and most notable appearance came as the title music for the hit video game FIFA '98. It has been used in numerous advertisements, including commercials for the Pentium II, the Nissan Sentra, television spots for the film Starship Troopers, and is often heard in football (soccer), ice hockey, and baseball stadiums when goals or runs are scored. For one season, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League played this song every time they scored a goal in a home game. The Carolina League's Wilmington Blue Rocks play the song each time a run is scored while one of their mascots, Mr. Celery, dances on the field.[2] The song also gained recognition in Canada, as the theme for the Labatt Brewing Company. Famously, the American military requested to use the track at the launch of a new stealth bomber [3], but the band refused to allow this, as Albarn is an anti-war campaigner. [4] [5] The song also features in the Episode "Stanley's Cup" (Season 10, Episode 14) of the sitcom South Park.

[edit] Video

The video for this song was directed by Sophie Muller, and it features the band playing in a small, secluded room with loud speakers behind them. During the choruses a strong wind seems to blow in the room.

[edit] Cover versions

The song has been covered by a number of artists, including:

This video bears striking resemblances to Blur's video for Popscene.

[edit] Cultural References

Song 2 was featured in the 1998 Toyota Corolla advertisement in Australia.

[edit] Track listing

  • 7" FOOD93
  1. "Song 2"
  2. "Get Out of Cities"
  • CD1 CDFOODS93
  1. "Song 2"
  2. "Get Out of Cities"
  3. "Polished Stone"
  • CD2 CDFOOD93
  1. "Song 2"
  2. "Bustin' + Dronin'"
  3. "Country Sad Ballad Man (Acoustic Live Version)"
  • International CD
  1. "Song 2"
  2. "Get Out of Cities"
  3. "Polished Stone"
  4. "Bustin' + Dronin'"

[edit] Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1997 UK Singles Chart 2
US Modern Rock Tracks 6
US Mainstream Rock Tracks 25
US Hot 100 Airplay 55
Sweden 28

[edit] References

  1. ^ allmusic
  2. ^ [1]Wilmington Blue Rocks
  3. ^ [2] - Strange News From Another Star
  4. ^ Britpop rebel with a cause says no new nukes - The Guardian
  5. ^ Massive Effort! - nme.com
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