One Song

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoff Barrow (Portishead, Beak>, Ex Machina) defends his claim that breaking down music ruins it. We brought Geoff and LUXXURY’s social media argument to One Song to get into it. Here’s a short preview of our conversation with Geoff from our Patreon episode. You can listen to the full interview (for free) by joining our Patreon, where you can hear Geoff go deep on Portishead’s influences, get real about a beloved band he does not like, and break down his classic post-Portishead albums by Beak and Anika in ways you’ve never heard before.  Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong Episode produced by Demian Kendall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey One Song Nation, we hope you enjoy this snippet of our conversation with comedian, musician, and internet sensation Kyle Gordon. You can find the full interview free on our Patreon at patreon.com/onesong. And if you haven’t joined our Patreon yet…please do, its free! At patreon.com/onesong we post bonus episodes of the show, interviews, new music reactions and so much more. Join to get our full hour-long interview with Kyle Gordon (“Mr. Jambo”, “Planet of the Bass”), where we discuss the fine line between music and comedy (and getting both right), the difference between parody and satire, and the delicate process of composing “Mr. Jambo” (spoiler: it involves actually learning Zulu). In addition to bonus content, our Patreon gives you access to perks like our Discord, early access to episodes, and much more coming soon!  Subscribe to the One Song Patreon at patreon.com/onesong Check out the One Song Spotify playlist Episode produced, edited, and mixed by Demian Kendall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We revisit this classic episode where Diallo and LUXXURY break down “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande’s smash hit that puts a modern twist on the classic Broadway tune “My Favorite Things.” Grande has since become one of pop’s most reliable chart-toppers, tying the record for the most songs by a woman to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. They discuss how Ariana was inspired to write “7 Rings” after a post-breakup shopping spree, and how she and her songwriting team worked in cadences and flows inspired by several different rappers. Plus, the guys peel back the layers of how the famous melody went from the stage and screen to a pop banger several decades later. Join One Song Live! 9/6 @ Skirball Museum TICKETS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you follow “I Want You Back” when the world still sees you as kids? Diallo & LUXXURY dive into “Can You Feel It,” the record that helped transform the Jackson 5 into The Jacksons. They explore the musical legacy of the whole family, Randy’s lead-vocal moment, the way Michael’s entrance changes the energy of the song, and the massive music video that pointed toward Thriller. Then LUXXURY breaks down the soaring strings, gospel-inspired vocals, and huge arrangement behind one of the Jacksons’ boldest records. Songs discussed: “Can You Feel It” — The Jacksons“Back Stabbers” — The O’Jays“Blame It on the Boogie” — The Jacksons“Centipede” — Rebbie Jackson“Dancing Machine” — The Jacksons“Do What You Do” — Jermaine Jackson“Hard” — Rihanna“If You Feel the Funk” — LaToya Jackson“T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)” — MFSB“Show You the Way to Go” — The Jacksons“Stars on 45” — Stars on 45“Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming (Too Good to Be True)” — Jermaine Jackson“Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” — Stevie Wonder“Wake Up Everybody” — Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes“White Rabbit” — Jefferson Airplane“Can You Feel It” — Mr. Fingers (Larry Heard)“Also sprach Zarathustra” (“2001” Theme) — Richard Strauss“Can You Feel It” — Southern University Human Jukebox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices