Song 2

"Song 2"
Single by Blur
from the album Blur
Released	7 April 1997 (1997-04-07)
Format	7" vinyl, CD
Recorded	1996
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	2:02
Label	Food
Producer	Stephen Street
Blur singles chronology
"Beetlebum" (1997) "Song 2" (1997) "On Your Own" (1997)
Music sample "Song 2" Sample of "Song 2" from Blur. Inspired by lo-fi and American indie rock, "Song 2' was a hit in the US. Music video "Song 2" on YouTube

"Song 2" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, the second track on and second single released from their fifth album Blur in April 1997. The riff-based track, known for its overdriven chorus, is among the best-known songs the band has recorded.

Background

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', 'cause we haven't got a name for it yet".^{[citation needed]} The working title ended up sticking. It was said that the song was about Pavement's Bob Nastanovich, known for his colourful and energetic stage presence.^{[citation needed]}

According to producer Stephen Street in an interview with HitQuarters, the song was recorded using RADAR audio recording equipment.

"Song 2" was the second track on the album, was the second single from the album to be released, is exactly two minutes and two seconds long, and is also the second track on their compilation Blur: The Best of. It reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart and also placed #2 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1997 in Australia. The song is also the second song on the second disc on the album Bustin' + Dronin'. It has two choruses, two verses and two bridges. The song was played by Blur at their Hyde Park reunion gigs in summer 2009 and subsequently appears on the 'All The People' live recordings.

Reception

In the UK, "Song 2" built upon the success of Blur's chart-topping single "Beetlebum" to reach number two in the charts.^{[citation needed]} It was also the band's biggest hit in the US, reaching number six on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Though it is atypical of Blur's previous trademark style, in America it is the song most closely associated with the band. The song's intro has been called Graham Coxon's "finest moment".

The song was meant to be a parody of American grunge music. Ironically, it was embraced by the same radio stations whose airplay choices the song was parodying in the first place.

In October 2011, NME placed it at number 79 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".

In popular culture

The song became popular upon its release in 1997 on college and modern rock radio stations in the USA. It has been licensed worldwide on numerous occasions. Its first appearance came as the title music for the hit video game FIFA: Road to World Cup 98. It has been used in numerous advertisements, including commercials for the Pentium II and Nissan Sentra and television spots for the film Starship Troopers, and it is often heard in football, ice hockey, and baseball stadiums when goals or runs are scored, or at the end of a winning game for the home team. The song was featured in the 2000 film Charlie's Angels during a Drew Barrymore fight scene. In 2009, it was featured in a TV commercial for Michelob Ultra. The song also plays in the background of the "Star" segment of the short film series The Hire.

The American military allegedly requested to use the track at the launch of a new stealth bomber, but the band refused to allow this, as Albarn is an anti-war campaigner. Music video games Guitar Hero 5 and Lego Rock Band feature the song on their respective setlists. The song was featured briefly in the episode "Malled" of the animated series Daria. The song is also used in the twelfth episode of the tenth season of the animated sitcom The Simpsons, entitled "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday". It was played when Homer and the rest of the people from Springfield were running around Pro Player Stadium after Dolly Parton released them from a cell during the Super Bowl. The song is currently being used at Red Bull Arena whenever local team New York Red Bulls scores a goal. The song was used in EA Sports' Madden 11 video game. It is usually played after the home team scores a touchdown or comes up with a defensive stop. It is also used by British UFC fighter Michael Bisping as his entrance song. The song was used in the teaser trailer for Hop, where the film's main character E.B plays the song on a red drumset. The song is also heard in the Doctor Who spin-off television series Torchwood in the episode "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang". The song appears in the South Park episode entitled "Stanley's Cup", during the pee wee hockey game.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks (baseball, USA), a minor league baseball team, use this song every time they score a run at home; followed up with the character Mr. Celery coming out to do a dance. The St. Louis Blues (hockey, USA) use this song at the end of a winning home game (2010). The Pittsburgh Penguins (hockey, USA) also use this song when a goal is scored (2010). The Ottawa Senators (hockey, Canada) used Song 2 as their goal song in the Stanley Cup playoffs during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with "Woo Hoo" (from the song's chorus) written on towels handed out to fans to be waved after a goal. It was also used by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 NFL playoffs whenever a touchdown was scored.

More recently, the song was used as part of the London 2011 fireworks display. It appeared in shortened form mixed alongside various other landmark British tracks including "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles and "London Calling" by The Clash.

Cover versions

The song also has been covered by Avril Lavigne (on drums) with David Desrosiers (Simple Plan), during Avril's Bonez World Tour.

The song was covered by the Plain White Ts for the Punk Goes '90s compilation and by My Chemical Romance in Radio 1's Live Lounge.

The song was also covered by Robbie Williams and AFI.

Japanese rock band The Brilliant Green included a cover of the song on their 2010 release Blackout.

The song was also covered by the Argentinian rock band Catupecu Machu and the Brazilian rock band Hori in several times at his concerts.

Earl Zinger covered this song as Song 2Wo on his Album Put Your Phazers On Stun Throw Your Health Food Skyward.

The New Standards covered this song on their 2005 release The New Standards.

Project RnL covered this song in a quirky A Capela style (Currently only available on YouTube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0bwN-9GM14

Nice Cream covered the song (with samples of the original) which Armand Van Helden later remixed for Mixmag.

Brock Landers did a song entitled "S.M.D.U." which samples this song and Smack My Bitch Up by The Prodigy.

Music video

The music 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, the volume of the music sends the band members crashing against the walls and ground. This video bears striking resemblances to Blur's video for "Popscene".

Track listing

Purple 7"

1. "Song 2"
2. "Get Out of Cities"

CD1

1. "Song 2"
2. "Get Out of Cities"
3. "Polished Stone"

CD2

1. "Song 2"
2. "Bustin' + Dronin'"
3. "Country Sad Ballad Man" (live acoustic)

International CD

1. "Song 2"
2. "Get Out of Cities"
3. "Polished Stone"
4. "Bustin' + Dronin'"

Japan Tour CD

1. "Song 2"
2. "Get Out of Cities"
3. "Polished Stone"
4. "Bustin' + Dronin'"
5. "Beetlebum" (Mario Caldato Jr. mix)
6. "Beetlebum" (instrumental)
7. "Country Sad Ballad Man" (live acoustic)
8. "On Your Own" (live acoustic)

Chart positions

Chart (1997)	Peak Position
Australia	4
Canadian RPM Alternative 30	1
Netherlands Singles Chart	73
Sweden Singles Chart	28
UK Singles Chart	2
US Hot 100 Airplay	55
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	25
US Modern Rock Tracks	6
Chart (2009)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	163

Preceded by "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative 30 number-one single 2–23 June 1997

Succeeded by "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" by The Smashing Pumpkins