One Song

How do five brothers from Gary, Indiana arrive at Motown and change pop music almost overnight? This week, Diallo & LUXXURY dive into the Jackson 5’s explosive debut, “I Want You Back,” and break down the impossible chemistry behind the record that introduced Michael Jackson to the world. The guys explore Michael’s astonishing lead vocal, the overlooked role of Bobby Taylor, the songwriting precision of The Corporation, and the trail the song left through decades of hip-hop, R&B, and pop. Then LUXXURY opens up the stems to reveal how one of the tightest arrangements in music history became the first chapter in the story of the biggest musical family the world has ever known.

Songs discussed in this episode:

"I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5

"O.P.P." - Naughty By Nature (1991)

"ABC" - Jackson 5 (1970)

"Jump" - Kris Kross (1992)

"The Twist" - Chubby Checkers (1960)

"Let's Twist Again" - Chubby Checkers (1961)

"...Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears

"Oops...I Did It Again" - Britney Spears

"Mama's Pearl" - Jackson 5

"Only One Can Win" - The Sylvers (1972)

"Time To Change" - The Brady Bunch

"Boogie Oogie Oogie" - A Taste Of Honey (1978)

"I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor (1978)

"Big Boy" - The Jackson Five (1968, Steeltown Records)

"Last Train To Clarskville" - The Monkees

"Sprit In The Sky" - Norman Greenbaum (1969)

"Jump Around" - House Of Pain (1992)

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" - JAŸ-Z (2001)

"One More Chance" (Album Version) - The Notorious B.I.G.

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From the One Song archives, we’re going metal with one of the biggest riff monsters ever recorded: Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.” Diallo and LUXXURY break down a song bursting with musicianship, angst, and intricate instrumentation. Come for the stems of Lars Ulrich bashing away at the drums, and stay for LUXXURY’s metal origin story and his thoughts on the infamous Some Kind of Monster documentary.

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This week we dig into the archives to revisit a One Song favorite. Diallo and LUXXURY break down The Pharcyde’s “Runnin’,” the track from the legendary hip-hop group that brought new flavor to the West Coast sound in the ‘90s. They dive into the group’s introspective lyrics about vulnerability and personal struggle, how they met and collaborated with soon-to-be legendary producer J Dilla (at the time known as Jay Dee), and how Dilla’s genre-reinventing beatmaking style – blending old school hip-hop and bossa nova samples – helped The Pharcyde popularize the alternative hip-hop movement.
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This week on One Song, we're re-sharing another favorite from our archives, “Into the Groove”. Hosts Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY are joined by Madonna superfan — and star of hit show, Scandal — Guillermo Díaz to discuss the iconic dancefloor-filler. Come for the isolated Madonna vocals, lore surrounding the recording, and all of the synths. Stay for a breakdown of Guillermo’s many Madonna tattoos and his recollection of the time he met the Queen of Pop.
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This week, we’re leaving the guitar-smashing world of Blur behind and stepping into the strange, animated universe of Gorillaz with their massive 2000s classic “Feel Good Inc.” Diallo & LUXXURY break down how Damon Albarn went from Britpop frontman to the voice behind one of the most original bands of the era — and how a song built on a nasty bassline, eerie laughter, acoustic strums, and De La Soul’s unforgettable feature became impossible to pin down and even harder to forget.

The guys get into Demon Days, Jamie Hewlett’s wild Gorillaz concept, the genius of turning a “band” into a whole fictional world, and why “Feel Good Inc.” feels like a party record, a cartoon transmission, and a weird little warning all at once. Along the way, they trace the early bridge from Blur to Gorillaz, unpack the song’s strange mix of hip-hop, alt-rock, and pop, and talk about how this record keeps finding new life with listeners who weren’t even there the first time around.

Diallo & LUXXURY talk about music!

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