Song 2

"Song 2" (often mistakenly titled as "Woo Hoo") is a song by English rock band Blur. The song is the second song on their eponymous fifth studio album. Released in April 1997, "Song 2" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart,[3] number four on the Australian ARIA Charts,[4] and number six on US Billboard Alternative Songs (previously called Billboard Modern Rock Tracks).[5]

This article is about the 1997 song. For the 1926 piano piece, see The Tempest (Sibelius).

"Song 2"
Single by Blur
from the album Blur
B-side"Get Out of Cities"
Released7 April 1997 (1997-04-07)
Recorded1996
StudioMayfair, London
Genre
Length2:02
LabelFood
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stephen Street
Blur singles chronology
"Beetlebum"
(1997)		 "Song 2"
(1997)		 "On Your Own"
(1997)
Audio sample
"Song 2" by Blur
  • file
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Music video
"Song 2" on YouTube

At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, "Song 2" was nominated for Best Group Video, and Best Alternative Video.[6] At the 1998 Brit Awards, the song was nominated for Best British Single, and Best British Video.[7] In 1998, BBC Radio 1 listeners voted "Song 2" the 15th Best Track Ever.[8] In 2011, NME placed it number 79 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[9]

Background

According to Graham Coxon, "Song 2" was intended to be a joke on the record company.[10] Damon Albarn had recorded an acoustic demo of the song which was slower but featured the song's distinctive "woo-hoo" chorus in whistle form. Coxon then suggested that they pump up the speed and perform the song loudly, with Coxon deliberately seeking out an amateurish guitar sound. From there, Coxon told Albarn to tell the record company that they wanted to release the song as a single to "blow the ... labels' heads off".[10] To Coxon's surprise, record executives reacted positively. When asked if the band had any idea of the song's commercial appeal, Coxon replied, "We'd just thought it was way too extreme".[10]

The track was originally nicknamed "Song 2" as a working title which represented its slot in the tracklist, but the name stuck.[11] The song is two minutes and two seconds long, with two verses, two choruses and a hook featuring Albarn yelling "woo-hoo!" as the distorted bass comes in. It is the second song on Blur's self-titled album, as well as Blur: The Best Of, and was the second single released from the former album.[12] Some writers have stated that the song is intended to be a parody of the grunge genre,[13][14] while others state that it was a parody of radio hits and the music industry with a punk rock chorus.[15]

Reception

In the UK, "Song 2" built upon the success of Blur's chart-topping single "Beetlebum" to reach number two in the charts.[3] It was also popular on radio stations in the US; consequently, it went at number 55 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, number 6 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, staying on that chart for 26 weeks and number 25 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[16] It also placed number two on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1997 in Australia. The song is atypical of Blur's previous style. The song's intro has been called Graham Coxon's "finest moment".[17] NME ranked "Song 2" at number two in its end-of-year list of the Top 20 Singles of 1997.[18]

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 amplifiers behind them. During the choruses, the volume of the song sends the band members crashing against the walls and ground. The set used was modelled on that in the video for their pre-breakthrough single "Popscene".

Live performances

My Chemical Romance played the song at BBC Radio 1. The cover was later featured on the album "Radio 1's Live Lounge", released on October 11, 2006.

On October 20, 2018, at the Demon Dayz Fest LA, Damon Albarn's other well-known band Gorillaz played the familiar Song 2 theme but in characteristic Gorillaz style with dub/funk elements. While recognition was still dawning on the audience, Graham Coxon joined Gorillaz onstage and launched into his original riff before he and Gorillaz went on to perform the classic arrangement to an enthusiastic reception.[19]

The song became popular in the UK and overseas upon its release in 1997. It was featured on college and modern rock radio stations.[20]

Licensed worldwide on numerous occasions, it made its first appearance in the episode "Malled" of the animated series Daria.[21]

In 2010, Blur manager Chris Morrison said, "Northrop Grumman, which is an American defence contractor, got in touch with us and asked if they could use the song for their trade shows to promote the next generation of stealth fighters. We thought that was probably inappropriate. The money was great but we turned it down."[22] Albarn is an antiwar campaigner.[9][23]

"Song 2" was used as part of the London 2011 New Year's Eve fireworks display.[24] It appeared in shortened form mixed alongside various other landmark British tracks including "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles, "We Will Rock You" by Queen, and "London Calling" by The Clash.[24]

Film

The song was used in trailers for the film Starship Troopers and Thunderbirds.[25][26]

It was used in BMW Films' short film Star featuring Clive Owen and Madonna.[27]

Sports

Italian football team Juventus uses this song after a goal is scored on home field since January 2020. Western United also use this song after a goal is scored, as well as Liverpool FC. The song has also been used by numerous professional ice hockey teams as a goal song.[28] Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping used the song as his walk-out entrance.

Television

The song appears in the Parks and Recreation episode "Prom".[20] "Song 2" is also featured in "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" of the animated series The Simpsons as part of a montage sequence which ends satirically.[29] The song is also featured in the South Park episode, "Stanley's Cup".[30]

Video games

The song is used as the title music for FIFA: Road to World Cup 98, is included on Just Dance 2 as a DLC song, it's a playable song in Just Dance Summer Party and on Lego Rock Band, and is included in the main setlist of Guitar Hero 5.

Track listing

All music composed by Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree. All lyrics composed by Albarn.

Personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[50] Gold 35,000^
Italy (FIMI)[51] Platinum 50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Platinum 600,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Richin, Leslie (12 January 2017). "20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. Pappademas, Alex (February 2003). "Essential Britpop". Spin. 19 (2): 56. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited
  4. "Blur - Song 2 (Song)". Australian Charts. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  5. Billboard Alternative Songs Billboard.com. Retrieved 9-1-2014
  6. 1997 MTV Video Music Awards Rock On The Net. Retrieved 10 February 2012
  7. The Brits 1998 Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2012
  8. Radio 1 - Best Tracks Ever Rock List.net. Retrieved 10 February 2012
  9. "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years | #79 Blur - Song 2". NME. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  10. "Inside The Song with Graham Coxon from Blur - "Song 2"". Produce Like a Pro. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  11. Hottest 100 - Of All Time: Song 2. Blur ABC.net. Retrieved 10 February 2012
  12. "Woo hoo! 20 things you may not know about Blur's 'Song 2'". CBC Music. 29 April 2018.
  13. Lau, Melody. "Woo hoo! 20 things you may not know about Blur's 'Song 2'". CBC Music. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  14. DeVille, Chris. ""Song 2" Turns 20". Stereogum.
  15. Paulas, Rick. "Woo-hoo! 20 Years Ago, Blur's 'Song 2' Became an Unlikely Sports Anthem". Vice Sports. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  16. Blur | AllMusic
  17. Harry Wylie (August 1997).Top Ten Indie Guitarists Total Guitar. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  18. "Top 20 Singles of 1997". NME. 10 January 1998. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  19. Gorillaz - Covering Blur-Song 2 with Graham Coxon, Demon Dayz Fest LA, October 20, 2018, 18 October 2010, retrieved 18 October 2018
  20. Song 2 at AllMusic Song 2 | AllMusic
  21. "Soundtrack Daria: Blur - Song 2". u-subtitles.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
  22. digitalspy.com/music/a199327/morrison-duffy-coke-ad-was-abysmal/
  23. Wilson, Jamie (9 April 2004). "Britpop rebel with a cause says no new nukes". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  24. "London Eye fireworks mark new year 2011". BBC News. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  25. AdsNTrailers (12 May 1997), Starship Troopers (1997) TV Trailer, retrieved 18 December 2018
  26. AdsNTrailers (12 February 2010), Thunderbirds (2004) Short Movie Trailer, retrieved 23 August 2017
  27. "BMW Films 'Star'". YouTube. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  28. "Blur's iconic 'Song 2' becomes new Juventus goal anthem". Socios. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  29. "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday". The Simpsons. Season 10. Episode 12. FOX. 1999.
  30. "South Park" Stanley's Cup (TV Episode 2006) - IMDb, retrieved 3 August 2020
  31. "Australian-charts.com – Blur – Song 2". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  32. "Ultratop.be – Blur – Song 2" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  33. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3223." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  34. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 17. 26 April 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  35. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (10.4. '97 – 16.4. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 April 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  36. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Song 2". Irish Singles Chart.
  37. "Dutchcharts.nl – Blur – Song 2" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  38. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  39. "Swedishcharts.com – Blur – Song 2". Singles Top 100.
  40. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  41. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  42. "Blur Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
  43. "Blur Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  44. "Blur Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  45. "Lescharts.com – Blur – Song 2" (in French). Les classement single.
  46. "1997 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  47. "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  48. "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1998. p. 25. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  49. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  50. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  51. "Italian single certifications – Blur – Song 2" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 June 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Song 2" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  52. "British single certifications – Blur – Song 2". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Song 2 in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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