One Song Podcast: Breaking Down Iconic Pop Songs

 Music podcasts can be varied, as there are combinations of musical notes that make up a song. Slate's Hit Parade concentrates on the charts. Switched On Pop focuses on the mechanics of pop music. A Breath of Fresh Air focuses on 60s and 70s pop artists and their recollections.

One Song is a music podcast featuring Diallo Riddle (actor/writer) and Blake "LUXXURY" Robin (music producer) that breaks down iconic songs from the pop music canon. Each episode provides a deep, humorous, and technical analysis of a single track's production, history, and cultural impact.

The format involves a deep, sometimes humorous, analysis of a single, often iconic, track per episode. The show dives into the "stems" (isolated tracks) and production techniques, exploring the story behind the music.
Coverage: It covers a wide range of genres and artists, including 2Pac, Michael Jackson, and Mariah Carey.

The podcast includes extensive show notes listing the songs discussed, which illustrate the care these co-hosts have for their listeners.

Let's look at one episode -- What makes “Billie Jean” one of the most timeless pop songs ever? In this show, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into Michael Jackson’s masterpiece, unpacking its iconic (and borrowed) bassline, the innovative engineering that shaped its unmistakable sound, and how the song transformed Jackson from superstar into a singular cultural force.

Songs Discussed:
“Billie Jean” - Michael Jackson (01:17)
“C Is For Cookie (Funky Version)” - Cookie Monster (04:05)
“Take On Me” - a-ha (06:34)
“Pass the Dutchie” - Musical Youth (07:20)
“Nightline” - Pointer Sisters (12:03)
“Nightline” - Ellen Foley (12:10)
“Should I Stay or Should I Go” - The Clash (12:40)
“The Lady In My Life” - Michael Jackson (13:45)
“The Girl Is Mine” - Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney (14:54)
“Say Say Say” - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (15:13)
“Hey Lover” - LL Cool J feat. Boyz II Men (15:57)
“Wake Up” - Bill Wolfer (21:08)
“State Of Independence” - Jon & Vangelis (25:52)
“State Of Independence” - Donna Summer (28:01)
“Only You” - Steve Monite (57:42)
“Desperate Journalist In Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation” - The Cure (58:37)

Clearly, despite the casual nature of the show, there are scholarly musical intentions here. That's not surprising once you understand the depth of the co-hosts' talent.
 

Diallo Riddle is an American writer, producer, actor, showrunner, and DJ. Riddle is best known for his co-starring role as Stevie in the NBC sitcom Marlon and for co-creating several television series. In 2011, Riddle was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series through his work on Late Night.

He won an NAACP Image Award for his directing on South Side. 

Luxxury (birth name Blake Robin) is a Los Angeles-based producer, DJ, and songwriter known for his nu-disco/funk music and viral musical analysis. 

He is recognized for his "interpolation" videos on social media and for creating disco-tinged edits/remixes. He also produces dance music with funky bass lines, often featuring a 70s/80s aesthetic. 

  He is a touring DJ as well as being an in-demand producer, remixer, and songwriter, and has cowritten songs for artists, including Vanessa Daou and Little Boots.

In the Diana Ross Upside Down episode, ask "How did Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards flip disco on its head with Diana Ross’ chart-topping solo hit Upside Down"? 

Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY explore the Chic production, groove-driven arrangement, and rare outtakes from Diana Ross herself. In this episode, the hosts disagree over whether this song is disco. They do agree on the genius of the Chic arrangement. In fact, in the episode, the co-hosts explain that Motown decided to revise the arrangement before the record's release, angering Rodgers and Edwards. 

What the co-hosts do so well is break down a song into its component parts. In Upside Down, for example, they hone in on Edwards' bass lines and how it intentionally tones down and smooths out his bass part to better complement the song. The episode traced Ross's journey to find the right technique to sing the tune, and revealed how Hopkins remixed the strings to get a specific sound he wanted.

The hosts have welcomed guests on the show with solid results. For example, when discussing an instant classic: Doja Cat’s 2023 hit, Paint the Town Red, the hosts were joined by Laci Mosely, billed as the Scam Goddess herself. In the episode, the trio breaks down Dojo’s journey from Mooo! to her critically acclaimed album, Scarlet.  

My favorite guest so far has been singer/songwriter Sam Sanders, who joined the duo to review Fleetwood Mac's Dreams. Sanders blended seamlessly with the co-hosts, with wit, wisdom, and winsomeness flowing throughout the show. 

The hosts mesh well together and bring their extensive musical knowledge to the show, along with entertaining banter and good-natured humor. The show began in June 2023 and is part of the Hartbeat network. Episodes run about an hour. The co-hosts also ask about the legacy of each song they cover and the songwriting credits, then extol the virtues of a recommended song. 

One Song is one of the best music podcasts in the industry. The hosts explore iconic music across several generations, a task that is highly challenging. This podcast wouldn't be the same without these co-hosts, because they share their knowledge of music composition, music theory, instrumentation, musical arrangement, songwriting, singing, and mastering in every episode. 

If you love music and are fascinated by how it's made, this show is for you.