The beauty of track from Blur’s 1997 eponymous fifth album lies in its sheer simplicity: jagged guitar riffs, pounding drums and frontman Damon Albarn‘s effortlessly cool, yet utterly unhinged vocals. There’s no pretence here, just pure energy, as Albarn launches into the iconic ‘Woo-hoo!’ refrain, a cry that feels both euphoric and anarchic.
The track doesn’t meander. It hits like a runaway freight train, revelling in its messy, flannel-shirted aesthetic. Yet, beneath the noise, there’s a sharpness, a knowing wink. Originally conceived as a parody of grunge, ‘Song 2’ ironically became one of Blur’s biggest international hits, embraced for the very qualities it sought to exaggerate. It’s fast, loud and exhilarating, but never hollow. It embodies raw power not just in volume, but in attitude.
Almost 30 years on, ‘Song 2’ remains an untamed beast, a track that demands to be blasted at full volume. It’s the sound of unfiltered joy, rebellion and people having the absolute time of their lives.