One Song

On this special re-run of One Song, Diallo and LUXXURY are breaking out their skinny jeans, thrifted leather jackets, and statement hairstyles as they breakdown classic indie banger, "Maps." The duo explore everything from the origins of the New York indie scene, to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s writing process, to Karen O’s incredible onstage presence. Come for the fuzzy guitars, stay for the bangs. Learn...

Destiny is calling us to discuss the making of an unforgettable jam you’ve heard at countless weddings, karaoke bars, and sporting events. So open up your eager eyes (and ears)! On this episode of One Song, Diallo and LUXXURY break down The Killers’ 2003 hit, “Mr. Brightside.” They discuss where frontman Brandon Flowers drew inspiration to write this song (i.e.: Oasis, U2, and a bout of infidelity...

Is there such a thing as a “perfect song?” Well if there’s someone who might be able to make it, leave it to one of the most culturally influential artists in music and fashion history! On this episode of One Song, Diallo and LUXXURY break down Grace Jones’ 1985 chart-topping, club-ready hit, “Slave To The Rhythm.” They dive into all the layers that make this song so pristine — including Grace’s s...

Regulators…MOUNT UP! Get ready for One Song history to be made. On this episode, Grammy-nominated rapper, producer, DJ, and masterful storyteller Warren G joins Diallo and LUXXURY to break down his 1994 G-funk classic hit, “Regulate.” Warren shares stories about learning to produce music while growing up in Long Beach, meticulously crafting beats and selecting the samples for his hit song, and tak...

One Song Nation – won’t you smile for another episode? Because we know you’re gonna love it! On this episode of One Song, actor, comedian and musician Jon Benjamin (Archer, Bob’s Burgers) joins Diallo and LUXXURY to break down one of Steely Dan’s most beloved, jazz-infused songs from 1977, “Peg.” They discuss the lengths the band’s core duo – Walter Becker and Donald Fagen – went to achieve their...

As Spooky Season falls across the land, no mere mortal can resist the power of this 1983 smash hit. On this very special Halloween episode of One Song, Diallo and LUXXURY break down Michael Jackson’s spookiest pop song, “Thriller.” They discuss how the King of Pop teamed up with Quincy Jones to make the iconic title track for the best-selling album of all time (70 million+ copies!), and how its ci...

Get ready to share the spice of life and glide like a 747 to a classic cookout jam from one of the best selling bands of all time! On this episode of One Song, Grammy Award-winning pop star, rapper, and actress Estelle joins Diallo and LUXXURY to talk about Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1981 hit “Let’s Groove.” They break down band leader Maurice White and his bandmates’ recipe for creating certified gold...

If there’s anything you want done, baby, just turn to a legendary artist who knows how to do it naturally. On this episode of One Song, award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster Danyel Smith (Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop) joins Diallo and LUXXURY to break down Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,” the 1978 disco crossover hit that launched her incredibly successful s...

All you ever wanted and all you ever needed from Diallo and LUXXURY is here in this episode. Okay, well, not *everything,” but in Part Two of our Depeche Mode special, the guys break down band’s biggest hit, “Enjoy The Silence.” Get ready to learn Depeche Mode’s techniques for crafting moodier, darker, and more atmospheric sounds, why this song took them to global superstar status, and how they pa...

Question – how much do Diallo and LUXXURY love Depeche Mode? Answer – so much that they couldn’t pack it all into one episode. So get ready for a thorough two-part deep dive on these pioneers who defined the sound of electronic music! In Part One, the guys discuss Depeche Mode’s early years and their dynamic approach to using synthesizers and drum machines to make their music. Plus, they break dow...

This week on One Song, we’re sharing another podcast that LUXXURY and Diallo both love: Petty Crimes. It's a weekly comedy podcast where co-hosts and long-time friends Ceara Jane O’Sullivan and Griff Stark-Ennis add a playful twist to the world of true crime. In each episode, the hosts passionately investigate minor interpersonal disputes and deliver a hilarious yet analytical verdict.  Learn more...

Live from Las Vegas, Diallo and LUXXURY are joined by Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Tank to discuss one of the top party jams of the 1990s: “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe. On this special episode, they discuss how three former members of New Edition took R&B to a new level by blending rapping and singing, pull back the curtain on how the song was made (remember that icon...

One Song Nation – you don’t have to worry no more. Diallo & LUXXURY know you can go without learning how The Weeknd’s massive 2015 hit, “Can’t Feel My Face,” made him into a global megastar. On this episode, they break down how The Weeknd collaborated with Swedish powerhouse songwriter Max Martin and his team to make a diamond-certified, chart-topping, dark R&B song, and peel back the layers on th...

You're gonna burn, burn, burn to the wick if you don't recognize this song as one of the greatest rock anthems of all time! On this episode, Diallo and LUXXURY break down "Barracuda," a rally cry for empowerment and defiance that broke barriers for women in rock in the 1970s. They dive into Ann and Nancy Wilson's masterful vocal and guitar work respectfully, discuss how the song was fueled by ange...

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad, Diallo & LUXXURY are here to comfort you by breaking down one of the most memorable R&B songs of all time. On this episode, the guys discuss how Al Green wrote the “Let’s Stay Together” so quickly, why producer WIllie Mitchell’s influenced Green’s singing style, and share Green’s sweet, isolated falsetto vocals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

On One Song, we do our best to give flowers to artists we admire, especially those who left us far too soon. On this episode, Diallo and LUXXURY break down Juice WRLD’s monster hit from 2018, “Lucid Dreams.” They dive into what influenced Juice to channel his emotions into his music, how his signature song brought emo rap to the mainstream, and why the song’s lyrics about heartbreak and mental hea...

If there’s not a soul out there, or someone to hear your prayer, just turn to one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time – ABBA. On this episode of One Song, actor and comedian John Early (Now More Than Ever; The Afterparty) joins Diallo & LUXXURY to break down the Swedish disco supergroup’s hit “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)." They discuss how the members of A...

One, two, three, and to the fo' -- Diallo & LUXXURY is at yo' do'...ready for another One Song episode! And on this episode, they break down Dr. Dre's hit that introduced the world to g-funk, tell the story of how Dre recruited Snoop to be a featured artist, and discuss why "'G' Thang" has become one of the most influential hip-hop tracks of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

Hipsters Unite? This week on One Song, Diallo Riddle and Luxxury are tackling a confrontational track from one of the most successful alt rock bands of the 90’s — “Cherub Rock” by The Smashing Pumpkins. The guys go deep on the early 90’s indie rock scene, band frontman Billy Corgan’s quest for musical family, and the Pumpkins’ complicated relationship with the indie rock community. Learn more abou...

As the hosts of One Song, Diallo Riddle and Luxxury know a thing or two about being a duo. This week, One Song’s most dependable pairing uses their knowledge to analyze “I Can’t Go For That” from the hitmaking duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates. Join the guys as they break down the tenuous balance of creative partnerships, the effects of the blue-eyed soul phenomenon, and uncover the secret third pe...

This week on One Song, we’re sharing another music podcast that LUXXURY and Diallo both love. It’s called Switched On Pop, and it’s about the making and meaning of popular music, hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding. The episode we’re sharing focuses on the fact that the first half of 2024 has been for the “pop girlie.” It seems like every major artist who’s dominated t...

Is creeping ever okay? If you ask Rachel Lindsay (co-host of the "Higher Learning" podcast)…it is when TLC does it. This time on One Song, Diallo is joined by Rachel (who fills in as guest host) to break down why “Creep” is sneakily an empowerment anthem, the impact of the song's unforgettable music video, and how TLC’s look and sound evolved on their second album, "CrazySexyCool." Learn more abou...

On this special re-run, Diallo and LUXXURY are joined this week by comedian and friend of the pod, Punkie Johnson. Together, they go on a quest to flip it and reverse it and unpack the many layers of samples and interpolations that went into Missy Elliott’s 2002 banger, Work It. Come for the badonkadonk, stay for the obscure Paul Simon sample. The song Work it is the first single from Missy Elliot...

What good is a format if you can’t break it every now and then? On this special episode of One Song, Diallo & LUXXURY break out the listener mailbag, answer some DMs, and bring an entirely new angle to the "Buffalo Soldier"/"The Banana Splits" theme song connection. Finally, they react to the early contenders for the Song of the Summer from Tommy Richman, Sabrina Carpenter, and more. Learn more ab...

This week on One Song, Diallo and LUXXURY frolic through "Flowers" -- Miley Cyrus' smash hit from 2023. Along the way, they discuss the track's importance as an self-love and empowerment anthem, its connection to Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man," and pose a very important question: Can Diallo say “I can love me better than you can” without sounding narcissistic? Learn more about your ad choices....