Music

Song Exploder: “Games You Can Win” by RJD2

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians deconstruct their songs and tell the stories behind how they were made. In the past, it’s explored tracks from The Postal Service to How to Dress Well, and even House of Cards composer, Jeff Beal. In the newest episode, musician, creator, and host Hrishikesh Hirway and Ramble Jon Krohn offer an in-depth look inside RJD2’s “Games You Can Win.”

RJD2 has been making music since 2002. His song “A Beautiful Mine” was turned into the opening credits music for Mad Men. He’s a producer and beatmaker, but also a singer and songwriter. But for the vocals on the song “Games You Can Win,” (off 2010’s The Colossus) he tapped Kenna, a Grammy-nominee who Malcolm Gladwell wrote about in Blink. In this episode, you’ll get to hear the parts that make up the track, as well as the unreleased demo vocals that RJ originally recorded himself.

Videos by VICE

Referenced in this episode: 

“#1 Soul Brother” by Pete Rock

For more, check out Song Exploder on Facebook and Twitter: @SongExploder

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