Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by Kevin Cole, host of Drive Time on KEXP, is "Big Hit Single" by Gen & the Degenerates, a 2023 single on Marshall Amplification Plc Records.
When you ask the Liverpool-based band Gen & the Degenerates to write a "big hit single," well, today's Song of the Day is exactly what you'll get! The cheeky pop-punk track was writting in response to a request from their label, Marshall Records.
Vocalist Genevieve Glynn-Reeves explains: "If you want the highbrow answer, then 'Big Hit Single' is about the experience of creating art under late capitalism. If you want the lowbrow – and slightly more honest – answer, then 'Big Hit Single' is me trying to wind up our label. They’d made quite a reasonable request… ‘Please can you write more songs like the song that did well and stop experimenting with every genre under the sun in a completely chaotic and hedonistic manner?’ Unfortunately, I have issues with authority… My parents often regale me with the tale of my Year 4 parent’s evening, in which my teacher described me as ‘too wild, in the bohemian sense.’ If Mrs Baker couldn’t get me to behave, then what chance did Marshall Records have? Luckily, they have a good sense of humour over at Marshall.”
