Joseph Marcus, an emerging R&B artist, has just dropped Round 2, a track that’s as infectious as it is introspective. It is a bop that’s bound to get stuck on repeat, not just in your playlist but in the back of your mind, where memories of past loves linger. Marcus, alongside the adept production skills of Flourish, has crafted a song that’s a sonic carousel, spinning listeners through waves of nostalgia and the thrill of rekindled flames.
The track opens with a whimsical invitation: “Wanna go round, round 2 with you?” Marcus’s voice is a smooth operator, navigating through the complexities of revisiting an old romance with a finesse that’s both relatable and enviable. The song taps into the universal pondering of ‘what-ifs’ and ‘could-bes’ that haunt the corridors of our hearts long after a love story has concluded.
The production is a vibrant fairground of sounds, with a wonky, detuned sample that harks back to the jingles of fairground rides, evoking the dizzying highs of young love. The clap effects, as described by Marcus, are like fireworks that stutter and skip across the beat, bringing a sense of celebration to the contemplation of rekindling an old flame. The gang chants recorded throughout the studio add a communal feel, as if the song is a shared experience among friends, all too familiar with the gravitational pull of a past connection.
Marcus’s lyrical journey in Round 2 is a delicate dance between the past and the present, with lines like “We used to be inseparable types / In the party in the bathroom all night” painting a vivid picture of a love that was once all-consuming. The pre-chorus and chorus serve as a confessional, where the singer admits the temptation is strong despite the knowledge that it might not be the wisest decision. It’s a candid reflection of the human condition: the desire to revisit the past, even when it’s packed with potential pitfalls.
The song’s bridge is a crescendo of yearning, with the repetition of “Round 2, round 2” acting as a mantra for those standing on the precipice of a decision, contemplating whether to dive back into the depths of a past relationship. It’s a moment that encapsulates the song’s essence: the push and pull between moving on and going back for just one more ride.
Round 2 also features dreamy string swells and whiny synth leads that Marcus acknowledges as nods to the 2000s. Yet, Round 2 is not a mere pastiche of influences; it’s a modern anthem for the lovers who’ve loved, lost, and are toying with the idea of loving once more.