From Rejection to Radio: The story Behind Spin Doctors’ “Two Princes”
A chance encounter, a dismissive first draft, and a friend’s simple encouragement sparked the creation of “Two Princes,” the 1993 hit that defined a generation. On Friday, November 7th, at the Paramount Theater in Rutland, Vermont, Spin Doctors frontman Chris Barron will share the unlikely origin story of the song, alongside fellow ’90s icons John Hampson of Nine Days, Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe, and Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge, in “Story of a Song: A ’90s Unplugged experience.”
The genesis of “Two Princes” began with a phone call. Barron, then 19 years old and working at a restaurant, received a message from a woman he’d previously dated. “Things hadn’t ended that great between us, so I was wondering if she was mad at me,” he recalled. He started writing lyrics, but quickly discarded them. “I thoght it was terrible, just really bad,” he said.Fortunately, a friend heard the initial draft and encouraged him to revisit it.
Barron credits a specific technique for unlocking his songwriting potential – separating the creative voice from the editing voice. “you want to start out with that creative voice and protect it from the editing voice,” he explained. this allowed him to push past his initial self-doubt and continue writing. Just thirty minutes later, “Two Princes” was complete, ultimately becoming the lead single from the Spin Doctors’ massively successful album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite.
The event in Rutland promises a unique glimpse into the songwriting process.Hampson, who penned Nine Days’ hit “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” in roughly the same timeframe, noted that rapid creation is common among songwriters. “It’s a common thing with writers, a lot of times their most popular song was writen very fast,” he said.
“Story of a Song” will feature an intimate, acoustic “writers round” format, with all four artists sharing stories and performing their hits. The performers intentionally avoided scripting the event, opting for a spontaneous and collaborative atmosphere. “We didn’t script anything, we didn’t even figure out the set list, [we] just get up there and have fun,” Hampson stated.
The show offers more than just nostalgia. Barron believes audiences will gain a deeper understanding of the songs they’ve loved for decades. “You get a little insight into a song, how it was written, or the songwriter has the chance to explain something the audience wouldn’t necessarily be able to glean from the song,” he said. He also highlighted the power of hearing the songs stripped down to their acoustic core, separate from the production elements of the original recordings.
Vander Ark hinted at entertaining anecdotes from behind the scenes, though remained tight-lipped about specifics. “It’s funny because the stories on stage are a little more innocuous compared to the stories backstage,” he said with a smile, adding, “I got to hear stories from the other guys on the inspiration for some of their hit songs.”
For dombroski, the event is a reminder of a simpler time in music creation. “When I’m home, I love to just sit down with a blank piece of paper and a guitar three times a week,” he shared. He lamented the distractions of the modern era, particularly social media, which makes the essential practice of “sitting and waiting” for inspiration increasingly difficult.
The reunion also represents a moment to celebrate an era of authenticity in music. Barron emphasized that the music of the ’90s was created without the influence of artificial intelligence or extensive electronic manipulation. “We represent this moment in music,” he said. “There’s this authenticity because there’s nothing electronic going on…nothing computerized or electronic about what we’re doing.”
He believes this authenticity resonates with audiences today. “People have a yearning in their hearts for something authentic and real, and we’re doing that. It’s something to put your phone down and sink your teeth into.”
