It’s been said that art imitates life, but sometimes art imitates art itself.
When Roxy Music released “2HB” on its landmark self-titled debut album in 1972, Bryan Ferry paid tribute to one of Hollywood’s most celebrated movies: Casablanca. More than 50 years later, the song remains one of the band’s signature recordings, while the film that inspired it continues to rank among Rotten Tomatoes’best movies of all time.
The connection was no coincidence.
The title “2HB” stands for “To Humphrey Bogart,” the legendary actor who starred in Casablanca.
“‘2HB’ was written sitting at the piano with the typewriter balanced on my knees,” Ferry told NME. “It wasn’t that I have a thing about Bogart – it could have been any popular idol of the period, or later, James Dean or somebody – and it’s not that Bogart was a very tragic figure anyway. It was just that line, ‘Here’s looking at you, kid,’ from the film Casablanca, and coming out of the cinema remembering all those great scenes: the cigarette smoke in the nightclub, and Peter Lorre in a white jacket… The song was written around a period – the late 40s – as captured in that one picture.”
Ferry built the song around the romance, mystery and melancholy that made the 1942 classic so enduring, even weaving the film’s famous theme, “As Time Goes By,” into Andy Mackay’s unforgettable saxophone solo. Rather than simply referencing the movie, Ferry transformed its atmosphere into one of Roxy Music’s most distinctive recordings.
“2HB” also introduced listeners to the sophisticated blend of glam rock, art rock and cinematic storytelling that quickly became the band’s calling card. Alongside Ferry’s elegant songwriting, Brian Eno’s experimental textures and the group’s adventurous musicianship, the track helped establish Roxy Music as one of the most innovative bands of the decade.
That innovation soon translated to the concert stage. Throughout the 1970s and on subsequent reunion tours, Roxy Music graduated from theaters to arenas around the world, headlining major venues across Europe and North America while building a reputation for stylish, visually ambitious live performances. Songs like “2HB” became part of the sophisticated catalog that helped turn the band into one of rock’s premier touring attractions.
“The first Roxy album is an unusual collage of musical elements, and the songs themselves, if you break them down, are just simple experiments in different genres,” Ferry told Uncut. “This was the first album that any of us had made. We were all hungry to learn and new to the experience of being in a recording studio. It was a dream come true to be able to do this.”
Although it was never released as a major hit single, “2HB” has endured as one of Roxy Music’s most admired songs. Its dreamlike mood, unmistakable saxophone melody and cinematic inspiration have made it a longtime favorite among fans and critics alike.
More than five decades after its release, “2HB” remains a testament to the power of storytelling across different art forms. Inspired by one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, the song helped define the sound of a band that would go on to fill arenas around the world, proving that timeless films can inspire timeless music.
Related: 1982 Rock Classic, Lasting Over 14 Minutes, Became a Timeless Road Trip Anthem