79. ‘End Of A Century’

Single, released 7/11/94. Also on ‘Parklife’. Produced by Stephen Street.

This excellent song, which Street saw as evidence of “Damon getting the art of songwriting really sorted” is, according to its author, about “how couples get into staying in and staring at each other. Only instead of candle-light, it’s the TV light.” The opening line refers to an infestation of ants that he and Justine suffered in their then-home in Kensington. Damon regards the song as being almost identical to his original demo. Graham replies ruefully: “If he wants to think that, I’ll let him.”

The highest vocal harmonies are by the versatile Graham. Street says of the guitarist’s backing vocals: “He does things sometimes that sound like a cat but then he adds another harmony and it’s pure Blur.” One of the song’s highlights is the brief, lyrical trombone solo (1.26) by Richard Edwards of the Kick Horns, which prefaces a brief return to the gentle chords of the intro. Street videoed Blur’s performance on his Handicam.

While much loved, ‘End Of A Century’ failed as a single, Andy Ross comments: “This was a single, ‘This Is A Low’ (see 80) wasn’t. Maybe it should have been the other way round.”