NEW BLUR ALBUM - The Ballad Of Darren

[j3bailey]

I see The Narcissist has made the Radio 2 A-List. I’m not surprised, it’s an amazing song. If we were in the 90’s (when the singles chart properly existed) it would be a Number 1 single I reckon

[munch]

i agreee

[Pavlich]

Going back to the commentary re: break ups, I do think it seems heavily insinuated that Damon's broken up with Suzie.

To be fair, I find it mental that he lasted this long with someone. Damon's admitted multiple times that he has a wandering eye and struggles with commitment.

[Neal Zeal]

I see The Narcissist has made the Radio 2 A-List. I’m not surprised, it’s an amazing song. If we were in the 90’s (when the singles chart properly existed) it would be a Number 1 single I reckon

Oh well spotted!
That should push it up into the airplay top 20 (currently at 27).
Absolute appear to be playing it twice a day, too, and Radio x have playlisted it.
It will probably be their biggest airplay success since Coffee and TV.
The impact of this is that it will go down a lot better at the mega UK gigs (which I guess is just Wembley) as there usually are a lot of floating voters at these shows who only know the radio hits.
It will also power the album on to greater initial sales even if reviews aren't that good.

[munch]

Going back to the commentary re: break ups, I do think it seems heavily insinuated that Damon's broken up with Suzie.

To be fair, I find it mental that he lasted this long with someone. Damon's admitted multiple times that he has a wandering eye and struggles with commitment.

When/where did he say that? I mean he has worked with a million collaborators and many of them quite attractive.
But in Damon's defense, Suzi has been known to be a long time away traveler as well for her art. I assumed that was why they kind of worked. But he has spent a lot of time away from London since Covid.
It's not really our subject to talk about.
More so for me, it's whatever art comes from it that's a great reason to get excited for the Ballad of Darren <3 #gofreo

[Sledge Hammer]

I see The Narcissist has made the Radio 2 A-List. I’m not surprised, it’s an amazing song. If we were in the 90’s (when the singles chart properly existed) it would be a Number 1 single I reckon

Isn't it a joy! 1st listen wasn't quite sure but yep its a brilliant song and great to see on the A list. I tried Gorillaz recent albums again, ffs got me even sadder of the years and years of no Albarn/Coxon together making quality. But then again guess they needed to be apart...

[thespider]

If anyone cares, The Narcissist reached number 81 in the UK charts (their first single to reach the top 100 since Under the Westway in 2012) and number 37 on the American alternative rock chart (their first single to reach the radio charts since Crazy Beat in 2003)

[aldamasta]

Pretty good reaching anything on an American chart! The Narcissist is up there with the best lead singles from a blur record.

[baxter]

ha - I read that as number 1 when I was waking up looking at my phone this morning. Wishful thinking! The charts nowadays are irrelevant though. I really pine for the days of the 2 format 4 track CD single

Does anyone else find themselves rediscovering The Magic Whip with the knowledge that a new album is coming? This happens to me a lot - records gain a greater context when they are a link in a chain rather than an endpoint. It's like I really want to hear new Blur, so I'm investing a lot more headspace in TMW.

[thespider]

The charts nowadays are irrelevant though.

Pretty much. But I'm glad they changed the rules on new album releases, so the entire top 20 isn't just Ed Sheeran songs when he releases a new record because every song is being streamed to death. That literally happened and it was ridiculous

[stephen]

ha - I read that as number 1 when I was waking up looking at my phone this morning. Wishful thinking! The charts nowadays are irrelevant though. I really pine for the days of the 2 format 4 track CD single

Does anyone else find themselves rediscovering The Magic Whip with the knowledge that a new album is coming? This happens to me a lot - records gain a greater context when they are a link in a chain rather than an endpoint. It's like I really want to hear new Blur, so I'm investing a lot more headspace in TMW.

Nope not gone back to TMW, but been listening to Think Tank and The Great Escape a bit more.

I'm a bit surprised that The Narcissist has only got to 81, I guess I'm a bit behind on how the charts work these days, I'm guessing it has to be trending on TikTok or used in Stranger Things for it to be relevant these days

[thespider]

I'm guessing it has to be trending on TikTok or used in Stranger Things for it to be relevant these days

By far Graham's most popular songs on Spotify are his stuff from End of the Fucking World.

[Sledge Hammer]

Still would have loved to have seen a proper video with the new single, look at The Hives comeback song and video, haha brilliant Evil Dead take off and a storming song aswell!

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVKHeBRox0k]

The Narcissist too good not to have a video, I know they don't get played as much these days, but even clips montage of their old vids to the new song would have done.

[stephen]

Still would have loved to have seen a proper video with the new single, look at The Hives comeback song and video, haha brilliant Evil Dead take off and a storming song aswell!

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVKHeBRox0k]

The Narcissist too good not to have a video, I know they don't get played as much these days, but even clips montage of their old vids to the new song would have done.

Yeah was expecting that the Youtube was just a temporary one while they did a video but doesn't seem that way now. The band have a history of not being too overly excited about music videos

[idreamofpikas]

ha - I read that as number 1 when I was waking up looking at my phone this morning. Wishful thinking! The charts nowadays are irrelevant though. I really pine for the days of the 2 format 4 track CD single

Does anyone else find themselves rediscovering The Magic Whip with the knowledge that a new album is coming? This happens to me a lot - records gain a greater context when they are a link in a chain rather than an endpoint. It's like I really want to hear new Blur, so I'm investing a lot more headspace in TMW.

Nope not gone back to TMW, but been listening to Think Tank and The Great Escape a bit more.

I'm a bit surprised that The Narcissist has only got to 81, I guess I'm a bit behind on how the charts work these days, I'm guessing it has to be trending on TikTok or used in Stranger Things for it to be relevant these days

81 is pretty decent considering the charts are no longer favourable towards rock/alternative music and given the age of Blur. For perspective

Noel's not managed to have a song chart since 2018 (12 singles ago) at 71

Only two of Liam's last 5 singles have charted (18 and 65), both had physical releases to boost sales

Arctic Monkeys, perhaps the biggest British band currently, all 3 of their singles charted but none peaked in the top 20 (25,22 and 23).

Not a single song from the last 4 Suede albums has cracked the top 100.

Blur could have done a physical release, a music video and b-sides and it likely would have charted higher, but would not have been worth the cost.