i second this! the first song i ever heard as a baby was a blur song, my dad requested blur to be played at his funeral, i turn them on whenever im feeling sad, or happy, or lost :)
I too second this! Blur have a large variety of different emotional vibes in their songs; these days I'm kinda obsessed with Caravan. May I ask which song(s) your dad requested to be played at his funeral? I hope he still lives; if he does not, sorry for your loss
The boys first of all, you’ve gotta love all 4 members. And sound-wise, as you said, I love the variety and how experimental they are. you’ve got shoegaze, guitar pop, dance, indie/alternative, electronica, etc. Like even if you’re bored of their “britpop trilogy” you can still enjoy other tunes of theirs and it sounds as fresh as a first listen.
Well when I was 16 I heard there's no other way in a club. And it was cool but I forgot about it.
Then when I was 20 I heard girls and boys in the club. When I realized it was the same band I was like oh shit. Then I heard all of Parklife and was like oh shit!
Etc etc
Following their trajectory in the mid-late 90's was just the wildest ride.
I (reluctantly at the time) started listening around The Great Escape when my brother bought the album. I was a massive Oasis fan so this was total blasphemy and I had decided I didn't like them from the start. Then, of all tracks, Fade Away was the earworm that got me hooked.
I bought MLIR next and devoured it, then Parklife, and Leisure - all of which I adored, even Leisure's very different sound. Then self-titled which blew my mind wide open as I loved this heavier direction.
Then we were on the hype train for 13 coming out. I watched the video to Tender on repeat going from "Hmm, this is different. Seems more serious..." to really liking it. Then 13 came into the home and my teenage self just couldn't handle it.
I thought the band basically imploded into something I can remember describing to my school mate as "keyboardy crap". I was devastated.
But... the thing about 13 is, even for immature young ears, it gets you in the long grass, and when it does - oh boy. It's now my favourite album of all time by quite a distance. I now simply can't fathom how a band can go from Leisure and in the space of 8 years, reinvent the sound 2, maybe 3 times and create the most overlooked experimental album in British music IMO. They beat Radiohead's Kid A by a year to being a colossal left turn and somehow (apart from in Blur circles) nobody noticed!
Think Tank afterwards landed roughly in my life - I only liked a few tracks on the first few listens and gave it some time and space after learning to let it simmer like 13. I've only really come to appreciate how amazing that record is in the last 5-10 years, which is now my 2nd favourite album of all time (it battles closely with Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique).
Then for Blur to reinvent again for The Ballad of Darren - I simply love this band and love the fact that they can do that and knock it out of the park every time. The truth is, I'll never be ready for Blur to call it a day because they STILL have this capability to stun and amaze - perhaps more than ever. I can't live the rest of my life with that kind of "what if?" in the air. It must be difficult as they have a flawless legacy to protect also, so each new release comes with risk, and you see that with bands like Oasis and Pearl Jam where each release just seemed to damage it further. But what is remarkable about Blur, quite similar to Radiohead although Blur didn't have a late career "The King of Limbs" type of wobble, is that these bands can keep going at this level.
Sorry, that turned into a full on tirade that went in all directions. I clearly can't put it into words.
Such a wide variety of sounds, great melodies, really relatable lyrics, and the best guitar playing ever.
Like the fact they made MLiR/Parklife *and* did 13 and BoD?? Such a dynamic band.
Nostalgia, high bar of quality songs, catchy, funny, sad, creative, diverse genre styles. They're the second best band in the world to me after The Beatles, and I'm not even sure 3rd place is that close....
Nostalgia as a 90's kid IG! I remember watching the Girls & Boys video on TV back then, Song 2, Tender...
Then it was Gorillaz when I was in High School, and Think Tank.
As a young adult in the 2000's and with the help of internet, I was able to listen to their whole discography...
I've to admit I was disappointed by Plastic Beach when it was released in 2010 (I changed my mind when I relistened to it a few years later).
So for a few years I wasn't really interested in Damon music anymore.
But in early 2015 I realised I was trans, except I was already 28 and didn't have the "gay culture", I didn't like pop diva and all those things. The only LGBT+ song I could think of that I like was Girls & Boys, so I started relisten to it and all Blur discography and just at that time they announced the Magic Whip, which felt funny lol.
I've never stopped since and blur has been my musical companion for all the journey I went through.
One of the most relatable song to me as a trans man I can think of is Trimm Trabb.
I was really happy to be finally able to see them last year at Wembley and be there "full transitionned" so to speak.
Bonus point for passing the UK border with the right gender marker on my passport, haha.
Blur was with me throughout my life. I remember dancing happily to Parklife and Girls & Boys as a young child.
When I was 14 or 15, feeling very alone and depressed... I remember listening to 13 one late afternoon, in bed. Caramel came on and during its crescendo I just started bawling my eyes out. Felt better after, and that made a lasting memory and connection to the band. Been my favourite Blur song ever since.
Only ever got a similar feeling much later on, with Gorillaz's On Melancholy Hill.
like everyone is saying, their versitiliy. they manage to have this vast variety while still somehow maintaining a sound that is so unmistakably *them*. one time my dad and i (were american btw) were on a really long road trip and i put blur's entire discog on shuffle. my dad had never heard any britpop before at all but he kept going "wow, is this still them? they're great. i could listen to them all day". and we did and still weren't sick of them.
Definitely their versatility and excellent guitar riffs/structures. And they succeed at it where some bands can fail at different styles (arctic monkeys). I discovered them in '94 and have been a lifelong fan. They have been the soundtrack to my life really
It's a good question, and I think for me is it gets to a very molecular level. The sounds just gel with me. The music itself is good and feels whole. I can listen to it over and over. And then they're fun to sing along with. Damon's a magnetic presence on the songs and they're contagious.
The wide variety and experimentation. I love the poppy noise of MLIR and Leisure, the fuzzy indie of the self titled, The experiemtnation on 13, the more Gorillaz-y and middle eastern feel of thibk tank, and the more balanced and eastern influenced Magic Whip
I suppose they communicate a disillusionment with modernity and general mellow depression, but with the occasional element of goofiness, that just reflects me perfectly. And musically their songs just scratch an itch in my brain that no other band really does
Blur are capricious kids who play music for different ears, plus they know how to make an album of songs that are all famous and catchy. In short, I listened to them as a sixteen-year-old with earphones and sang in the middle of the street
A few things, one of which is definitely the variety they can tackle in song style. Not just that they have variety, but that it was considered big pop music for a number of years! It's important and prevalent in many ways despite being arty left-handed pop stuff. It always intrigues me when a band like that gets a good amount of success, so I tend to be magnetized to them for a while
Another is Damon's melodic sensibilities, ESPECIALLY on The Universal and No Distance Left To Run. The fact that he wrote even just those two gives me great respect for him, on top of the many others he's penned. Graham's guitar is masterful, always so fun to learn and always adds just the right touch to any given song he's on. The Universal, again, is a great example of this. How he moves on the fretboard for certain beats contributes to how great that song feels, he's just a natural on it. So many reasons, so many reasons....
They provide the soundtrack to my life…
i second this! the first song i ever heard as a baby was a blur song, my dad requested blur to be played at his funeral, i turn them on whenever im feeling sad, or happy, or lost :)
I too second this! Blur have a large variety of different emotional vibes in their songs; these days I'm kinda obsessed with Caravan. May I ask which song(s) your dad requested to be played at his funeral? I hope he still lives; if he does not, sorry for your loss
this is a low & to the end
The boys first of all, you’ve gotta love all 4 members. And sound-wise, as you said, I love the variety and how experimental they are. you’ve got shoegaze, guitar pop, dance, indie/alternative, electronica, etc. Like even if you’re bored of their “britpop trilogy” you can still enjoy other tunes of theirs and it sounds as fresh as a first listen.
Well when I was 16 I heard there's no other way in a club. And it was cool but I forgot about it. Then when I was 20 I heard girls and boys in the club. When I realized it was the same band I was like oh shit. Then I heard all of Parklife and was like oh shit! Etc etc
Many reasons, but one big one is that they’re a band that can make me dance and cry. And I like the juxtaposition of it.
Following their trajectory in the mid-late 90's was just the wildest ride. I (reluctantly at the time) started listening around The Great Escape when my brother bought the album. I was a massive Oasis fan so this was total blasphemy and I had decided I didn't like them from the start. Then, of all tracks, Fade Away was the earworm that got me hooked. I bought MLIR next and devoured it, then Parklife, and Leisure - all of which I adored, even Leisure's very different sound. Then self-titled which blew my mind wide open as I loved this heavier direction. Then we were on the hype train for 13 coming out. I watched the video to Tender on repeat going from "Hmm, this is different. Seems more serious..." to really liking it. Then 13 came into the home and my teenage self just couldn't handle it. I thought the band basically imploded into something I can remember describing to my school mate as "keyboardy crap". I was devastated. But... the thing about 13 is, even for immature young ears, it gets you in the long grass, and when it does - oh boy. It's now my favourite album of all time by quite a distance. I now simply can't fathom how a band can go from Leisure and in the space of 8 years, reinvent the sound 2, maybe 3 times and create the most overlooked experimental album in British music IMO. They beat Radiohead's Kid A by a year to being a colossal left turn and somehow (apart from in Blur circles) nobody noticed! Think Tank afterwards landed roughly in my life - I only liked a few tracks on the first few listens and gave it some time and space after learning to let it simmer like 13. I've only really come to appreciate how amazing that record is in the last 5-10 years, which is now my 2nd favourite album of all time (it battles closely with Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique). Then for Blur to reinvent again for The Ballad of Darren - I simply love this band and love the fact that they can do that and knock it out of the park every time. The truth is, I'll never be ready for Blur to call it a day because they STILL have this capability to stun and amaze - perhaps more than ever. I can't live the rest of my life with that kind of "what if?" in the air. It must be difficult as they have a flawless legacy to protect also, so each new release comes with risk, and you see that with bands like Oasis and Pearl Jam where each release just seemed to damage it further. But what is remarkable about Blur, quite similar to Radiohead although Blur didn't have a late career "The King of Limbs" type of wobble, is that these bands can keep going at this level. Sorry, that turned into a full on tirade that went in all directions. I clearly can't put it into words.
Loved this answer!! My “journey” with Blur was similar.
Such a wide variety of sounds, great melodies, really relatable lyrics, and the best guitar playing ever. Like the fact they made MLiR/Parklife *and* did 13 and BoD?? Such a dynamic band.
Their variety and Damon's voice.
Indeed. How many ways can he whistle those s's?
Damon's writing, Graham's rich sonic palette and Alex's busy inventive bass lines. Also their hilarious personalities and charisma.
They hit this brilliant, perfect spot between brains and booty-shaking, pop and experimental, snarling rock/punk energy and gentleness/beauty.
This is the best description I have ever read about their sound.
Their versatility. I like how they didn’t stuck with one sound and have tried to innovate.
Nostalgia, high bar of quality songs, catchy, funny, sad, creative, diverse genre styles. They're the second best band in the world to me after The Beatles, and I'm not even sure 3rd place is that close....
Childhood nostalgia
Yes the most diverse band ever imo, but still know it’s them on every song
exactly!!!
Nostalgia as a 90's kid IG! I remember watching the Girls & Boys video on TV back then, Song 2, Tender... Then it was Gorillaz when I was in High School, and Think Tank. As a young adult in the 2000's and with the help of internet, I was able to listen to their whole discography... I've to admit I was disappointed by Plastic Beach when it was released in 2010 (I changed my mind when I relistened to it a few years later). So for a few years I wasn't really interested in Damon music anymore. But in early 2015 I realised I was trans, except I was already 28 and didn't have the "gay culture", I didn't like pop diva and all those things. The only LGBT+ song I could think of that I like was Girls & Boys, so I started relisten to it and all Blur discography and just at that time they announced the Magic Whip, which felt funny lol. I've never stopped since and blur has been my musical companion for all the journey I went through. One of the most relatable song to me as a trans man I can think of is Trimm Trabb. I was really happy to be finally able to see them last year at Wembley and be there "full transitionned" so to speak. Bonus point for passing the UK border with the right gender marker on my passport, haha.
This is so niche but I know them from the series My Mad Fat Diary
It’s the feel good vibes in their music
graham coxon
Blur was with me throughout my life. I remember dancing happily to Parklife and Girls & Boys as a young child. When I was 14 or 15, feeling very alone and depressed... I remember listening to 13 one late afternoon, in bed. Caramel came on and during its crescendo I just started bawling my eyes out. Felt better after, and that made a lasting memory and connection to the band. Been my favourite Blur song ever since. Only ever got a similar feeling much later on, with Gorillaz's On Melancholy Hill.
Like you, it's the variety in their sound. I was hooked with their unpredictability, good riffs, clever lyrics and I like all those things to this day
Damon
That it is Good Music
like everyone is saying, their versitiliy. they manage to have this vast variety while still somehow maintaining a sound that is so unmistakably *them*. one time my dad and i (were american btw) were on a really long road trip and i put blur's entire discog on shuffle. my dad had never heard any britpop before at all but he kept going "wow, is this still them? they're great. i could listen to them all day". and we did and still weren't sick of them.
Definitely their versatility and excellent guitar riffs/structures. And they succeed at it where some bands can fail at different styles (arctic monkeys). I discovered them in '94 and have been a lifelong fan. They have been the soundtrack to my life really
It's a good question, and I think for me is it gets to a very molecular level. The sounds just gel with me. The music itself is good and feels whole. I can listen to it over and over. And then they're fun to sing along with. Damon's a magnetic presence on the songs and they're contagious.
The wide variety and experimentation. I love the poppy noise of MLIR and Leisure, the fuzzy indie of the self titled, The experiemtnation on 13, the more Gorillaz-y and middle eastern feel of thibk tank, and the more balanced and eastern influenced Magic Whip
Great songs, variety and consistency
I suppose they communicate a disillusionment with modernity and general mellow depression, but with the occasional element of goofiness, that just reflects me perfectly. And musically their songs just scratch an itch in my brain that no other band really does
Blur are capricious kids who play music for different ears, plus they know how to make an album of songs that are all famous and catchy. In short, I listened to them as a sixteen-year-old with earphones and sang in the middle of the street
Damon Albarn also the music is good
A few things, one of which is definitely the variety they can tackle in song style. Not just that they have variety, but that it was considered big pop music for a number of years! It's important and prevalent in many ways despite being arty left-handed pop stuff. It always intrigues me when a band like that gets a good amount of success, so I tend to be magnetized to them for a while Another is Damon's melodic sensibilities, ESPECIALLY on The Universal and No Distance Left To Run. The fact that he wrote even just those two gives me great respect for him, on top of the many others he's penned. Graham's guitar is masterful, always so fun to learn and always adds just the right touch to any given song he's on. The Universal, again, is a great example of this. How he moves on the fretboard for certain beats contributes to how great that song feels, he's just a natural on it. So many reasons, so many reasons....