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"'''Popscene'''" is a song by English [[rock music|rock]] band [[Blur (band)|Blur]]. It was released on 30 March 1992 as a single. The low chart placing came as a confidence blow for the band, who were struggling financially at the time. It was intended to have been the first single from Blur's second album, ''[[Modern Life Is Rubbish]]'', but was not included on the album due to the change in style they took after poor reception to the song's release.
"'''Popscene'''" is a song by English [[rock music|rock]] band [[Blur (band)|Blur]], released as a non-album single on 30 March 1992. Despite its relatively low chart placing, it has since become critically praised and regarded as one of the pioneering songs of the [[Britpop]] genre.


==Recording==
The song is an attack on the homogeneous nature of the music industry and it represented a change in musical direction for Blur. The song has since become a fan favourite and is still performed live. It has been seen as one of the first Britpop singles to be released. The song had never been included on a UK Blur album, until 2009 when it was released on Blur's compilation album ''[[Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur]]''.
The song was first played live in Autumn 1991, and recorded at Matrix Studios in [[Holborn]] with producer Steve Lovell. The lyrics showed frontman [[Damon Albarn]]'s distaste for the music business, complaining that there were too many insignificant indie bands.{{sfn|Power|2013|p=109}}


Musically, it was different to the style seen on the group's first album ''[[Leisure (Blur album)|Leisure]]'' and featured heavily flanged guitars, a [[Can (band)|Can]] influenced drumbeat, and brass from session players the Kick Horns. The band considered "Popscene" to be the loudest and best thing they had worked on at that point.{{sfn|Power|2013|p=109}}
In the documentary ''[[The Britpop Story]]'' hosted by [[John Harris (critic)|John Harris]], this song along with [[Suede (band)|Suede]]'s "[[The Drowners]]" was championed as being the first ever Britpop song, and a starting point for the movement.


==Reception==
Although the single did not appear on the audio version of 2000's collection ''[[Blur: The Best Of]]'', the [[music video]] (which was mirrored in the video for their later hit "[[Song 2]]") for the track did appear on the accompanying DVD release.
The single reached No. 32 in the UK charts, and was panned by both ''[[Melody Maker]]'' and ''[[NME]]''. The [[Beastie Boys]], guest reviewing for NME, suggested the record would sound better played at 33rpm instead of 45. The low chart placing came as a confidence blow for the band, who were £60,000 in debt.{{sfn|Power|2013|p=111}} [[Food Records]] boss Andy Ross later said "we were totally devastated ... we thought it was a brilliant single."{{sfn|Power|2013|p=110}} The band have since complained that the popularity of American [[grunge]] music contributed to the single's failure, as they felt the song had a very British feel. Guitarist [[Graham Coxon]] said "It was [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] that really fucked "Popscene" up."{{sfn|Power|2013|p=110}}


The experience of recording "Popscene" led the band to believe they should simply play music in their own style and not worry about trends. The "Britishness" of "Popscene" carried over to the group's second album, ''[[Modern Life Is Rubbish]]''.{{sfn|Power|2013|p=136}} The song was not released on the British version of the album, though it was added as an extra track in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/174211/the-dust-bin-blur-popscene-video/|title=The Dust Bin : Blur 'Popscene' (video)|first=Doug|last=Blegg|publisher=Death and Taxes Magazine|date=13 January 2012|accessdate=27 January 2015}}</ref>
As a double A-side with "[[On Your Own (Blur song)|On Your Own]]", the single was released in 1997 in Australia. The first appearance of this song on an album was the US promo album ''Blur-ti-go'' (1992) in live form.

The song has since become a fan favourite and is still performed live. Retrospective critical reaction to "Popscene" has been positive. Jonathan Holden, writing in the ''Rough Guide To Rock'', declared the single to be "excellent" and that its "punky, energetic and brass-fulfilled pop" was out of place in 1992.{{sfn|Holden|2003|p=115}} [[John Harris (critic)|John Harris]] considers the track as one of the first ever [[Britpop]] songs, and a starting point for the movement.{{sfn|Harris|2003|p=67}} The song had never been included on a UK Blur album, until 2009 when it was released on the compilation ''[[Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/21/blur-release-comeback-compilation|title=Blur to release comeback compilation|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 May 2009|accessdate=27 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fn3n|title=Review of Blur - Midlife|first=Ian|last=Wade|publisher=BBC Music|year=2009|accessdate=27 January 2015}}</ref>

==Personnel==
* [[Damon Albarn]] - [[lead vocals]], [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
* [[Graham Coxon]] - [[guitar]], backing vocals
* [[Alex James]] - bass
* [[Dave Rowntree]] - drums
* The Kick Horns - brass


==Track listings==
==Track listings==
All songs written by [[Damon Albarn|Albarn]], [[Graham Coxon|Coxon]], [[Alex James (musician)|James]] and [[Dave Rowntree|Rowntree]].
All songs written by Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree.


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==References==
==References==
;Citations
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Sources
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=The Last Party: Britpop, Blair and the Demise of English Rock|first=John|last=Harris|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2003|isbn=978-0-007-13472-4|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|first=Jonathan|last=Holden|year=2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-843-53105-0|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|title=The Life of Blur|first=Martin|last=Power|publisher=Music Sales Group|year=2013|isbn=978-0-857-12862-1|ref=harv}}
{{refend}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 08:37, 27 January 2015

This article is about the song by Blur. For the nightclub, see Popscene (club).
"Popscene"
Song
B-side"Mace" (7")
"I'm Fine", "Mace", "Garden Central" (12")
"Mace", "Badgeman Brown" (CD)

"Popscene" is a song by English rock band Blur, released as a non-album single on 30 March 1992. Despite its relatively low chart placing, it has since become critically praised and regarded as one of the pioneering songs of the Britpop genre.

Recording

The song was first played live in Autumn 1991, and recorded at Matrix Studios in Holborn with producer Steve Lovell. The lyrics showed frontman Damon Albarn's distaste for the music business, complaining that there were too many insignificant indie bands.[1]

Musically, it was different to the style seen on the group's first album Leisure and featured heavily flanged guitars, a Can influenced drumbeat, and brass from session players the Kick Horns. The band considered "Popscene" to be the loudest and best thing they had worked on at that point.[1]

Reception

The single reached No. 32 in the UK charts, and was panned by both Melody Maker and NME. The Beastie Boys, guest reviewing for NME, suggested the record would sound better played at 33rpm instead of 45. The low chart placing came as a confidence blow for the band, who were £60,000 in debt.[2] Food Records boss Andy Ross later said "we were totally devastated ... we thought it was a brilliant single."[3] The band have since complained that the popularity of American grunge music contributed to the single's failure, as they felt the song had a very British feel. Guitarist Graham Coxon said "It was Nirvana that really fucked "Popscene" up."[3]

The experience of recording "Popscene" led the band to believe they should simply play music in their own style and not worry about trends. The "Britishness" of "Popscene" carried over to the group's second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish.[4] The song was not released on the British version of the album, though it was added as an extra track in the US.[5]

The song has since become a fan favourite and is still performed live. Retrospective critical reaction to "Popscene" has been positive. Jonathan Holden, writing in the Rough Guide To Rock, declared the single to be "excellent" and that its "punky, energetic and brass-fulfilled pop" was out of place in 1992.[6] John Harris considers the track as one of the first ever Britpop songs, and a starting point for the movement.[7] The song had never been included on a UK Blur album, until 2009 when it was released on the compilation Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur.[8][9]

Personnel

Track listings

All songs written by Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree.

Production credits

  • "Popscene" produced by Steve Lovell
  • "Mace", "Badgeman Brown", and "Garden Central" produced by Blur and John Smith
  • "I'm Fine" produced by Blur

Charts

Charts (1992) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[10] 32

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b Power 2013, p. 109.
  2. ^ Power 2013, p. 111.
  3. ^ a b Power 2013, p. 110.
  4. ^ Power 2013, p. 136.
  5. ^ Blegg, Doug (13 January 2012). "The Dust Bin : Blur 'Popscene' (video)". Death and Taxes Magazine. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  6. ^ Holden 2003, p. 115.
  7. ^ Harris 2003, p. 67.
  8. ^ "Blur to release comeback compilation". The Guardian. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  9. ^ Wade, Ian (2009). "Review of Blur - Midlife". BBC Music. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  10. ^ "BLUR | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
Sources
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