Out of Time (Blur song)

"Out of Time"
Single by Blur
from the album Think Tank
Released 14 April 2003
Format CD, DVD, 7" vinyl
Recorded Marrakech, 2002
Genre Alternative rock, art rock, acoustic rock
Length 3:51
Label Parlophone, Food, EMI
Producer(s) Blur, Ben Hillier
Blur singles chronology
"Don't Bomb When You Are the Bomb"
(2002)		 "Out of Time"
(2003)		 "Crazy Beat"
(2003)
Music video
"Out of Time" on YouTube

"Out of Time" is a song by Blur and was released as the lead single from their seventh album Think Tank in 2003 (see 2003 in British music). The song is a bass-driven track with minimal drums and acoustic guitar accompanied by eastern and orchestral flourishes. The faint screaming/gargling noise in the intro is a soundclip from Doctor Who. It reached number five in the UK Singles Chart.[1] "Out of Time" was Blur's first release in three years and also the band's first release without guitarist Graham Coxon.

Since the 2009 reunion, the song has been a staple of Blur's live sets, albeit in a slightly different arrangement featuring Coxon playing electric guitar. It is also the only song from Think Tank originally without Coxon's involvement to be played.

In October 2011, NME placed it at number 73 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" and eighth on its list "Greatest Tracks of the Decade".[2] They later ranked it the 499th best song ever.[3]

Video

The song was accompanied by an anti-war music video, directed by John Hardwick.[4] It was the first of Blur's videos to not feature the band members themselves in any way, consisting entirely of footage from a 2002 BBC Correspondent documentary (Warship) depicting life aboard the United States aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Albarn described the video as "the antithesis of the 'Top Gun' image of the American military machine."[5] The video is centred on Jill Ameperosa, a 24-year-old aircraft maintenance technician. After walking up to the deck, she looks out at sea whilst subtitles on the screen read, "Two days after I get home he leaves. It's just too hard. I used to love him. But you can't love someone you don't know anymore ...". Albarn explained: "It focuses on the loneliness of somebody working on an aircraft carrier and the fact that a six-month tour of duty means that relationships break down and children go without their parents. That's the reality of it."[5]

Commenting on the video, Hardwick explained,

it occurred to me that some of the personnel revealed in that film communicated a fragility that I felt was echoed in the song. Putting the two together was a comparatively simple task. The video offers an alternative perspective on the individuals who exist at the sharp end of government policy by portraying the armed forces as being staffed by people who have the same needs as all others."[4]

Reception

Paul Moody of the NME praised the song, stating

First the shock, then the awe ... Alex applies a low rumble of bass; Dave, clearly dreaming of a solo voyage to Mars, adds space-dust brushes, and Damon sings in a voice so pure, clear and welcoming you want to have a shower in it. And those lyrics: "You've been so busy lately / You haven't found the time..." If 'Out Of Time' isn't a love song to Graham, adolescent dreams going awry in the muddle of adulthood, frankly, we don't want to know. Wow. Suddenly 'Songbird' doesn't sound so clever after all ...".[6]

In October 2011, the publication placed it at number 73 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" and eighth on its list "Greatest Tracks of the Decade".[2]

Track listing

  1. "Out of Time"
  2. "Money Makes Me Crazy" (marrakech mix)
  1. "Out of Time" (Video)
  2. "Money Makes Me Crazy" (marrakech mix)
  3. "Tune 2"
  1. "Out of Time"
  2. "Money Makes Me Crazy" (marrakech mix)
  3. "Tune 2"
  4. "Don't Be"
  5. "The Outsider"
  6. "Out of Time" (video)
  7. "Crazy Beat" (video)

Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 75
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 17
Italy (FIMI)[10] 25
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 97
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[13] 5

Production credits

Additional musicians

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blur - Out of Time - Music Charts acharts.us. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  2. 1 2 "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". Nme.Com. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  3. ↑ http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_songs_2014.htm
  4. 1 2 "'TIME' CAPSULE - New Blur video 'moving portrait of a young female marine'". NME. 10 March 2003. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 Wiederhorn, Jon (25 July 2003). "Blur Revolt Against Hit Songs, Show No Love For The U.S. Military". MTV.
  6. ↑ Moody, Paul (12 April 2003). "NME Reviews - Blur : Out Of Time". NME.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Blur - Out of Time - Singles Info & Formats vblurpage.com. Retrieved 5 December 2011
  8. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Blur – Out of Time". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  9. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 24, 2003". Irish Singles Chart.
  10. ↑ "Blur - Out of Time" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Blur – Out of Time". Singles Top 100.
  12. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Blur – Out of Time". Swiss Singles Chart.
  13. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2003-04-26" UK Singles Chart.
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