We are currently loving the song Ong Ong from Blur's newest album. Here's some footage of the song performed on Last.fm sessions live in May 2015. Blur performs a refreshing light acoustic version of their new song, which is perhaps the best little gem on their new album The Magic Whip.
What's your favourite song from The Magic Whip?
June 10, 2015
Blur- Ong Ong acoustic version
June 8, 2015
Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon talk about recording
Watch a new interview where the band talks about recording at Abbey Road studios. The video contains some refreshing footage of Damon and Graham looking young and energetic.
June 6, 2015
Watch Blur- Ong Ong Music Video - Love it or hate it?
The new video for Blur's new single Ong Ong features an orange in a retro video game, with the band dressed up as various insects, ice-cream cones and an unidentifiable red object. It's a different style of video compared to the band's previous release Lonesome Street and Go Out, which features live footage of real people. Check out the video below!
May 8, 2015
10 things you didn't know about The Magic Whip
- Blur produced this album secretly in Hong Kong, when they were there for tour in 2014. Graham Coxon even revealed that he had to lie to friends and family in order to keep their new album secret.
- In May of 2013, Blur were set to play Japan's Tokyo Rocks Music festival. However, the entire festival was cancelled for unknown reasons, leaving the band stranded in Hong Kong for an extra 5 days. The result of this extra 5 days of studio work is the new album, where Albarn later stated he was unsure whether the resulting music would ever be released.
- Stephen Street, the producer of The Magic Whip, actually produced Blur's first album 'Leisure' and several other subsequent albums. He had a fall-out with the band a few years ago where there was a mini-feud between him, William Orbit and other Blur members.
- The Magic Whip is band's first studio album since Think Tank (2003), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in their career.
- Stephen Street actually plays keyboard in several of Blur's live performances as part of their new 2015 tour. See this video for Stephen on the keyboards!
- The cover of the album features the Chinese words of 模糊 魔鞭, which translates into "Blur Magic-whip". The artist, Tony Hung, who also created the lyric video for "Go Out", met with frontman Damon Albarn in early 2015 to discuss the album artwork and was shown photos and ephemera from the singer's travels in Hong Kong.
- Damon Albarn has always enjoyed featuring Asian cities or Chinese elements in his songs. His hit from Gorillaz- Hong Kong- was also about the city, as is the whole of The Magic Whip. The song 'Ong Ong' in particular is also a tribute to Hong Kong.
- Graham Coxon said that The Magic Whip is his favourite Blur album of all time. His reason? "It's poignant – a lot of what Damon [Albarn]'s saying with the lyrics would maybe resonate with someone who's my age, feeling dislocated by technology but also slightly enslaved by it, and worried about where it's all going to end up. I feel like he's saying the stuff that I feel".
- The Magic Whip actually contains only half of the songs that Damon Albarn has written in Hong Kong. Alex James has revealed that the band have enough material to release another new album, having only used half of the tracks they wrote for 'The Magic Whip'.
- Damon Albarn’s voice has changed a lot, evident in his new album. His voice matured from a more high-pitched voice to a deeper, raspier and melancholic voice which conveys the feeling of the Magic Whip well. It's probably why the new album received very positive critical reviews.
May 6, 2015
Graham Coxon and Stephen Street Interview
Here's a great little interview about Blur's Hong Kong sessions and recording their newest album The Magic Whip. Graham Coxon and Stephen Street talks about their latest collaboration and feelings towards the album.
May 4, 2015
Blur at UK Number 1 for New Album
May 3, 2015
Blur live at La Musicale 2015
Watch Blur perform their new album The Magic Whip, live in Paris, La Musicale in 2015.
April 21, 2015
Blur Ong Ong Lyrics
To get out of this town
But the tarmac was melting and the people seemed to sway(?)
Stuck in the underground
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
feeling the love of you
You know just what to do
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
I will be there with you
April 17, 2015
New Blur song review- Ong Ong
Quite possibly our favourite song on Blur's new album The Magic Whip, the new song 'Ong Ong', premiered live on Jools Holland's show on April 14th is simply gob-smacking. It's a perfect, summery and light tune, where Damon sings his lyrics "I wanna be with you" behind a chanting "La La La La".
The melody is top-notch, with it's soothing and melodic tune. Graham Coxon's guitar shines as he gives out his best performance so far, and Damon Albarn's voice is very fitting for the song. The backup singers were also very fitted for the song, giving it a full sound unlike Lonesome Street, Blur's other single.
The Hong Kong and Asian theme is also evident in the song, where there's an interlude between choruses where an exotic tune is played.
All in all, Ong Ong is similar to something between a Beatles song crossed with Blur's tunes from Modern Life is Rubbish. It's absolutely a gem and we are sure it will be a crowd favourite in Blur's Hyde Park performance later on in the year.
April 16, 2015
Blur- I Broadcast lyrics
April 15, 2015
Blur premier new songs Ong Ong and I Broadcast- Jools Holland
Blur showcased two songs, 'Ong Ong' and 'I Broadcast', from their forthcoming album Magic Whip, which is their first in 12 years and is due for release on 27 April 2015. The new songs form part of their new album's "Hong Kong" theme.
Damon Albarn looked like he's in great condition, showing off his signature British menswear and a leather jacket. Alex James looks his usual best in a white shirt and hair shaking, and the other two members of the band Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree was in their usual form. The show also featured other bands such as The Vaccines performing new upcoming singles.
Watch Blur live on Jools Holland (BBC Two) - I Broadcast
Blur performing Ong Ong