November 17, 2016
Dresslily Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale
November 14, 2016
Top 10 Blur Songs of 2016
Since 2016 is nearly coming to an end, here's our wrap up of the top 10 Blur songs of all time. We've included the most recent Blur tracks in our compilation, to reflect on the growth and development of the band. Here's the list of Blur classics that you're all going to love.
10. Young and Lovely - the joys of Blur is that they have the best B-sides any band could ever have. This song hits the spot at all the right places. It's lovely, it's young and it's simply soothing.
9. Ong Ong - it's our favourite pick from Blur's latest offering from their album The Magic Whip. Born and bred in Hong Kong, this song is wacky, fun and cheerful- the perfect combination.
8. Tender- the Blur classic that even your grandparents would have heard of (even if they're not from the 90s). This classic is definitely on the list of the best Blur songs out there. Damon Albarn's heartache is really felt in his lyrics and gentle crooning.
7. The Universal - we chose this partly because of the music video. Admit it, this song's great, but the music video is the icing on the cake.
6. Country Sad Ballad Man - an unusual choice that not many people would think of as a classic Blur hit. But we beg to differ, since this track is definitely deserving of a mention. The song is melodic, slightly psychedelic and very Blur-like. It grows on you!
5. Eine Kleine Lift Musik- an unusual track and again one that is often unheard of. But give it a listen and then tell us whether we're right. This song's a lesser known track that the band recorded as part of a charity album in their early days.
4. London Loves - we're loving the London vibes in this song. If you've ever been to London and visited the sites, you'll know that Blur captures the dusty, restless London vibe perfectly in this classic hit.
3. Beetlebum - written when Blur was high (in the literal sense), this song's the perfect epitome of the 90s. It's cool, it's sleepy and it's very, very good. It's also the UK number 1 of that time.
2. Chemical World - this song ranks as number two on the list because of it's cheerful and underrated vibe. It's a brilliant song, and the music video makes it extra special. Again, not a popular choice but we beg to differ.
1. Coffee and TV - our top pick of this year, and the song that everyone should be playing when they're alone on the subway, on the bus or just feeling low, is Graham Coxon's Coffee and TV. One of Blur's biggest and greatest hits, this song is sure to make you feel better after a long day.
We are going to make more playlists and compilations for all you Blur fans out there in the coming months. Stay tuned and do share!
November 13, 2016
Gorillaz and Klaxons are working on New Music - 2016
Gorillaz and the English band Klaxons are working together on a new collaboration to release new music before the end of next year.
Gorillaz guitarist Jeff Wootton revealed the news to NME at an event at Abbey Road Studios on November 10th 2016, held to launch Stella McCartney’s first menswear collection.
Speaking before the show, Reynolds said the guests were: “A stellar line-up of teenage heroes.” He added that DMC had told the band it was the first time he had ever performed Run DMC classic ‘It’s Like That’ live. “He said he’d never played it live… did he not realise it was a mega smash hit?” said Reynolds. “He was going: ‘This sounds amazing live!’ He was so excited that we were playing that song.”
Wootton and Reynolds revealed that they’ve been working on a collaborative project since August, with a plan to release new music next year.
“We’re taking different backgrounds and cultures and trying to push music forward,” said Wootton. “It’s a perfect time now with what’s going on in the world and everything else. Me and Jamie have great chemistry together and it’s really magical. It’s very fast. You think of great bands like The Smiths and it’s always fast. This has certainly been like that. Even being asked to play tonight, it feels like something’s bubbling” he said.
As well as playing guitar with Gorillaz, Wootton has also played live with The Last Shadow Puppets, Beady Eye and Damon Albarn.
November 9, 2016
Damon Albarn on President Trump- "Don’t fall for Donald Trump because he’s a chump.”
With the results of the US Presidential election confirmed, we can now say with no doubt that President Trump has come into power. Akin to an "American Brexit", this situation has been criticised by many in the international stage. Brexit has serious implications for the EU and UK, as does the new presidency which in no doubt throws much of politics into question.
However, what does Damon Albarn, Blur's renowned frontman got to do with President Trump?
In November 2015, Damon Albarn was interviewed about President Donald Trump. What has he got to say? Here's what:
What about American politics? Any thoughts on Donald Trump?
Hmm. Maybe we could get him to do "Parklife" with us!
Earlier last year, Damon Albarn also branded Donald Trump ‘a chump’ during New York show. In a show promoting The Magic Whip, Blur played a rousing version of ’13’ opener ‘Tender’, with Albarn taking a shot at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the song’s outro, singing “Don’t fall for Donald Trump/because he’s a chump.”
As the lights switched on at the end of the song, the frontman sarcastically commented “democracy, right?”
We guess America really did 'fall' for Trump- we should have listened to Damon Albarn's wise words!
November 5, 2016
New Interview by 2D from Gorillaz Hints at New Album Direction - 2016
If you think Gorillaz aren't up to something- think again. The band has been making headlines all around the internet lately. Now their latest antic is to dish more excitement to fans out there in anticipation of their new album to be released in 2016 or 2017.
In an exclusive interview on High Snobiety, the lead singer of Gorillaz 2D gave an interview talking about his gap year, his journeys and bizarre adventures, ahead of their new album which has led fans speculating non-stop these few weeks. 2D even made a playlist for the interview.
Some excerpts from the interview can be read below.
What do you think is the most important thing you learned on your gap year?
Being stranded on a tropical island taught me lots of survival skills. Like how to run away from crabs (sideways), and how to stay alive by eating your own clothes. Actually, when I was down to just my underpants, I learned my most important lesson – we don’t need all the things we think we do, like massage chairs, Capri Sun and 2 Broke Girls. We just need fresh air, sunshine and 2 Broke Girls. (I really love that show.)
Should everyone be required to take a gap year before university?
I don’t think people should be forced to do anything. Murdoc used to force me to dress up as a fox and run around the woods while he hunted me with his crossbow, which was really scary. Then again, he only did it because he’s an animal lover and would never hurt a real fox. That’s one of the things I admire about Murdoc.
After your extensive experience in eating whale meat, what is the best way one should prepare and eat it?
I wouldn’t normally eat whale because I understand their plight – I’ve seen Free Willy. But when I’d eaten my last sock, it was do or die. I didn’t have a microwave so I developed a pioneering new slow-cooking method: put a big piece of whale blubber in tropical sunlight and wait for it to turn green. Normally takes about three weeks. Finally, season with a sprinkling of coarse yellow sand.
What’s one of the strangest things to ever happen to you while on tour?
One time after a show Murdoc got very drunk. He pointed at me then one of the security guards escorted me to his trailer. When I got inside, Murdoc gave me strawberries and told me about all the tragedies in his life, stopping only to cry or smoke a joint. Afterwards he said I was a good listener, and not like all the other girls. We hugged, exchanged numbers, and I left. He never called.
If Gorillaz could score any film of their choice, what would it be and why?
Gorillaz music often sounds happy, but it is actually quite dark and speaks about our greatest fears. So I would have to say Sharknado 4. There are lots of things to worry about in the world, but a sharknado has to be in my top three (behind global warming and Gok Wan). If you don’t know, a sharknado is a phenomenon where a tornado sucks up a shoal of killer sharks, then spins across the land eating and destroying everything in its path. Luckily, they’re quite rare.
What’s something in the world that you’d like to see fixed and why?
There is a lot of pain in the world. I think part of the problem is that there are too many hard, sharp edges. If the world was softer, like if everything was covered in foam, there would be fewer accidents because when people fell over or walked into things they would bounce. I did have a slot on Dragons’ Den to present my idea, but on the way there my foam suit caught fire on a cigarette butt and I suffered quite severe burns. Which was a shame – I really wanted to meet Deborah Meaden and cheer her up. She always looks so sad.
The playlist 2D made sounds very catchy and upbeat. It also strikingly contains "Leisure- All Over You" - which is the song of Blur's first ever album and also it's title track. We can be sure that this playlist is what Damon Albarn has been listening to in the past few weeks- maybe it alludes to the style of the new Gorillaz album.
Listening to the playlist will give us hints of the sound of a new Gorillaz album. If that's the case, then everyone should get excited about the new song- because it sounds more energetic and spunky than ever.
Read the full interview HERE.
Stay tuned for the latest Gorillaz news on the internet!
November 4, 2016
Noodle Instagram Post has Fans Guessing What is Coming Soon
Noodle from Gorillaz recently posted a mysterious message on her Instagram profile, alluding to a new Gorillaz track to be released soon.
The Japanese caption, “近日公開,” translates as “Coming soon" in English. This has left fans speculating about what exactly is coming soon. Is it a new Gorillaz song? Or an entirely new iPad album like the previous The Fall?
In June 2016, Damon Albarn announced that a new Gorillaz album was coming "fairly soon". Now that it is already November, it is about right that something should be released soon. The band has been posting a lot of cryptic messages on its Twitter and Instagram feeds lately. This is not surprising, given that Gorillaz is a virtual band marketed solely online.
We would expect that the band's suspense-creating tactic will continue throughout this month, increasing in frequency as more things become unveiled.
Follow Noodle HERE.
New Gorillaz Track to be Released in November 12th 2016
Breaking news for all Gorillaz fan: a new Gorillaz song may be released on November 12th 2016 or December 11th 2016. We put two dates here because we still don't know when there will be a track - if any - that will be released.
The band has been keeping this mysterious with their new Book of Murdoc and strange Instagram posts. For example, creator Jamie Hewlett has been posting clues of a new Gorillaz album in his feed but has been keeping quiet about whether there is a new release soon.
Another development is that Noodle, the guitarist for the virtual band led by Damon Albarn and drawn by Jamie Hewlett, recently ventured out into the world of online dating by setting up a profile on OKCupid. Her profile (https://www.okcupid.com/profile/watashiwanoodle/) has since been deleted, but according to sources, Noodle’s bio reportedly read “Ready? 12:11 xxDA.”
What does that mean? DA is assumed to be the initials of Damon Albarn, the Blur frontman who founded Gorillaz with cult comic legend Jamie Hewlett, but what the numbers may mean is still unknown and has fans speculating non-stop.
Many have eagerly assumed that 12:11 must be when we can expect a new Gorillaz single or an announcement about the album. But just when we can expect that is anyone’s guess. November 12th? December 11th? At 12:11 at night or in the afternoon?
Meanwhile, Noodle also posted some selfies on her Instagram account and wrote some Japanese writing that also has fans getting exciting. “近日公開,” was the caption, which translates as “Coming soon.”
What is coming soon? A new song? Or another comic book? We do not know, and there is numerous speculation about the possibilities. Stay tuned to find out.
Check out Noodle's Instagram account here.
Stay tuned for more news on this site, and don't forget to subscribe.
November 2, 2016
The Book of Murdoc- Exerpts
The following are some clips from Gorillaz's Twitter moment featuring the Book of Murdoc, in anticipation of the new Gorillaz album that is soon to be out. Check it out below!
The Book of Murdoc
Murdoc talks Brexit- Gorillaz News
While Murdoc refused to give any new information about the impending fifth album from Gorillaz, he did discuss his opinions on music and modern politics. His favorite living musician — other than himself — is Ringo Starr. "While everyone else was coked out of their minds in the '80s, he did his career's finest work on Thomas the Tank Engine." Murdoc also chooses Oasis as the better band over Blur, the band fronted by Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn.
Read the entire interview here and check out Murdoc's multimedia story The Book of Murdoc in their Twitter feed.
October 25, 2016
New Gorillaz Album Could Be Out in 2 weeks
Apologies for the hiatus, but Gorillaz’s newest single could be out by next Saturday night. In Damon Albarn's last interview, he had said the band’s new album could be finished in two weeks. It's almost two weeks later, and that may be the case as the band’s fictional guitarist Noodle has teased new music may be out soon.
As NME points out, the character shared an image on Instagram of the eye insignia for Beats 1 show Soulection, which airs Saturday nights, and tagged regular host Gilles Peterson.
The band also shared a new origin story for band member Murdoch. As with The Book Of Noodle and The Book Of Russel, this one follows the story of the band’s bassist from a rusty submarine to a new apartment in West London.
In their typical creative and mysterious humor, the legendary group has used this storyline to prepare fans for a new album, which is expected to drop sometime in 2017. Until then, you can follow the journey of the greatest cartoon band on Earth. Lead singer 2D is expected to get his own "book" next.
Follow it below and keep an eye out this weekend.
September 21, 2016
New specials for the fall season
September 6, 2016
Cellulite Reduction by Pulse Light Clinic London
Pulse Light clinic uses a special machine called Vellashape III , which is specially designed to remove excess cellulite and reduce the appearance of lumps on your skin. They're specially designed to provide you with:
- Contours, shapes the body by improving cellulite and reducing cirumference
- Dramatic results without any downtime
- Overall improvement in skin texture
- Non invasive, minimal discomfort
July 30, 2016
When Is the New Gorillaz album out? Speculations in 2016
Fans of Gorillaz who has been anticipating the virtual band’s fifth studio album ever since news that it was coming in 2016 will be excited by recent words from frontman Damon Albarn.
“I’m loving it and it’s getting there,” the Blur frontman and eclectic musician said during a recent interview with BBC Radio 6 Music. The singer says the highly anticipated album “should be ready fairly soon.”
The news that Gorillaz was making a new album came in September last year, but its progress has been stalled by Damon Albarn's various commitments. However, the album's recording process has remained fairly steady. Rumour has it that some of the collaborators include French musician Jean Michel-Jarre, rapper Vic Mensa, songwriter Liam Bailey, and producer Twilite Tone.
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa is known to be part of the collaboration too as photo of him in a studio was posted by producer Remi Kabaka. Mensa was also included in the studio with the animated band.
But despite Albarn’s hopeful 2016 agenda, his Gorillaz partner Jamie Hewlett has told fans that a 2017 release is more realistic, because the album is, “really fucking special,” and, “can’t be rushed.” The pair met when they were roommates in London in the 1990s amidst the heydays of Britpop where Damon was at his peak with Blur.
The new album will also be more catchy and uplifting, says Damon Albarn. "I'm determined that my next record will be very upbeat, and I will try to set myself the benchmark of 125 bpm and nothing underneath that."exclaimed the frontman.
Jamie Hewlett also talked about the band's new visual approach with Rolling Stone. "It's going to change – I can't tell you how. But of course it's going to be different, I can't do what I've already done, that's not interesting to me. In the same way Damon changes with his music and moves forward, I do the same. It's going to be a different look," he said.
Indeed, 2D looks much more larger in size according to pictures posted on Jamie's Instagram feed. The characters also feature new outfits and hairstyles, as seen in some of the newer images. Jamie Hewlett is known for updating his feed with unreleased photos of Gorillaz ahead of the official release of albums.
Gorillaz's last album was The Fall, which was released in early 2010. It's about time that fans of the band should get something new, and it looks like we will hear back from the band anytime soon.
Follow Jamie Hewlett on Instagram HERE.
Read 6 fun facts about Gorillaz HERE
July 29, 2016
New Blur Vinyl released - 2016
Heads up for all Blur fans- a new Blur vinyl is going to be released to celebrate the band's first album Leisure and its 25th anniversary. The band's debut album Leisure was first released in 1991 and contains singles such as "She's So High" and "Bang".
The new vinyl is going to be released on a turquoise vinyl by Parlophone. It will contain a remastered tracklist rendered in Abbey Road, although there any details of bonus content or extra tracks has yet to come. The Britpop band reconvened in 2015 for their first album release in 12 years. Their comeback album 'The Magic Whip' was the first Blur album to feature Coxon since 1999.
‘Leisure’ tracklist:
Side A
‘She’s So High’
‘Bang’
‘Slow Down’
‘Repetition’
‘Bad Day’
‘Sing Side’
Side B
‘There’s No Other Way’
‘Fool’ ‘Come Together’
‘High Cool’ ‘Birthday’
‘Wear Me Down’.
July 3, 2016
Damon Albarn Angry over Brexit
In a historic referendum, Britain voted to leave the European Union, leaving a wave of economic uncertainty that has left many musicians and entertainment industry members crestfallen and outraged.
British musicians like Blur's Damon Albarn and British indie pop band Bastille used the stages of Glastonbury Festival as a platform. "Democracy failed us because it was ill-informed," Albarn said Friday morning onstage.
Bastille changed the lyrics of their hit "Pompeii" during a live acoustic set, with frontman Dan Smith singing, "And the pound kept tumbling down on the weekend that we love." The British pound sank to its lowest level in 31 years following the decision.
The "Brexit" vote means that over the next two years, Britain will negotiate its secession plan with the EU, the 28-state economic and political union initiated after World War II and formally established in 1993. Many fear that one of the repercussions of the Brexit will be the secession of Scotland from the U.K. since Scots voted to remain in the EU. British prime minister David Cameron also announced his resignation hours after the vote to leave the EU was determined.
Many members of the music community took to social media to voice dismay over the vote, including Oasis' Noel and Liam Gallagher, Dev Hynes, Disclosure, Ellie Goulding, Johnny Marr, Lily Allen and J.K. Rowling.
Source: Rolling Stones
May 19, 2016
Top 10 Damon Albarn Quotes - New Blur Quotes 2016
Damon Albarn is known for his short, snappy interviews, mysterious ways and sometimes awkward and outlandish suggestions. This is, of course, bearing in mind that he is one of the greatest musicians in England at the moment. Here are some insightful and beautiful quotes from some of his latest interviews in 2015 and 2016.
1. "Everyone was using the flashes on their cameras, so there was this moment, like a mania, when everyone started flashing-flashing-flashing and you could see it down the coast. In itself, it was kind of a magnificent event" - on the last solar eclipse of the century in 1999.
Albarn always has his way with words. Nostalgic Albarn is even more sentimental.
2. “When I’m lonely, I press play."
Self-explanatory really, though don't get misled from the sexual innuendo. No, we don't think Albarn means something in another context. Really. Albarn admits it in one of the album's singles, the jet-lagged video for which he shot on his iPad.
3. "Actually, a lot of Gorillaz songs were very personal. I mean, that’s why it was interesting, because it wasn’t music being made for a cartoon. It was something different. It was a much more emotional affair. I wasn't necessarily thinking in the third-person then."
4. "Let’s say I believe in the presence of other things. But have I seen a fairy? I’m not going to tell you ...” - when asked whether he believed in fairies in Hong Kong.
5. “No, nothing about Alex annoys me. He’s one of my dearest friends, but I don’t know what Alex’s political views are. We do music, not politics. We’re not a four-piece political act. So whether we agree or disagree is neither here nor there. Besides, I don’t surround myself with people who agree with me. Where’s the fun in that?” - on Alex James's quirks.
6. "Religiously, 10:30AM-5:00PM. I get anxious if it gets to quarter to six” - on his schedule. We see the perfectionist creeping back out of him.
7. "We’re in a moment of extraordinary transition as a species, and what is the outcome of that? Are we going to become closer to ourselves or are we going to become more distant?” - on Everyday Robots and its inspiration. We think Damon is going on a bit of a rant here.
8. "Do you spend all your day talking to everybody as opposed to actually doing something? Is that something that just teenagers do, or will people grow out of it? It only really just occurred to me and it’s probably just a load of old bollocks, but I have been thinking that the reason we had so many big cults back when I was younger is because there was no social media, and that was a way of feeling you were in a community. But now to become part of a community is so much easier." - on questioning the existence of social media.
9. "I have great respect for anyone who makes a fantastic musicial... but I never said that I hate modern musicals." - on BBC Breakfast, defending his hatred for modern musicals.
10. Not a quote- but a little clip:
Do share!
May 16, 2016
Cheap Festival Clothing - Everything5pounds review
For you music lovers, concert fanatics and music-festival goers, nothing is more painful than deciding what to wear and where to buy it. In case you've been living under a rock for the past few years, a cool site called Everything5pounds has the cheapest and coolest clothing in Britain. They sell ex-high street brands (ex meaning that the high street brands like New Look, Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins etc can't sell off their stock) for 5 pounds each.
Yes, everything on their site is exactly 5 pounds! We've chosen a few items for our summer festival outfits, and they're all pretty high quality stuff. All of their stock comes from high street brands, so we got some from Forever 21, Ideal Shoes (sold on Amazon) and more.
Not only do they have mens and women's clothing, but they also sell accessories, bags and shoes. It's just perfect for budget concert goers like the folks here, as the styles are versatile and pretty impressive.
Check their shop out, if you ever need some quick, high quality clothing for your next Gorillaz or Blur concert!
Use the code "MICHELLEFIVE" for 5 pounds off!
May 13, 2016
Throwback to the 2000s- Blur Photo Gallery
The title says it all- here's a tribute to the greatest band in the world: Blur. These pictures are from around 15 years ago, when the band was still on tour and up and about.
May 9, 2016
Damon Albarn in 2016 and the 1990s
Here's what the Blur frontman looks like in 2016, compared to his 1990s years. Is he at his prime right now? We can't judge, because he definitely evolved and changed a lot. Damon Albarn has matured in every way possible, including his music endeavours, attitudes and charitable inclination. Hope you enjoy this little recollection.