Music Is My Radar
Encyclopedia
"Music Is My Radar" is a song by British
band Blur
. It was released as a single in support of the band's Best of album, Blur: The Best Of
, on which it also appears, reaching Number 10 in the UK. Along with 1992's "Popscene
", it is one of two Blur singles never to have been included on a studio album
. Peculiarly, the promotional video
for the song is not included on the DVD
/VHS
version of the compilation and remains the only UK Blur video never to have been made commercially available. Also, the lyrics for all of the songs on The Best of are included except for those to "Music Is My Radar", even the sheet music for The Best of does not have the lyrics for the selection. This is because the single's b-side, "Black Book", had been the planned a-side up until a last minute change of mind.
A line from this song, "Tony Allen
got me dancing", was the inspiration for Damon Albarn
and Allen to work together recording an album. This project eventually ended up as The Good, the Bad and the Queen
.
This song is notable for being Blur's last single with guitar
ist Graham Coxon
before he left the band for over eight years before the 2009 reunion. Coxon's debut promotional solo single "Oochy Woochy
" is believed to be released in the same month as "Music is My Radar"
The version that appears on the "Best Of" is 5:21, but the single versions are edits (4:21).
VHS/DVD and therefor is the only Blur video that is not commercially available. The video itself shows Blur on a talk show where they perform the song with a group of dancers. . Although unaired for many years, it was aired on British music channel NME TV
in late 2009, since Q TV
broadcast the video on 18 July 2011 as part of a programme titled Damon Albarn The Greatest?. MTV Rocks have also braodcast the video.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
. It was released as a single in support of the band's Best of album, Blur: The Best Of
Blur: The Best of
Blur: The Best Of is a greatest hits compilation album by English Britpop band Blur, first released in late 2000 and is the final Blur album by Food Records. It was released on CD, cassette tape, MiniDisc, double 12" vinyl record, DVD and VHS. The CD album includes 17 of Blur's 23 singles from 1990...
, on which it also appears, reaching Number 10 in the UK. Along with 1992's "Popscene
Popscene
"Popscene" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released 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 is one of two Blur singles never to have been included on a studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
. Peculiarly, the promotional video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song is not included on the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
/VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
version of the compilation and remains the only UK Blur video never to have been made commercially available. Also, the lyrics for all of the songs on The Best of are included except for those to "Music Is My Radar", even the sheet music for The Best of does not have the lyrics for the selection. This is because the single's b-side, "Black Book", had been the planned a-side up until a last minute change of mind.
A line from this song, "Tony Allen
Tony Allen (musician)
Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
got me dancing", was the inspiration for Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
and Allen to work together recording an album. This project eventually ended up as The Good, the Bad and the Queen
The Good, the Bad and the Queen
The Good, the Bad & the Queen is the album by an ostensibly unnamed British alternative rock supergroup also commonly referred to as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and made up of Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen. The album was released in January 2007...
.
This song is notable for being Blur's last single with guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Graham Coxon
Graham Coxon
Graham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...
before he left the band for over eight years before the 2009 reunion. Coxon's debut promotional solo single "Oochy Woochy
Oochy Woochy
"Oochy Woochy" is a song by Graham Coxon and was featured on his second solo album, The Golden D. In late 2000 the song was released as a promotional single from that album in the United Kingdom with another album track, "That's When I Reach for My Revolver", serving as the B-side .The song is of a...
" is believed to be released in the same month as "Music is My Radar"
The version that appears on the "Best Of" is 5:21, but the single versions are edits (4:21).
Music video
The music video for the song was not included on the Blur: The Best OfBlur: The Best of
Blur: The Best Of is a greatest hits compilation album by English Britpop band Blur, first released in late 2000 and is the final Blur album by Food Records. It was released on CD, cassette tape, MiniDisc, double 12" vinyl record, DVD and VHS. The CD album includes 17 of Blur's 23 singles from 1990...
VHS/DVD and therefor is the only Blur video that is not commercially available. The video itself shows Blur on a talk show where they perform the song with a group of dancers. . Although unaired for many years, it was aired on British music channel NME TV
NME TV
NME TV is a British music television channel owned and operated by CSC Media Group . This is a similar arrnagement to its radio station, NME Radio, which is operated by DX Media. The channel replaced Minx on 22 November 2007...
in late 2009, since Q TV
Q TV
Q is a UK music channel based on Q Magazine, launched on 2 October 2000. It is operated by Box Television, and specialises in indie, rock and alternative....
broadcast the video on 18 July 2011 as part of a programme titled Damon Albarn The Greatest?. MTV Rocks have also braodcast the video.
Track listings
- CD1
- "Music Is My Radar" (radio edit) - 4:21
- "Black Book" - 8:30
- "Headist" / "Into Another" (live) - 3:45
- CD2
- "Music Is My Radar" (radio edit)
- "7 Days" (live)
- "She's So High" (live)
- Cassette
- "Music Is My Radar" (radio edit)
- "Black Book"
- "She's So High" (live)
- 12"
- "Music Is My Radar" (album version) - 5:29
- "Black Book"
- Japan and Europe CD
- "Music Is My Radar" (radio edit)
- "Black Book"
- "7 days" (live)
- "She's So High" (live)
Production credits
- "Music is my Radar" produced by Blur and Ben Hillier
- "Black Book" produced by Chris PotterChris Potter (producer)Chris Potter is a British music producer and mixer, most famous for his work as long-term collaborator and producer of The Verve and Richard Ashcroft....