This Is a Low

This Is a Low

Song infobox
Name = This Is a Low
Type = Song
Artist = Blur
alt Artist =
Album = Parklife
Published =
Released = April 25, 1994
track_no = 15
Recorded = 1993
Genre = Britpop
Length = 5:07
Writer =
Composer = Damon Albarn
Label = Food Records
Producer = Stephen Street
Chart position =
Tracks =
prev = "Jubilee"
prev_no = 14
next = "Lot 105"
next_no = 16
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album =
Type = compilation
prev_track = "On Your Own"
prev_no = 15
this_track = "This is a Low"
track_no = 16
next_track = "For Tomorrow"
next_no = 17

"This Is a Low" is a song by English alternative rock ban Blur for their third studio album, "Parklife".

Music and lyrics

The song is in the key of E major Parklife album booklet, page 16 ] and is in 4/4 time. In total, the song contains two verses, two choruses, a guitar solo and two further choruses. The music commences with a four-chord guitar progression, before moving straight into the first verse. The music is based in the mixolydian mode, highlighted by the fact the V chord (B minor) is minor instead of major.

The song's lyrics are about a low in pressure hitting the country. The lyrics are based on the Shipping Forecast, with references made to the various areas surrounding Britain. According to bassist Alex James in his 2007 autobiography Bit of a Blur, "Damon was struggling with the words. For Christmas I brought him a hankerchief with a map of the shipping forecast regions on it... you can never tell where the muse is going to appear. It went on to become Blur's most popular song". [cite book | author=Alex James| title=Bit of a Blur| year=2007 | issue=1 | page=110-111 ]

Locations named in the song

This is a list of the forecast locations mentioned in the song (in context):
*Bay of Biscay- "Around the Bay of Biscay and back for tea"
*Dogger Bank- "Hit traffic on the Dogger Bank"
*Tyne, Forth, Cromarty, Forties - "Up the Tyne, Forth and Cromarty; theres a low in the High Forties"
*Malin Head- "And on the Malin Head, Blackpool looks blue and red" This is a Low lyrics [http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/b/blur596/thisisalow353814.html] "Last accessed: 16 July, 2008"]

Reception

"This Is a Low" is often chosen as a stand-out track from the album, including as a selected highlight by Allmusic, who describe the track as a "swirling, epic closer" Parklife- Allmusic [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jiftxqqhldje] "Last accessed: July 21, 2008"] . It is also very popular within the band, this is proved by the surprise inclusion on Blur's "" compilation album. "This Is a Low" was the only album track included on the album, selected ahead of some a-sides. The tracklisting was selected by the band members. Its popularity is further highlighted by the above quote from bassist Alex James.

The song has been performed live many times, most notably as the final song at Blur's most famous concert, Mile End stadium gig of 1995 Allmusic- A Knees Up at Mile End [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wzfqxqwhldte] "Last accessed: 16 July 2008"] , as well as Glastonbury 1994, where the song was voted by fans on the festival's website to appear on the compilation DVD Glastonbury Anthems.

References


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