Beetlebum

Single infobox
Name = Beetlebum


Artist = Blur
from Album = Blur
Released = 20 January 1997
Format = 7" vinyl, 2 x CD
Recorded = Autumn 1996
Genre = Britpop
Length = 5:05
Label = Food
Producer = Stephen Street
Reviews =
*"All Music Guide"
({1|5}/5) [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:90zsa9ugi23d CD1]
({1|5}/5) [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4ad3vwdua9lk CD2]
Last single = "Charmless Man"
(1996)
This single = "Beetlebum"
(1997)
Next single = "Song 2"
(1997) |

"Beetlebum" is a song by English band Blur. It was released as the lead single for the band's eponymous fifth album, "Blur". The single became Blur's second to reach the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart (after "Country House"). It is believed that the song is about heroin and the drug experiences that Damon Albarn had with his then girlfriend, Justine Frischmann of Elastica [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2002/mar/10/life1.lifemagazine4 Interview: Justine Frischmann | From the Observer | The Observer ] ] . Albarn has stated in an interview with MTV that the song describes a complicated emotion, sort of 'sleepy' and sort of 'sexy'. The song's title, "Beetlebum", is falselyFact|date=December 2007 said to be a stab at Liam Gallagher, lead singer of rival band Oasis, for his over-idolisation of The Beatles. The song is, however, Britpop rival and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher's favourite Blur song, as revealed to Zane Lowe on Gonzo [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeS5vz6Frik&feature=related] . Oasis singer Liam Gallagher also told a swedish newspaper that he likes the song, and actually thinks Blur were brilliant compared newer bands like Kaiser Chiefs [http://www.svd.se/kulturnoje/nyheter/artikel_1830155.svd] .

Music video

The single's video was directed by Sophie Muller [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0334944/combined The Best of Blur (2000) (V) ] ] . It was shot in Camden on December 14, 1996 [MTV Blurography - Broadcast December 1996] . It is a relatively simple production, combining a performance of the song with computer-generated zoom-outs from the set showing the Earth in the centre of kaleidoscopic patterns. Notably, in the video, Alex James' cigarette and Dave Rowntree's Coke can are censored, presumably for artistic rather than official reasons.

Tracklisting

*7"
#"Beetlebum"
#"Woodpigeon Song"

*CD1
#"Beetlebum"
#"All Your Life"
#"A Spell (For Money)"

*CD2
#"Beetlebum"
#"Beetlebum" (Mario Caldato Jr. mix)
#"Woodpigeon Song"
#"Dancehall"

*International CDs
#"Beetlebum"
#"All Your Life"
#"Woodpigeon Song"
#"A Spell (For Money)"

Production Credits

*"Beetlebum", "All Your Life", "A Spell (For Money)", "Woodpigeon Song" and "Dancehall" produced by Stephen Street

Appearances in Media

A cover version of "Beetlebum" is included in the European version of Rock Band, and is also available for download in the US version.

References