Top 10 things to check out -Blur Hyde Park Olympics 2012 Gig Special

Special Report - Post- Olympic Blur Craze: Top 10 things to do after Hyde Park 

Things to do after Blur's Hyde Park gig - this week, we sum up the top hottest, must-see, must-have Blur items and releases for the die hard fans / lucky fans who went / those who missed the performance , or anyone who's interested in getting a piece of post- Olympic music action (including ourselves over here at BlurBalls!):

1) Blur - Parklive (Live)

The digital audio release of Blur's massive, sold out Hyde Park gig on August 12th 2012. Just in the for the end of London's glorious Olympics event. Both fans who went and fans who didn't will be able to re-live the experience of one of the band's finest show. Physical CD plus DVD will be released in November. Highlights include Caramel (live) and Song 2 (live) - the latter replaced 'The Puritan' in an unexpected Damon decision.  

Get it here on iTunes store now. 

2) Hyde Park merchandise 

We're not advertising anything but personally, these new cool Blur shirts are very worth getting. They're beautiful, bold and represent Blur's Hyde Park 2012 gig. Makes great gifts, pyjamas, workout clothes, casual clothes, party outfits, jogging suit... and they're going to be great memorabilia for years to come. You can even get the Hyde Park poster in full large size to stick up your wall, or have it framed to add to your collection. We're loving the Hyde Park navy shirt most! 

Visit Blur's official shop here. 

3) Admire the #BlurHydePark2012 photo stream 

Very worth checking out - as fans watched live that day, they tweeted and posted pictures on Instagram, and the tag "#blurhydepark2012" automatically added their posts to a beautiful stream of images on Blur's official site. Just load the page and watch endless Blur images pop out everywhere... literally Blur heaven right here. Plus for fans who didn't go, you can easily re-live the gig by vicarious experience. Hey, better than nothing right ? 

Jump to the Blur Hyde Park photostream here.  

4) Watch snippets on Youtube

Since the physical Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park 2012) CD isn't released until November, we have to rely on our number one source: Youtube. This user (click here) has several well-recorded tracks including 'Tender' , "Girls and Boys' and 'Country House' which you can view. Alternatively, you can just do a simple search. And since we try to make Blur things simpler for you...

Click here to watch Blur at Hyde Park (Youtube) 

5) Get a piece of actual Hyde Park memorabilia - Milky Carton and Posters

No one knows what goes on in ebay after gigs - except that the occasional seller (who attends gigs and doesn't know any Blur song, or thinks the lead singer is called "Damien" and is wondering why there aren't any Gorillaz songs being played) and fans who put stuff up for sale.

The Hyde Park gig has some surprises - a milky carton was given out as live memorabilia for the audience.

It's the one from 'Coffee and TV' and measures 9 inch by 4 inches! One of them appeared on ebay - and it is indeed very cute. Belongs to any collector's desk, so bid when prices are still low. We're also guessing there will be more rare things on ebay soon - especially as Blur cools down their engines.

Check out the milk carton on ebay now.

6) Blur Hyde Park 2012 Image Gallery 

Feast your eyes on this set of high quality, high resolution professional Blur pictures - there's lots more circulating around the internet but 'Blur Peru''s  album is by far the most comprehensive and fullest one out there. 

Did we mention how the boys are looking better and better recently? Highlights include Damon screaming on top of his lungs and Alex James looking cool.  The kings of Britpop are 'Young and Lovely' again. 

View HQ Blur Hyde Park Photos here 
View NME's Blur gallery here.

7) Reviews, Reviews and More Reviews 

Lots of reviews of the Blur Hyde Park 2012 Closing Ceremony gig. Recommended reviews to read include: 

• Rolling Stone's review - nice summary of the show
• University of Nottingham's magazine review - nice change reading a university magazine review
• The Arts Desk  - nice short little review 
• Where The Wild Things Are - an audience fan's review

8) Download the audio and Damon's interview before the show 

In our review, we have cool pictures, fun facts, videos and audio download links (also in 'Downloads' section) available for the show all in one neat summary. Plus you get to hear Damon Albarn talk about Korean pop music, Japanese pop music and British pop music. Straight from the pop star's mouth. How interesting. 

Check out our previous review on Blur's Hyde Park Olympics gig. 

9) How much did Blur get paid for the London Olympics Hyde Park gig ? 

So how much exactly did Damon Albarn and the gang earn this time? Millions ? Thousands of pounds? Or was it much more? We read it, we know the answer. But now it is your turn to find out. The topic made the news on several online sources, and is quite an interesting (and rather unexpected) insight. 

Snoop in on how much Blur earned this time here.  

What's next for Blur ? 

10) Put Blur on shuffle 

Lastly, go back and listen to Blur's catalogue of songs, b-sides and other tracks again. They're going to sound better than ever with the recent remastered CDs and the new memories, sounds, experiences and aftertastes of Blur's memorable Hyde Park Olympics gig. 

If it is indeed Blur's last gig ever, as rumoured, then it's well worth going through our list and re-live this wonderful gig the band has brought to us. It has been a blur and there's a lot of new Blur material to swallow, not including the recent Blur: 21 unreleased tracks and remasters! 

Go - and complete these 10 Blur post-Olympic tasks. 

Brought to you by Blurballs - August 17th 2012 

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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Watch Blur live Hyde Park 2012- Blur wraps up London Olympics

Blur closed the London Olympics 2012 with their typically grand fashion. Although some fans complained about the lack of volume and sound, Blur sounded great to those who were lucky enough to be able to watch them live in Hyde Park on the evening of August 12th 2012.

Prior to the gig, Alex James, bassist, posted several emotional tweets about Blur's soundcheck and final rehearsal. He said that he "cried during [Under the Westway] in soundcheck" and was pleased that some fans pulled out some photoshop magic on the band's Brit Award photo.

What a blur.... who's who ?

Alex James tweeted this picture of the stage's centre

Dave Rowntree also posted an epic picture on his twitter of Graham Coxon, looking cool before the massive gig where Blur will play to tens of thousands of people in Hyde Park and over 2 billion viewers across the world.

In the show, Colin Zeal, Young & Lovely and Caramel were played. It's great to see Blur playing some of the lesser known songs from their back catalogue. Especially seeing as Caramel was only played live for the first time ever in Maida Vale, August 2nd 2012 (watch the performance here). 

Rock on Blur

Alex James previously said that Blur's massive gig will determine their "future" prospects and serve as a major factor when considering whether Blur will continue to play live and make music. "If Hyde Park's shit, then that's it" he exclaimed in an NME Magazine interview yesterday.

It's unlikely that Blur fans will get new material after this grand Olympics gig though. Graham Coxon said he had to break the bad news to fans as there's "no more plans to record" anything in last week's interview. Damon Albarn also agreed in this interview.

The Blur Hyde Park 2012 setlist was as follows:

• 1. Girls & Boys 
  2. London Loves 
  3. Tracy Jacks 
  4. Jubilee 
  5. Beetlebum 
  6. Coffee & TV 
  7. Out of Time 
     (with Khyam Allami)
  8. Young & Lovely 
  9. Trimm Trabb 
  10. Caramel 
  11. Sunday Sunday 
  12. Country House 
  13. Parklife 
      (with Phil Daniels)
  14. Colin Zeal 
      (with Harry Enfield)
  15. Popscene 
  16. Advert 
  17. Song 2 
  18. No Distance Left to Run 
  19. Tender 
  20. This Is a Low 
  21. Encore:
  21. Sing 
  22. Under The Westway 
  23. Intermission 
  24. End of a Century 
  25. For Tomorrow 
  26. The Universal 

Note: Final show of 2012 tour

Blur's final massive gig in Hyde Park this summer for the London Olympics Closing ceremony will be made available to all fans worldwide - via an exclusive CD and DVD package (Cost: 45 GBP). 

This special release will be available for download via the iTunes store – worldwide within 24 hours for of the band leaving the stage.

Next week, a rare limited edition CD of the entire full Hyde Park show will be available. Titled Blur: Parklive, it features 2 CD show discs including a BONUS disc featuring unreleased live tracks chosen from the recent warm-up shows (Margate, Wolverhampton, Plymouth, Maida Vale). Pre-order your copy here! 

Pictures credited to Daily Mail and The Sun - Damon is radiant against purple backdrop

Watch some of the latest live tracks below performed by Blur, at what is their biggest gig in many years since 2009. Lets hope this is not the end of the reign for the Britpop kings and one of Britain's most influential bands. 

Download Damon's interview on Absolute Radio (topics include J-pop, K-pop, Hyde Park, Brit-pop)

Download the show (audio mp3) HERE (credits to Mr. Magpie)

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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Blur at London Olympics Hyde Park - live pics & tweets

#blurhydepark2012 

Share Your Blur Hyde Park Moments with us using Twitter and Instagram. 

Just tag your photos with #blurhydepark2012

Blur: Parklife - Full coverage of Blur's Summer show DVD / CD available

Blur's final massive gig in Hyde Park this summer for the London Olympics Closing ceremony will be made available to all fans worldwide - via an exclusive CD and DVD package. 

This can only mean one thing - fans who cannot make it this summer will be able to re-live the experience right in their own living rooms. 

Blur have partnered with Abbey Road Live Here Now to deliver high quality live audio of their massive sold-out London show to fans around the world. 

This special release will be available for download via the iTunes store – worldwide within 24 hours for of the band leaving the stage.

Next week, a rare limited edition CD of the entire full Hyde Park show will be available. Titled Blur: Parklive, it features 2 CD show discs including a BONUS disc featuring unreleased live tracks chosen from the recent warm-up shows (Margate, Wolverhampton, Plymouth, Maida Vale).

After, in November there will be a deluxe 5-disc set, which contains 3 full CDs of gig audio with an additional DVD of Blur's performance at the massiveHyde Park gig. 

There's more! A CD of tracks – 'Blur Live At The 100 Club' – recorded at the legendary London venue in August will also be released. 

The discs are packaged in a hardback book which features 60+ pages of new, exclusive photographs and images from both Hyde Park and the 100 Club Gig.

Our little Blur sketch - in celebration of the 'Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park 2012) ' CD

Click HERE to pre-order your copy of this package. 

REVIEW: Blur - Plymouth Pavillions Gig (Aug 2012)

Apparently, Blur's Plymouth Pavillions gig was something similar to those of a "mosh-pit band". The band's interaction with each other were great, but the audience that night was quite varied and wild. Blur forum member 'dave griff' wrote:

"Last night was a great performance, loved Bugman, Caramel, Puritan, No distance, Popscene. There were indeed some idiots in the mosh bit, during Bugman I just waded in all guns blazing to prove a point I guess. There was a really irritating large woman who tried to put we finger in my mouth at one stage when I was trying to get some air in my lungs - she also flailed her arms a lot, creating a large zone around her. Did anyone else see her? I thought the interaction between the band was very warm and they made several mistakes but had a laugh with it. Amazing to see Damon look younger and younger as the set went on. Too loud at the end though. My ears are screaming!"

Some mistakes were also made by the band. The same forumer and fan said: 

"Someone messed up the intro to London loves so they all stopped and there was minute of trying to work out what went wrong. Damon got some words wrong in for tomorrow, he nearly came in too early on one song, can't remember which one, may have been Popscene - someone help me out? There were some nervous glances across the stage from Alex and graham, seemed like Alex was looking to Graham for some cues for stopping songs. Damon kept playing piano through one of the stops on intermission - it was shambolic but really good. Graham was obviously in pain with his bad finger at times, but seemed to enjoy some of the crowd reaction. There was one great moment when the crowd started chanting his name after beetlebum and he looked quite chuffed."

Mr Scott Music Blog writes, in his comprehensive gig review: 

An unexpected but awesome 'London Loves' and a superb 'Tracy Jacks' are followed by an insane 'Jubilee' that elevates me to bounce my way to the front in sheer excitement. 'Beetlebum' is both deliciously dark and beautifully uplifting, 'Out Of Time' benefits greatly from Graham's presense and the delightful 'Young And Lovely' sounds like it could have been a long lost cut from Bowie's 'Hunky Dory', also proving that the band have some truly wonderful B sides in their cannon. 'Trimm Trabb' sounds astonishing, especially when Graham's guitar explodes with devasting power towards the end, while another '13' highlight 'Caramel' seems even more achingly stunning than ever. 'Sunday Sunday''s ideal snapshot of British life plays home to a brilliantly frenzied middle section, and it's hard to imagine anyone here without a smile on their faces during a joyous 'Country House' and a terrifically energetic 'Parklife'.

The sounds emerging from Graham's guitar are nothing short of incredible, ripping into 'Bugman' with mind blowing power. At one point during 'The Puritan' his instrument sounds like an old engine revving up, before the band launch into a berserk 'Popscene'. 'Advert' is delivered with blistering force, and the whole place erupts for an amazing 'Song 2'. This madness then makes way for the wonderfully delicate 'No Distance Left To Run', a much needed moment for the crowd to catch their breath, before 'Tender' arrives and affirms itself as a most glorious anthem. Damon dedicates 'This Is A Low' to Plymouth and other seaside towns like it, and the band disappear for a while. 

Their re-emergence is greeted by massive cheers, and they conjure up a brilliant rendition of 'Sing', the only track from debut album 'Leisure' given an airing tonight. 'Under The Westway' already sounds like an all-time classic, and is played with perfectly splendid grace before they tear into a mental version of 'Intermission'. After a gorgeous 'End Of A Century', a joyous 'For Tomorrow' sees many hands in the air, inspiring a mass singalong just before 'The Universal' provides an absolutely dazzling climax, bringing tears of joy to my eyes and making for a perfect ending to an unforgettable night. 

Remember to read Mr Scott Music Blog's full review of this warm up show. Check out No Crowdsurfing's review of the gig too for more insight and a little bit more of Blur. The setlist was the following (credits to LizBerry): 

Two more days till Hyde Park ! 

Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
August 2012 Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

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Blur would only make a new album 'for a film'

Damon Albarn said that he would be interested in making a new Blur album only if it was "for a film".

The singer did an interview for XFM Radio on August 5th stating that there are no further Blur plans unless they were asked to make a record for a film, which is unlikely to happen. The interview also talked about the usual - the recent shows, Hyde Park Olympics gig on August 12th 2012 and his feelings towards being reunited with Graham Coxon, Dave Rowntree and Alex James again for music.

Graham Coxon also confirmed Albarn's views about Blur's future. Coxon was interviewed for Shortlist Magazine this month, in which he said that there were no more new Blur songs in existence. 

When asked whether there's more Blur material available, Graham replied: "That's it really. Sorry, but there just aren't any more. My only hope is that we carry on doing what we really want to do. That's it." 

Click to enlarge and read. Credits to damon4president for scans

A bit of disappointment for those wanting a new Blur record or more new songs. With this much to take in recently in the Blur world, perhaps it is destined to be a summer of intense Blur, and a rapid ending after the summer Hyde Park gigs.

Will we be seeing Blur after Hyde Park ? Or will we have to wait for another few years for some more gigs and perhaps even a rare release?

Did Blur promise fans a one-time show with gigantic new releases and then plan to suddenly disappear off the face of the planet for another hiatus? Fans- who is remaining optimistic ?

*Listen to Damon's XFM interview (halfway) HERE. 

Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
August 2012 Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!

Dave Rowntree explains 'On Your Own' music video!

Finally, a Dave Rowntree story that is guaranteed to make you laugh (and perhaps admire how terribly witty Dave's sense of humour is). Dan Rolling Stone Brain, a Yahoo! Answers user asked a question on the Q/A website about Blur's music video for the single 'On Your Own', that goes:

---

Yahoo! Answers: Open Question

What is Dave Rowntree doing in the Blur-On Your Own video?

If you watch the video to Blur's On Your Own (single- '95), Damon is jumping around, Graham is playing guitar behind walls and Alex is just walking around. Dave Rowntree, however, is in a sort of booth, playing on a keyboard. I don't understand why. The video has no story or plot, and what he's doing has no relevance/correlation to the song or the lyrics. I'm confused. Why is he messing around on a keyboard? And why is he in a metal shelter/booth? (Oh, and it's like a typewriter/computer keyboard, not a piano-like keyboard)

• 2 days ago
 
• - 2 days left to answer.

---

Believe it or not, the actual Dave Rowntree answered the user's question! We learned from Dave's official twitter page that he "spent breakfast" this Wednesday typing a lengthy, detailed response to the question about what he was doing for the music video shoot.

---

Answers (2)

• David

  We had to make this video while on tour on a day off, so our options were pretty limited - it basically had to be some kind of performance. To make it even vaguely interesting, it would have to be in an interesting location.

  
  

  I couldn't swear to it, but I think we were in Portugal at the time, and there was a power station nearby that was in the process of being demolished. The director had taken a look, and thought there were enough odd locations there to keep an MTV viewer from switching over for 3 minutes or so.

  
  

  To add extra interest, Damon had bought an unusual hat, which he decided to wear.

  
  

  While filming, we found a metal trap door in the ground. On opening, we found it concealed a large underground bunker. There was a metal bar across the entrance, and it was decided that I would sit on it for my close-up.

  
  

  My turn came.

  
  

  "Action" shouted the director.

  
  

  I sat on the bar, smiled and waved."STOP F***ING WAVING!" suggested Damon.

  
  

  "Well what can I do?" I asked, "I can't fit my drums in here!"

  
  

  A moment passed while heads were scratched.

  
  

  "Why not play this?" said one of the crew, and gave me a tiny Casio keyboard.

  
  

  So that's what I did.There's no real story to the video, if you're yearning for one, think of it as the story of a man playing keyboards in a bunker while another wears an unusual hat.

  
  

  Source(s):

  
  

  Dave Rowntree

  • 7 hours ago

  ---

  
  Well, at least now we all know why Dave's sitting in that tiny cellar-like, cramped space jamming on the keyboards in the 'On Your Own' music video. And we learned that Damon has a very strange taste in hats.
  
  Enjoy what is probably one of the strangest Blur music videos ever below. Thanks to Dave and his boring Wednesday morning internet surfing, that's two more Blur mysteries solved.
  
  
  
  
  

  Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
  August 2012 Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

  Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

  Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE
  

  Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

  
  

  SUBSCRIBE NOW!

  
  

  If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

  
  

  Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

  
  

  Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!