Blur's self-titled fifth album (1997) saw another stylistic shift, influenced by the lo-fi styles of American indie rock groups, and became their third UK chart-topping album. Its single "Song 2" brought the band mainstream success in the US for the first time. Their next album, 13 (1999) saw the band experimenting with electronic and gospel music, and featured more personal lyrics from Albarn. Their seventh album, Think Tank (2003), continued their experimentation with electronic sounds and was also shaped by Albarn's growing interest in hip hop and world music, featuring more minimal guitar work. Coxon left the band during early recording sessions for Think Tank, and Blur disbanded for several years after the end of the album's associated tour, with the members engaged in other projects.
In 2009, Blur reunited with Coxon back in the band and embarked on a European reunion tour. In the following years, they released several singles and compilations and toured internationally. In 2012, they received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Their eighth album, The Magic Whip (2015), was the sixth consecutive Blur studio album to top the British chart. The group have largely been on hiatus since the Magic Whip tour, but have announced plans to reunite in 2023 for various live dates.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blur_(band)
Studio albums
Leisure (1991)
Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993)
Parklife (1994)
The Great Escape (1995)
Blur (1997)
13 (1999)
Think Tank (2003)
The Magic Whip (2015)
The Ballad of Darren (2023)
Birthday
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one here day
Very strange day
I think of you day
Go outside day
Sit in park day
Watch the sky day
What a pathetic day
I don't like this day
It makes me feel too small
Ah, ah, ah, ah
I don't like these days
They make me feel too small
The song 'Birthday' by Blur is a melancholic number that explores the feelings of loneliness, isolation and insignificance that can often creep up on a person on what is supposed to be one of the most special days of the year - their birthday. The lyrics are short and simple, but they pack a powerful punch, with frontman Damon Albarn's emotive delivery adding to the overall impact of the song. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the track, with Albarn lamenting the fact that he is alone on his birthday, and that it is a "very strange day". He then goes on to describe the mundane activities he is engaging in to pass the time, such as sitting in a park and watching the sky, before scornfully referring to the day as "pathetic".
The chorus of the song is where the emotional weight of the lyrics really hits home, with Albarn singing, "I don't like this day, it makes me feel too small". The repetition of this line, and the subsequent line, "I don't like these days, they make me feel too small", is a poignant reflection of the way in which birthdays can highlight feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy, particularly in those who lack a social support network. The song ends on a note of resignation, with Albarn softly intoning "ah, ah, ah, ah", as if to suggest that he has accepted his fate and the sadness that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
It's my birthday
Today marks the anniversary of my birth
No one here day
There is no one in my vicinity to partake in the celebrations of my special day
Very strange day
This day feels abnormal and peculiar to me due to the absence of people and festivities
I think of you day
Although I am alone, my thoughts still linger on you and I miss your presence
Go outside day
I decide to leave my dwelling and explore the outdoors
Sit in park day
I take a seat at a nearby park to relax and appreciate nature
Watch the sky day
I spend some time observing the clouds and the vast expanse of the sky while lost in deep thought
What a pathetic day
I feel that this day is dismal and depressing due to the lack of excitement and festivities
I don't like this day
I have a dislike for this day due to the dampened mood and feelings of loneliness
It makes me feel too small
The absence of joy and companionship on this day diminishes my sense of self-worth and diminishes my spirits
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Vocalization of the singer's feelings of sadness and disappointment
I don't like these days
The artist's general disliking of such days where feelings of loneliness and insignificance are amplified
They make me feel too small
Similar to the aforementioned line, the singer feels emotionally suppressed and unimportant on such days
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Alexander James, David Rowntree, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind