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)
Girls and Boys
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So call the police
Following the herd
Down to Greece
On holiday
Love in the nineties
Is paranoid
On sunny beaches
Looking for
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Avoiding all work
'Cause there's none available
Like battery thinkers
Count your thoughts
On one-two-three-four-five fingers
Nothing is wasted
Only reproduced
You get nasty blisters
Du bist sehr schön
But we haven't been introduced
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone to really love
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Looking for girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone to really love
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh
The song "Girls and Boys" by Blur touches on the concept of love and relationships in the 90s. The opening lyrics of the song, "Street's like a jungle, so call the police," suggest that the world is a chaotic place where people are lost, struggling to find direction and a sense of purpose. The lyrics "Following the herd down to Greece, on holiday" refer to young people traveling to exotic locations for fun and indulgence. However, the subsequent line "Love in the nineties is paranoid on sunny beaches" suggests that the search for love and happiness isn't as simple as traveling to beautiful places and partying. Instead, the "paranoia" implies a sense of anxiety or emotional insecurity that comes with romantic relationships.
As the song continues, the line "Girls who want boys who like boys to be girls who do boys like they're girls who do girls like they're boys" can be interpreted as a commentary on the fluidity of gender roles and sexual orientation in the 90s. In this line, gender and sexual orientation become blurred, challenging traditional norms and subverting expectations of who someone should love or how they should present themselves.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of love and finding someone who truly loves you. Overall, "Girls and Boys" is a song that captures the zeitgeist of the 90s - a time of social and cultural upheaval, experimentation, and the search for personal fulfillment and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Street's like a jungle
The streets are full of confusion and chaos.
So call the police
The situation is so bad that we need authoritative intervention.
Following the herd
People are blindly conforming to societal expectations.
Down to Greece
This refers to the popular tourist destination where everyone goes.
On holiday
People are on vacation, which explains their behavior.
Love in the nineties
Refers to the generation's concept of love in the '90s, which includes paranoia.
Is paranoid
Love is full of anxiety and insecurity.
On sunny beaches
Refers to the idealized location for love and fun.
Take your chances
Taking risks is part of the adventurous spirit during this time.
Looking for girls who want boys
People are looking for potential partners who meet their desires.
Who like boys to be girls
People are attracted to the idea of non-traditional gender identities and roles.
Who do boys like they're girls
Boys are attracted to girls who act and look effeminate.
Who do girls like they're boys
Girls are attracted to boys who act and look masculine.
Always should be someone you really love
Regardless of the gender identity or role, the most important thing is that they are loved genuinely.
Avoiding all work
People are taking a break from their responsibilities.
'Cause there's none available
The job market is dry, as evident in the high levels of unemployment.
Like battery thinkers
People are running out of ideas and are only capable of repetitive thinking.
Count your thoughts
People seem to have limited ideas, and only a few thoughts come to mind.
On one-two-three-four-five fingers
A metaphor for the limited amount of thoughts that one can come up with.
Nothing is wasted
Everything, including time, can be well-spent during holidays or vacations.
Only reproduced
People are not creating anything new, but are merely repeating or emulating old ideas or concepts.
You get nasty blisters
People are pushing their boundaries and getting hurt in the process.
Du bist sehr schön
German for 'you are very beautiful'.
But we haven't been introduced
The idea of love at first sight, but still requiring formal introductions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, David Alexander De Horne Rowntree, Graham Leslie Coxon, Steven Alexander James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
moaning pheromones
I put some pepper
On my veges
My noses itches
My eye twitches
Ah - choo I spit my food on the ceiling
Ah - choo I'm coming over all dizzy
Ah - choo Why can't I stop being snee-zy
All of the time that I'm eating oh no I'm sneezing
But I'm sneezing?
therandomidiotat3am
love how all of damon's concerts or performance is mainly just about having fun and not giving a shit about whether or not he sounds good, i remember him singing for 5 hours straight at a concert and refusing to stop until security came and basically dragged him away.I hope to atleast see a blur or gorillaz concert before i die,i just wanna dance my heart out and let go of all of my problems out,just for one night.I wish he does a tour to malaysia soon.
knifeboi eurotooth
You are spot on :) I believe that concert was at Roskilde Festival, and he would still be jammin there if they didn't drag him off the stage. He is a true artist, and a true punk as well. Lovable genius.
Jaka Prakasa
They came to Jakarta once. You should have flown there. It was amazing. Plus its a festival. So there are also Tegan & Sara, temper trap.
laurent
he sounds good tho
Larisa Popa
This comment is spoken honey filled with consideration.
thank you, for your heartfelt tale.
CrunchySnax
Never expected a malaysian Blur/Gorillaz/Damon Albarn fan to exist. Hello!
Piemeow
I'm sorry, but I'm laughing so hard at Song 2.. such a chaotic performance but I love it!
thegamefree1
i think 90% is the Woo Hoo
CrunchySnax
@Rafael Santos since it was supposed to be a mockery of the grunge genre, yeah...obviously the best way is to sing badly
Beastro SheepDog
lol. thats all