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)
Jubilee
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's losing all will to move
He gone divy too much telly
He watching twenty-four hours of rubbish
He got butane, he got plastic bags
His eyes are going square
Oh yeah
He no raver, just antisocial
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He not mean enough
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He not keen on being like anyone else
Jubilee's dad, billy banker
Thinks his son's a slob
Should get out more, stop scabbing
He really should go and get a job
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He not mean enough
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him where to go
But he just don't get out enough
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him talk to girls
But he's just too spotty
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He not keen on being like anyone else
So he just plays on his computer games
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He not mean enough
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him where to go
But he just don't get out enough
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him talk to girls
But he's just too spotty
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He not keen on being like
Anyone he's not being like
Anyone jubilee's not like
Anyone else
The song Jubilee by Blur paints a picture of a young man named Jubilee who is living a mundane and uneventful life. He spends his days sitting on the couch, watching hours of meaningless television, and getting high on butane while breathing in plastic bags. The lyrics suggest that Jubilee is not interested in being like anyone else and he dresses in his own style. The theme of the song seems to be centered on the idea of not fitting in and being comfortable with who you are.
The first verse describes Jubilee's current state of being. He is "slouched in the settee," demonstrating his laziness and lethargy. He has grown tired of moving and prefers to stay in one place. Jubilee is addicted to watching television, having watched "twenty-four hours of rubbish." His excessive viewing has caused his eyes to go square. Despite being antisocial, Jubilee refuses to cut his hair, refusing to conform to societal norms.
The second verse speaks of Jubilee's father who thinks his son is a slob who spends too much time indoors. Jubilee's father believes his son should get a job and stop being lazy. Regardless of his father's concerns, Jubilee spends most of his time playing computer games and is not interested in socializing with others. The repetition of the phrase "He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen" suggests that Jubilee is comfortable with not fitting in and it's essential for him to dress in his own style. The chorus emphasizes Jubilee's unwillingness to be like anyone else, even though he does not fit society's definition of "normal."
Line by Line Meaning
Jubilee slouches in the settee
Jubilee is sitting lazily on the sofa
He's losing all will to move
He doesn't feel like doing anything
He gone divy too much telly
He has been watching TV for too long
He watching twenty-four hours of rubbish
He is watching low-quality TV programs all day
He got butane, he got plastic bags
He has butane and plastic bags with him
His eyes are going square
His eyes are tired from watching too much TV
He no raver, just antisocial
He is not a party animal, but an introvert
He not going to cut his hair
He is not interested in changing his appearance
He dresses incorrectly, no-one told him seventeen
He doesn't dress according to his age, and nobody corrected him
He not mean enough
He is not aggressive or rude
He not keen on being like anyone else
He doesn't aspire to be like other people
Jubilee's dad, billy banker
Jubilee's father is a banker named Billy
Thinks his son's a slob
Billy thinks Jubilee is untidy and lazy
Should get out more, stop scabbing
Billy thinks Jubilee should go out more and stop being a parasite
He really should go and get a job
Billy thinks Jubilee should find employment
But he just don't get out enough
Jubilee doesn't go out much
But he's just too spotty
Jubilee has acne, which makes him self-conscious
Anyone he's not being like
Jubilee doesn't want to be like anyone else
Anyone jubilee's not like
Jubilee is not like anyone else
Anyone else
Jubilee doesn't want to be like anyone else
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Alexander James, David Rowntree, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind