Blur reveal 'Parklife' inspiration at Hyde Park gig

[JMBrilley]

Blur paid tribute to London's Hyde Park during their massive gig there tonight (July 2), with frontman Damon Albarn explaining that the green space was the inspiration for 'Parklife'.

He also revealed that the park held special significance for him due to its part in the 2003 anti-war demonstrations he was heavily involved with.

"Two million people marched into this park in 2003," said Albarn before performing 'Think Tank''s 'Out Of Time', "and tried to stop something and you know what happened, I just want to remind myself about it."

Before 'Parklife', the singer said: "I had the idea for this song in this park, I used to live near Kensington Church Street and I used to watch pigeons and people and all that stuff."

The reunited four-piece came on around 8.15pm (BST) and launched into their debut single 'She's So High', swiftly followed by 'Girls & Boys'.

"This was the first thing we did [after reforming], to book here," said Albarn. "The last two weeks have been extraordinary."

As well as their hits, including 'Beetlebum', 'Country House' and 'Tender', the group also played rarer tracks such as 'Oily Water' and firm fan favourite 'Death Of A Party'.

After finishing their main set with a blistering 'This Is A Low', the band returned to perform a number of tracks, including 'Popscene' and 'Song 2'.

"We feel really privileged to be able to do nothing for years then come back to this," said a visibly moved Albarn before 'Popscene'. "It's incredible, really incredible."

Before final track 'The Universal', the singer expressed doubts that tomorrow's (July 3) gig would meet the standard of tonight's, saying: "I honestly don't know how we're going to repeat this tomorrow, thank you for coming."

Blur were supported by Foals, Crystal Castles, Golden Silvers and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

Foals performed a set heavy on tracks from their debut 'Antidotes' just before Blur took to the stage, but also performed a more funk-influenced new track that frontman Yannis Philipakkis explained was unfinished.

[Got Yer!]

They'd better bloody well repeat it or better it. It's the gig that's likely to have more hardcore blur fans present.

[daventfc]

It's the gig that's likely to have more hardcore blur fans present.

Why is it?

[Badgegirl_Brown]

Yeah...I'm not sure if I agree about whether or not there will be more 'hardcore' blur fans tonight. Kinda impossible to tell.

Out of time was amazing- and damons little pre-amble just made it so poignant.

[Lally]

I guess the logic is that Friday tickets went on sale before Thursday, therefore those who bought Friday ones are more likely to be hardcore fans as they bought tickets straight away?

[musefreek]

am i wrong in thinking that the first date sold out in only 2 minutes?

[tenement funster]

am i wrong in thinking that the first date sold out in only 2 minutes?

Yes. The idea of Hyde Park being full of hardcore fans for any band is fairly laughable!

[musefreek]

not so sure then whether it'd make the first night's fans more hardcore.

[andrewvalente]

there were lots of hardcore fans there thurs me 1 of them

[caged lion]

am i wrong in thinking that the first date sold out in only 2 minutes?

Yes. The idea of Hyde Park being full of hardcore fans for any band is fairly laughable!

Agreed. There was no difference between Thursday and Friday. Glad I was seated on Friday.

Blur attracted a lot of yob culture in the 90's and it seem to resurface at Hyde Park in some areas. Maybe thats just festivals though.

[MrMagpie]

am i wrong in thinking that the first date sold out in only 2 minutes?

Yes. The idea of Hyde Park being full of hardcore fans for any band is fairly laughable!

Agreed. There was no difference between Thursday and Friday. Glad I was seated on Friday.

Blur attracted a lot of yob culture in the 90's and it seem to resurface at Hyde Park in some areas. Maybe thats just festivals though.

More than even Oasis?

[caged lion]

am i wrong in thinking that the first date sold out in only 2 minutes?

Yes. The idea of Hyde Park being full of hardcore fans for any band is fairly laughable!

Agreed. There was no difference between Thursday and Friday. Glad I was seated on Friday.

Blur attracted a lot of yob culture in the 90's and it seem to resurface at Hyde Park in some areas. Maybe thats just festivals though.

More than even Oasis?

Never seen em or even had the desire too, but I can guess what it can be like.

[MrMagpie]

I had the misfortune to see Oasis, since they opened for The Black Crowes (who I had gone to see), but since it was in the USA we didn't have the yobs you speak of in the UK...just a bunch of dopes who like Oasis and don't know who Blur are beyond Song 2...

[Berny]

I've seen both Oasis and Blur nearly a dozen times now and having just attended both shows in the last 2 weeks I have to say the Oasis crowd was far more tame. This could be that their just now too old to be bothered. I was seated at the Wembley show but did have a special pass that gave me free range over the stadium and I went down to the crowd on the field for a few songs and it was great, everyone just let you right in, no one tried to grab my boobs and I didn't come out covered in someone else's sweat. It was also a fair bit cooler weather wise so that may have contributed to it. Blur fans, in the heat, drowning in beer - not a good combination. That being said I'd go back to Hyde Park anyday, just maybe stand to the side a bit more next time

[100%Blur]

They'd better bloody well repeat it or better it. It's the gig that's likely to have more hardcore blur fans present.

Got a little story for ya.....

My mate told me Graham was back in Blur and they was doing a date in Hyde Park. Didn't know/care where Hyde Park was, all i knew was that i was gonna be there.

I found out the date the tickets went on sale and pencil'd it on the calender, phone, bedroom wall and a little backwards tattoo on my forehead.

I woke up the morning tickets went on sale, it was a work day and i had to be in work for 9.30am. Tickets went on sale at 9.00am. I was up at 8.30 practicing how fast i could dail the number on my phone gettin ready.

So 9am came and it took me about 50 attempts to get through on the phone. At one point my mom kindly said, "Go to work and i'll order them for you", I quickly responded with a "I'M NOT LEAVING THIS FUCKING HOUSE UNTIL THEM TICKETS IS MINE!" (sorry mom). Anyways, i got through, tickets confirmed...... we're goin to HYDE PARK 3RD JULY 09 BABY!!!

Days/weeks passed and for some reason i was getting paranoid that my order never registered and i was fully aware that tickets had already sold out. I was checking my bank every chance i could to see if they took the money out, nope.

So one day i phoned them up with my little code-number-reference thingy the machine gave me and a sexy soundin lady answered, " Hi how can i help you blah, blah, blah". I filled her in (on the story) and she put me on hold while she checked it all out. She came back on the line and said, "We do have your order here but the date has been changed to the new date on the 2nd and not the original 3rd of july date", my reaction was, "Fuckin lovely, so i'm seein them a day earlier than expected?".

To cut an already long post short, many days pasted, the 2nd of july came and i had a fuckin ball.

Question: Am i a poo fan?

P.S. THANK YOU BLUR!!!!!!!!!!!