No Distance Left to Run explained

No Distance Left to Run
Cover:NoDistanceLefttoRunCover.jpg
Caption:CDS cover
Type:single
Artist:Blur
Album:13
Released:[1]
B-Side:Beagle 2
Recorded:1998
Genre:Alternative rock, art rock
Length:3:27
Label:EMI, Food Records
Producer:William Orbit
Prev Title:Coffee & TV
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Music Is My Radar
Next Year:2000

"No Distance Left to Run" is a song by English rock band Blur from their sixth studio album, 13 (1999). It was released as the third and final single from the album on 15 November 1999, reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It is widely understood to refer to Blur vocalist Damon Albarn's split from long-term partner Justine Frischmann.

Music and lyrics

Damon Albarn says that he is affected by this song: "It upsets me, that song. It upset me singing it. Doing that vocal upset me greatly. To sing that lyric I really had to accept that that was the end of something in my life. It's amazing when you do have the guts to do that with your work, because it don't half help you."[2] The name of the song is also the title of a documentary about the band, which was released in cinemas in January 2010.[3]

Music video

The promotional video directed by Thomas Vinterberg is notable for using night-vision cameras to capture all four members of the band asleep in their respective beds. A DVD version was also released that featured a short documentary about the making of the video. Alex James reportedly dreamt that he "was in Germany in a karaoke bar. I think I was a leopard for a minute."[4]

B-sides

The B-side "Beagle 2", was sent aboard Beagle 2, an unsuccessful British landing spacecraft that formed part of the European Space Agency's 2003 Mars Express mission. The DVD edition of the single features a video of footage of the Beagle 2 over which plays "Far Out (Beagle 2 remix)", a full band version of a song originally from Parklife, using an outtake from the Parklife sessions.

Track listing

  1. "No Distance Left To Run" – 3:28
  2. "Tender" (Cornelius remix) – 5:23
  3. "So You" – 4:14
  1. "No Distance Left To Run" – 3:28
  2. "Battle" (UNKLE remix) – 7:15
  3. "Beagle 2" – 2:52
  4. "No Distance Left To Run" (video)
  1. "No Distance Left To Run" – 3:28
  2. "Tender" (Cornelius remix) – 5:23
  1. "No Distance Left To Run" – 3:28
  2. "Tender" (Cornelius remix) – 5:23
  3. "Battle" (UNKLE remix) – 7:15
  1. "No Distance Left To Run" (promotional video)
  2. "No Distance Left To Run" (live video)
  3. The Making Of No Distance Left To Run
  4. "Tender" (live video)
  5. "Battle" (live video)
  6. Beagle 2 (Space Footage) ("Far Out (Beagle 2 Remix)" soundtracks the space footage)
  1. "No Distance Left To Run" – 3:28
  2. "Tender" (Cornelius remix) – 5:23
  3. "Battle" (UNKLE remix) – 7:15
  4. "Beagle 2" – 2:52

Production credits

References

Notes and References

  1. New Releases – For Week Starting 15 November, 1999: Singles. Music Week. 27. 13 November 1999. 26 July 2021.
  2. Web site: blurcentral.co.uk. www.blurcentral.co.uk.
  3. Web site: New Blur Documentary: No Distance Left To Run. 30 November 2009. DangerousMinds.
  4. Web site: blurcentral.co.uk. www.blurcentral.co.uk.
  5. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 16. 49. 11. 4 December 1999. 26 July 2021.