Out of Time (Blur song) explained

Out of Time
Cover:Blur - Out of Time.png
Type:single
Artist:Blur
Album:Think Tank
Recorded:2002
Genre:Pop
Length:3:51
Label:Parlophone
Producer:
Prev Title:Don't Bomb When You Are the Bomb
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:Crazy Beat
Next Year:2003

"Out of Time" is a song by British band Blur from their seventh studio album, Think Tank (2003). The song was written and produced by band members Damon Albarn, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, with Ben Hillier also serving as a producer. After being premiered via BBC Radio 1 on 3 March, it was released as the album's lead single on 14 April 2003, by Parlophone. The song became the band's first release without guitarist Graham Coxon. It is a pop ballad featuring acoustic guitars and bass, as well as a Moroccan orchestra. Lyrically, it deals with a civilisation that has lost touch, with Coxon's departure being referenced in the lyrics.

"Out of Time" received positive reviews from music critics, with some of them placing focus on Albarn's vocal performance. Commercially, the song was successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number five, as well as attaining success in other European countries, peaking inside the top 10 in Scotland and the top 20 in Ireland and Sweden. The accompanying music video, directed by John Hardwick, does not feature the band members themselves in any way, being made up of footage from a 2002 BBC documentary titled Warship, exploring the lives of those serving on a warship. The video is centered around a young female aircraft maintenance technician. The song was played live at several concerts by Blur, including on their series of two shows at London's Hyde Park in 2009, as well as their concert directly after the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in the same city.

Background and development

Recording sessions for Blur's seventh studio album started in November 2001 in London with the absence of guitarist Graham Coxon, who had been battling alcoholism and depression, thus failing to turn up to the initial sessions.[1] Coxon spent time, what he described as "awkward afternoons", contributing on some tracks on the album, but left the band in 2002 after he had a "mental breakdown" during these sessions.[2] [3] Coxon explained that "there were no rows" and "[Blur] just recognised the feeling that we needed some time apart".[4] The remaining members of Blur decided to carry on recording, travelling to Morocco to continue recording the album, with the intention to "escape from whatever ghetto we're in and free ourselves by going somewhere new and exciting".[5] The band settled at Marrakesh, where they built a studio together, which "brought everyone closer".[6]

While in Marrakesh, Blur worked with Groupe Regional du Marrakech, who provided orchestral arrangement on "Out of Time". According to Ben Hillier, who produced the song, the orchestra's work was "astonishing"; he elaborated that "while I was setting the mics up, they started playing. All the chords sounded fantastic. And I looked out at the end of the session, and none of them had headphones on! What they were playing along to, I have no idea. They must have heard it through the door".[6] In February 2003, it was revealed that the album would be titled Think Tank and the lead single "Out of Time" would be premiered on 3 March, on BBC Radio 1,[7] followed by a commercial release on 14 April 2003, by Parlophone.[8]

Composition and lyrics

"Out of Time" was written and produced by band members Damon Albarn, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, with Hillier also serving as a producer. Musically, the song has been described as a pop ballad,[9] [10] featuring acoustic guitars and bass, as well as a Moroccan orchestra.[11] [12] It starts with a distant "aaaarrgh" in the opening seconds, before Albarn's unadulterated vocals and "steady, simplistic drums", as well as "ethereal, hard-to-identify" noises. In the middle of the track, an Andalucian string group and a tambourine are present.

Lyrically, the song deals with a civilisation that has lost touch, with Albarn singing, "you've been so busy lately, that you haven't had the time, to open up your mind and watch the world spinning, gently out of time". This lyric was also related to Coxon's departure from Blur.[13] According to Stereogums Michael Nelson, "Out of Time" shows Albarn "indulging a bit in his world-music explorations via Honest Jon's". He noted that the elements are blended with James's "loping" bass line, Rowntree's "relaxed" percussion and Albarn's "lazy" vocals.

Critical reception

"Out of Time" was met with positive reviews from music critics. Alex Needham from NME called it the band's "most straightforwardedly touching single for ages",[14] while Paul Moody from the same magazine praised the song too, stating that Albarn "sings in a voice so pure, clear and welcoming you want to have a shower in it", and "suddenly 'Songbird' doesn't sound so clever after all".[15] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine thought that "Out of Time" is "lovely",[16] whereas Barry Walters from Rolling Stone called it a "gorgeously mournful single".[17] Kitty Empire of The Observer called it an excellent example of Blur's emancipation, being "saturated with new sounds but faithful to melody". She also deemed the song "a great ballad, intimate and live-sounding, in the tradition of great Albarn ballads like 'Tender' or 'To the End'".[18] According to BBC Music's Dan Tallis, the song is "a perfect pop song and the band struggle to better it". He continued saying that "you only have to listen to 'Out Of Time' a couple of times for it to become embedded in your brain; the dreamy vocals and gentle African drum beat soothe and calm your mind".[9] Andy Greenwald from Spin claimed that "Out of Time" is "the album's highlight", describing the song as "failure-soaked" and "heart-stoppingly lovely".[19]

Devon Powers of PopMatters described the track as "a much more straightforward, apace ballad" compared to the previous song on the album, "Ambulance".[20] Rob Brunner from Entertainment Weekly commented that Albarn's "heartfelt vocals" make up for "sappy" lyrics,[21] while Pastes Jeff Elbel called the track the finest moment on Think Tank.[22] Andrew Future of Drowned in Sound commented that the song "is content to swoon around the string-laiden waves of its own longing beauty, but only reveals its full worth after repeated visits".[23] Similarly, Jeres from Playlouder noted that it "is the best Blur single in ages, but it requires more than a few listens".[24] Brent DiCrescenzo of Pitchfork called the song a "majestic, snaking" song, but noted that it "relies less on the lugubrious, Gibraltar-docked solo than the vast, four-dimensional environment surrounding it".[25] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian deemed it a "doleful and world-weary on" song.[26] In a less positive review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called the track a "hushed, melancholic elegy in the same vein as 'To the End' and 'Tender', though not as good as either".[27]

Accolades

Jazz Monroe from NME placed the song at number two on their list of Blur's greatest hits, saying it "magically thrusts Damon's romantic resignation into a delicate, geographically displaced tale of modern ennui, melting all but the stoniest hearts".[28] Nelson also included it on his list of their 10 best songs, at number six, commenting it is "easily the warmest Blur single, and maybe the warmest song in their catalog, period".[29] Whilst listing the band's 20 best songs, The Daily Telegraph placed the track at number 12.[30] Drowned in Sounds Sean Adams included "Out of Time" on his list of Blur's favorite tracks, noting how Albarn's "humanity" on his voice "elevates this gentle, seemingly desolate song into something devastating and full of wonder".[31] In October 2011, Rebecca Schiller of NME placed it at number 73 on their list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years",[32] whilst the magazine placed the song at number eight on its list "Greatest Tracks of the Decade".[33] Emily Barker from the same publication later ranked it the 499th best song ever.[34]

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, "Out of Time" debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart for the week dated 20 April 2003, becoming the third best debut on the chart after Madonna's "American Life" and Robbie Williams' "Come Undone".[35] It remained inside the chart for a total of 11 weeks.[36]

Notes and References

  1. Stubbs. Dan. Blur – Think Tank (2003): The Album That Almost Destroyed Them.... Q. April 2012. 20 Greatest Album Stories Ever. 42–45. 309. 0955-4955.
  2. Harris. John. John Harris (critic). It's been strong medicine the last few weeks. The Guardian. 13 June 2009. 10 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Coxon: 'I was an a***hole'. 4 October 2002. 10 June 2020. Dotmusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20021024035716/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/blur/news/October2002/news26742.asp. 24 October 2002.
  4. Web site: Graham Coxon Explains Blur Split. May 2009. 14 June 2020. The Fly. https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144707/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/news/article/4812/Graham-Coxon-Explains-Blur-Split/. 6 June 2012.
  5. Web site: Adam. Bychawski. The Great Escape?. 4 September 2002. 10 June 2020. NME.
  6. Web site: Blur – Album By Album, by Stephen Street, William Orbit and Ben Hillier. Uncut. 25 April 2004. 10 June 2020.
  7. Web site: Blur in 'Think Tank'. 20 February 2002. 10 June 2020. Dotmusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20030628181850/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/blur/news/February2003/news28389.asp. June 28, 2003.
  8. Web site: Crazy beats!. 25 March 2003. 10 June 2020. Dotmusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20030628190345/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/blur/news/March2003/news28770.asp. 28 June 2003.
  9. Web site: Tallis. Dan. Blur Think Tank Review. 24 December 2021. BBC Music.
  10. Web site: Phipps. Keith. Blur: Think Tank. 13 May 2003. 24 December 2021. The A.V. Club.
  11. Web site: Sisario. Ben. Blur - Think Tank. 24 December 2021. Blender. https://web.archive.org/web/20040820012922/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_735.html. 20 August 2004.
  12. David. Peisner. Andrew. Dansby. Blur 'Think' Up New Album. Rolling Stone. 25 February 2003. 19 November 2011. 5 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205024359/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/blur-think-up-new-album-181668/. dead.
  13. Web site: Gilbert. Ben. 'Out of Time'. 24 December 2021. Dotmusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20030721192002/http://www3.dotmusic.com/artists/blur/reviews/April2003/reviews29000.asp. 21 July 2003.
  14. Web site: Needham. Alex. Blur – 'Think Tank' review. 10 July 2020. NME.
  15. Moody. Paul. Blur : Out Of Time. NME. 12 April 2003.
  16. Web site: Cinquemani. Sal. Review: Blur, Think Tank. 3 May 2003. 10 July 2020. Slant Magazine.
  17. Walters. Barry. Think Tank. 22 April 2003. 10 July 2020. Rolling Stone.
  18. Web site: Empire. Kitty. Kitty Empire. New Blur, same old Albarn. 4 May 2003. 7 September 2020. The Observer.
  19. Greenwald. Andy. Blur - Think Tank. June 2003. 10 July 2020. Spin. 100. 0886-3032. 19. 6.
  20. Web site: Powers. Devon. Blur: Think Tank. 8 May 2003. 10 July 2020. PopMatters.
  21. Brunner. Rob. Think Tank. 17 March 2003. 10 July 2020. Entertainment Weekly.
  22. Web site: Elbel. Jeff. Blur - Think Tank. 1 June 2003. 10 July 2020. Paste.
  23. Web site: Future. Andrew. Blur - Think Tank. 5 May 2003. 7 September 2020. Drowned in Sound. 10 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121010103424/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3331/reviews/6869-blur-think-tank. dead.
  24. Web site: Jeres. Think Tank - Blur. 2 May 2003. 8 September 2020. Playlouder. https://web.archive.org/web/20030825211642/http://www.playlouder.com/review/+769blur/. 25 August 2003.
  25. Web site: DiCrescenzo. Brent. Blur - Think Tank. 5 May 2003. 8 September 2020. Pitchfork.
  26. Web site: Petridis. Alexis. Alexis Petridis. Blur: Think Tank. 2 May 2003. 8 September 2020. The Guardian.
  27. Web site: Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Blur - Think Tank. 8 September 2020. AllMusic.
  28. Web site: Monroe. Jazz. Blur: Their 10 Greatest Hits. 20 April 2015. 8 September 2020. NME.
  29. Web site: Nelson. Michael. The 10 Best Blur Songs. 8 August 2012. 8 September 2020. Stereogum.
  30. Web site: Lachno. James. Blur's 20 best songs. 10 June 2015. 8 September 2020. The Daily Telegraph.
  31. Web site: Adams. Sean. 21 Song Salute: Blur - Our Favorite Tracks. 19 February 2015. 8 September 2020. Drowned in Sound. 24 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211224064030/https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4148718-21-song-salute--blur-our-favourite-tracks. dead.
  32. Web site: 150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years. NME. 6 October 2011. 11 June 2020.
  33. Web site: 100 Tracks of the Decade. 11 November 2009. 8 September 2020. NME.
  34. Web site: Barker. Emily. The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 500-401. 31 January 2014. 8 September 2020. NME.
  35. Web site: Madonna kept off UK top spot. 20 April 2003. BBC News. 10 July 2020.
  36. Web site: Copsey. Rob. Blur's Official Top 20 Best Selling Downloads Revealed. 28 April 2015. 7 September 2020. Official Charts Company.
  37. Web site: Out of Time. Design and Art Direction. 24 December 2021.
  38. 'Time' Capsule – New Blur video 'moving portrait of a young female marine'. NME. 10 March 2003. 11 October 2012.
  39. Web site: Blur song explores 'Navy needs'. 17 March 2003. 24 December 2021. BBC News.
  40. Web site: He thought of wars. 10 March 2003. 24 December 2021. Dotmusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20030628185130/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/blur/news/March2003/news28573.asp. 28 June 2003.
  41. Wiederhorn. Jon. Blur Revolt Against Hit Songs, Show No Love For The U.S. Military. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614012604/http://www.mtv.com/news/1474706/blur-revolt-against-hit-songs-show-no-love-for-the-us-military/. dead. 14 June 2020. MTV. 25 July 2003. 13 June 2020.
  42. Web site: Watch Blur's video to new single 'Out Of Time' here!. 7 April 2003. 24 December 2021. NME. https://web.archive.org/web/20031204154148/http://www.nme.com/features/104706.htm. 4 December 2003.
  43. Web site: Out of Time. 24 December 2021. Design and Art Direction.
  44. "Out of Time" on CD:UK. CD:UK. CD:UK. Channel 4. 5 April 2003.
  45. Web site: From the 00's – Blur – Out Of Time. BBC. 24 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20030609162522/http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/b/blur/clips/out_of_time.shtml. 9 June 2003.
  46. "Out of Time" on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. BBC One. 18 April 2003. 4.
  47. Web site: Hasted. Nick. Blur, The Astoria, London. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/blur-the-astoria-london-8983969.html . 24 May 2022 . subscription . live. 9 May 2003. 24 December 2021. The Independent.
  48. Web site: Dalton. Stephen. Blur. 4 December 2003. 24 December 2021. The Times.
  49. Web site: Cowen. Nick. Still ahead of the pack. 4 December 2003. 24 December 2021. The Daily Telegraph.
  50. Web site: Blur finish Hyde Park residency in dramatic fashion. 4 July 2009. 24 December 2021. NME.
  51. Mark. Sutherland. Blur Headline Olympics Closing Ceremony Concert in London. 13 August 2012. 24 December 2021. Rolling Stone.
  52. Web site: Cheng. Cheryl. Blur's First-Ever Hollywood Bowl Show Brings Fred Armisen Surprise: Concert Review. 21 October 2015. 24 December 2021. The Hollywood Reporter.
  53. Out of Time. Blur. 2003. UK 7" single liner notes. Parlophone. 07243-552229-7-8.
  54. Out of Time. Blur. 2003. UK and European DVD single liner notes. Parlophone. DVDR 6606.
  55. Out of Time. Blur. 2003. Japanese EP liner notes. Parlophone. TOCP-61079.
  56. Think Tank. Blur. 2003. Compact Disc liner notes. Parlophone. 07243-582997-2-4.
  57. Web site: Blur chart history, received from ARIA on 16 February 2022. Imgur.com. 21 June 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart.
  58. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 21. 19. 9. 3 May 2003. 19 February 2021.
  59. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2003. UKChartsPlus. 21 November 2021.
  60. Web site: Blur | full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company]|accessdate=10 July 2020}} In April 2015, it was revealed by the Official Charts Company that "Out of Time" was the band's 14th most downloaded song in the region.[36] The song was also successful in Scotland, reaching number seven on the Scottish Singles Chart. "Out of Time" attained moderate success in other European countries, peaking inside the top 20 in Ireland and Sweden. It experienced lower positions in Germany and Switzerland, reaching numbers 75 and 97, respectively.

    Music video

    The accompanying music video was directed by John Hardwick, edited by Quin Williams and produced by Mike Wells through London-based production company Helen Langridge Associates (HLA).[37] [38] The video does not feature the band members themselves in any way, consisting entirely of footage from a 2002 BBC documentary titled Warship, exploring the lives of men and women serving on a warship.[39] [40] Albarn described the video as "the antithesis of the 'Top Gun' image of the American military machine",[41] and added that the video "focuses on the loneliness of somebody working on an aircraft carrier and the fact that a six-month tour of duty means that relationships break down and children go without their parents. That's the reality of it". The visual premiered online on 7 April 2003.[42] The video is centred around a woman who is separated from her partner (a marine serving on another ship) and her young son who remains at home in the United States.

    The music video won Hardwick the "Wood Pencil" award for music video direction, as well as Williams the "Graphite Pencil" award for music video editing at the D&AD Awards in 2004.[43]

    Live performances

    "Out of Time" was performed by Blur on television shows such as ,[44] Top of the Pops[45] and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in 2003.[46] The song was also performed during a series of shows in London Astoria in May 2003,[47] as well on the international tour supporting Think Tank.[48] According to Nick Cowen from The Daily Telegraph, the performance was "one particularly sweet moment" from the show.[49] The band performed the song during a series of two shows at London's Hyde Park on 3–4 July 2009.[50] It was also performed at Blur's concert directly after the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony on 13 August 2012 in London.[51] "Out of Time" was added to the setlist of the tour in support of their eighth studio album The Magic Whip in 2015[52] and the band also performed it at their two Wembley Stadium shows in July 2023.

    Track listings

    • UK 7-inch single[53]
    1. "Out of Time" – 3:53
    2. "Money Makes Me Crazy" (Marrakech Mix) – 2:51
    • UK and European DVD[54]
    1. "Out of Time" (video) – 3:55
    2. "Money Makes Me Crazy" (Marrakech Mix) – 2:51
    3. "Tune 2" – 3:47
    4. "Out of Time" (director's commentary) – 1:48
    1. "Out of Time" – 3:54
    2. "Money Makes Me Crazy" (Marrakech Mix) – 2:51
    3. "Tune 2" – 3:49
    4. "Don't Be" – 2:41
    5. "The Outsider" – 5:13
    6. "Out of Time" (video) – 3:55
    7. "Crazy Beat" (video) – 3:16

    Credits and personnel

    Credits and personnel are adapted from the Think Tank album liner notes.[56]

    • Damon Albarn – vocals, writer, producer, guitars, programming
    • Alex James – writer, producer, bass, backing vocals
    • Dave Rowntree – writer, producer, drums
    • Ben Hillier – producer, keyboards, samples

    Orchestra

    Group Regional du Marrakech

    • Desyud Mustafa – orchestral arrangement
    • Mohamed Azeddine (MD) – oud
    • M. Rabet Mohamid Rachid – violin
    • Bezzari Ahmed – rabab
    • Gueddam Jamal – violin, cello
    • Hijaoui Rachid – violin
    • Moullaoud My Ali – oud
    • Kassimi Jamal, Youssef – oud
    • El Farani Mustapha – tere
    • Abdellah Kekhari – violin
    • Dalal Mohamed Najib – darbouka
    • Ait Ramdam El Mostafa – kanoun

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    + Weekly chart performance for "Out of Time"Chart (2003)Peak
    position
    Australia (ARIA)[57] 113
    Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[58] 19

    Year-end charts

    + Yearly chart performance for "Out of Time"Chart (2003)Position
    UK Singles (OCC)[59] 163

    References

    .