Latest news with #Song2
Gulf Today
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Blur will return to musical oasis, says drummer Rowntree
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree is to publish a book of photos on the early days of the Britpop icons and after much-heralded comeback gigs two years ago has not ruled out another collaboration. 'I think Blur will definitely do something else,' he said, as their great rivals Oasis prepare for the first of their own reunion gigs in Cardiff on Friday. Rowntree, a founding member of Blur, has put together photos of the band at the start of their career in the 1980s around a decade before Britpop exploded. 'No One You Know: Dave Rowntree's Early Blur Photos' is due out in September. But the book nearly did not see the light of day as he only found the negatives by chance, in an old cardboard box that had been earmarked for the dump. 'In my memory, the photos would just seem like holiday snaps,' Rowntree, now 61, said in an interview in Paris. 'What the pictures show and capture really well, I think, is our excitement at doing all these things for the first time.' Rowntree's candid, sometimes blurry, shots are of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon and bassist Alex James, with lighting director Dave Byars. 'We were playing tiny shows to very few people. We were playing very unfashionable music in those days,' he recalled. But with a recording contract, the happy-go-lucky band — cigarettes and drinks ever present — discovered the world on their first international tour. 'An awful lot of travelling, an awful lot of sitting in dressing rooms, where you're just desperate for something to do,' Rowntree remembered with a smile. 'So, there's a lot of that, a lot of us goofing around to distract each other.' When Britpop burst onto the music scene in the early 1990s, Blur were at the vanguard, and songs such as 'Girls & Boys', 'Parklife' and 'Song 2' defined a generation. It was not plain sailing, though, with turbulence, break-ups and reunions, the last of which came in 2023 for the album 'The Ballad of Darren' and two sold-out gigs at London's Wembley Stadium. In the two years since then, Rowntree — a trained lawyer who stood unsuccessfully in the 2024 general election for the Labour party — the band's future has been up in the air. Albarn, whose new album with Gorillaz is due out this year and is also reworking Mozart's 'The Magic Flute', has frequently said that Blur's days are over. Rowntree, however, is not so convinced it's the end of the band. 'It seems to me it's not over,' he said. 'I think I'll know when it's over but there's no plans as such. Blur doesn't really work that way. 'We don't have planning meetings and strategy. It's kind of we make it up as we go along.' With Oasis back on the scene this week and Pulp surprising fans with a Glastonbury festival appearance last weekend, Rowntree sees it less as a Britpop revival than a worrying shift in the music industry. 'It gets harder and harder to make money selling recorded music,' he said. 'Musicians have to look for other ways to earn a living. 'Many bands are being pushed back out on the road again. 'I think that's great because I think that's where music lives. It's in the concert hall in front of an audience. But the downside is that only really works for bands at our level — the Pulps, the Blurs, the Oasis. 'For smaller bands, they're finding it increasingly difficult.' The long-awaited return of warring Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher has seen complaints about high ticket prices and the dynamic pricing method used to maximise revenue. Yet, despite the well-documented rivalry with Oasis, Rowntree gave a guarded welcome to the Manchester rockers' return. 'It's a two-edged sword, isn't it? On the one hand, I'm really glad that they're out on tour. Think of all the economic benefits. Agence France-Presse
Time Out
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Robbie Williams at London's Emirates Stadium: start time, tickets, potential setlist and what you need to know
It's nearly time for you to let Robbie Williams entertain you, in front of a crowd of 60,000 like-minded fans. After a couple of years away from the stage, you can expect big things from this ex-Take That star turned, well, chimpanzee? Following the warm reception of his uniquely anthropomorphic biopic ' Better Man ', Robbie is finally back to doing what he does best: acting up in front of thousands of people. The Britpop tour, named after his upcoming album of the same name, is set to be a romp through his greatest hits, with a bit of Sinatra thrown in for good measure. Here's everything you need to know about Robbie Williams two nights at the Emirates Stadium to ensure you leave thinking 'I Love My Life'. When is Robbie Williams playing Emirates Stadium? Robbie is doing two nights at the Arsenal ground. He'll be playing tomorrow, June 6, and Saturday, June 7. After that, he's heading up north to Manchester before finishing off the UK leg in Bath. What time do doors open? Doors for Robbie Williams' gig tonight will open at 5pm, with the first support act expected to take to the stage at 6pm. What time will Robbie Williams come on stage? It's not been officially stated when you can expect Robbie to make his grand entrance, but based on timings at Murrayfield the other night, the main show will likely begin at around 8:30pm. It's worth being seated, or standing, well before that though, in case timings change or you want to grab a drink. What's the seating plan? If you're wondering where you'll be sitting, you can see the stadium layout below. If you're wondering what your view will be like, you can use the Emirates stadium's 'virtual venue' here to get a sneak peak. Who's supporting Robbie Williams? For his shows in the capital, Robbie will be supported by Manchester band The Lottery Winners, and chart-topping baritone Rag 'n' Bone Man. It's not certain exactly when the support acts will take the stage, but based on the Edinburgh show, it's likely that the Lottery Winners will start sometime around 6pm, and then Rag 'n' Bone Man just after 7pm. Robbie Williams setlist Robbie has only played one night of the Britpop tour so far, so we have a general idea of the songs he's likely to play, but nothing is certain. There is always a chance he'll change things up every night, but don't worry; we're confident he'll always do angels. Here's what the setlist was for the Edinburgh show, including a slightly random medley. If there's one thing Robbie Williams is going to do, it's keep us on our toes. Rocket Let Me Entertain You All My Life / Song 2 / Seven Nation Army / Rim Tim Tagi Dim / I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) / Minnie the Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song) / Livin' On A Prayer (Singalong Medley) Monsoon Old Before I Die Rock DJ Love My Life Strong The Road to Mandalay Supreme Let Love Be Your Energy / Sexed Up / Candy (with The Lottery Winners) Relight My Fire Something Beautiful Play Video Main Stage Millennium Come Undone Kids She's the One My Way Encore Feel Angels Can you still get tickets? There are still a few tickets left to see Robbie Williams tomorrow and Saturday, starting from £66. The majority of the tickets left, however, are standing, which are a little pricier. General admission starts from £104, while front standing will set you back £220. If you think Robbie's worth it, you can bag your tickets from Ticketmaster here. What's Emirates Stadium's bag policy? Like most stadiums, Emirates only allows bags that are smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. Anything else will either be confiscated, or you will be turned away. In general, the venue advises against bringing a bag if at all possible, and there is no cloakroom to store them in. Banned items 'Do not bring your explosives to the Robbie Williams concert' is a sentence which probably goes without saying, but it's always good to be clear on these things. As well as the obvious (knives, weapons, fireworks and flares, and gas canisters will not be permitted), you are not allowed to bring in any of your own food or drink, except in a soft, 500ml plastic bottle. This includes flasks of hot liquid. Additionally, glass bottles of any kind, including small perfume bottles and similar, are banned. If you're unsure about an item, it's best to leave it at home. If you're unsure but really want to bring it, check here for the full list of prohibited items. Weather forecast The weather for this weekend is looking quite changeable, but showers are set to dry up by 7pm on Friday. On Saturday however, it's looking a bit wetter, so you might want to invest in a poncho. Temperatures will peak at 16 C during the gig on both days, so at least you won't be that cold.
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Song 2 by Blur
Few tracks capture sheer, unfiltered exhilaration like Blur's 'Song 2'. At just over 2 minutes, it's a perfect storm of distortion, speed and chaos-a joyful explosion that barrels through the senses with reckless abandon. The beauty of track from Blur's 1997 eponymous fifth album lies in its sheer simplicity: jagged guitar riffs, pounding drums and frontman Damon Albarn's effortlessly cool, yet utterly unhinged vocals. There's no pretence here, just pure energy, as Albarn launches into the iconic 'Woo-hoo!' refrain, a cry that feels both euphoric and anarchic. The track doesn't meander. It hits like a runaway freight train, revelling in its messy, flannel-shirted aesthetic. Yet, beneath the noise, there's a sharpness, a knowing wink. Originally conceived as a parody of grunge, 'Song 2' ironically became one of Blur's biggest international hits, embraced for the very qualities it sought to exaggerate. It's fast, loud and exhilarating, but never hollow. It embodies raw power not just in volume, but in attitude. Almost 30 years on, 'Song 2' remains an untamed beast, a track that demands to be blasted at full volume. It's the sound of unfiltered joy, rebellion and people having the absolute time of their lives.
Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Song 2 by Blur
Few tracks capture sheer, unfiltered exhilaration like Blur's 'Song 2'. At just over 2 minutes, it's a perfect storm of distortion, speed and chaos-a joyful explosion that barrels through the senses with reckless abandon. The beauty of track from Blur's 1997 eponymous fifth album lies in its sheer simplicity: jagged guitar riffs, pounding drums and frontman Damon Albarn's effortlessly cool, yet utterly unhinged vocals. There's no pretence here, just pure energy, as Albarn launches into the iconic 'Woo-hoo!' refrain, a cry that feels both euphoric and anarchic. The track doesn't meander. It hits like a runaway freight train, revelling in its messy, flannel-shirted aesthetic. Yet, beneath the noise, there's a sharpness, a knowing wink. Originally conceived as a parody of grunge, 'Song 2' ironically became one of Blur's biggest international hits, embraced for the very qualities it sought to exaggerate. It's fast, loud and exhilarating, but never hollow. It embodies raw power not just in volume, but in attitude. Almost 30 years on, 'Song 2' remains an untamed beast, a track that demands to be blasted at full volume. It's the sound of unfiltered joy, rebellion and people having the absolute time of their lives.
