Brit Music Scene

Blur Play ‘Last Gig’ - Of All Time Or Just This Summer?

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Blur announced their intention to reform as a four piece with the original line-up last December. Almost everyone I know was pleased by this, with most wondering why they’d ever split up in the first place. For those who don’t know, it was as a result of a major ruckus between lead singer Damon Albarn and lead guitarist Graham Coxon.

Fast-forward six months to June of this year and Blur completed their comeback by performing live for the first time in almost a decade. Granted, there was only family and friends in attendance, but it was still an event to be cheered. Then came a headlining slot at the Glastonbury festival, and a string of sold-out shows in London and Manchester.

Sunday night (July 12) saw Blur once again take the stage, this time at the T In The Park festival in Scotland. The gig nearly didn’t happen due to Coxon being struck down with food poisoning, but the band did play, with Coxon rushing from a spell in hospital to perform his duties.

According to the NME, the set was almost the same as at Glastonbury, and very few people left disappointed. However, a throwaway line from Albarn has raised concerns that Blur may be splitting again. After performing She’s So High as their first single, the front man said, “We nearly didn’t make it. Graham literally walked out of a hospital to come here. He’s alright. This is our last gig.”

Hang on, back the truck up a little. This was Blur’s last scheduled gig of the year but could Albarn have been intimating it was also their last gig of all time? I seriously hope not because anyone who has seen footage of the newly-reformed Blur playing live in the last month would agree they look like they belong together.

Could it be that the handful of gigs Blur undertook has been enough to prove to them that splitting up was the right decision after all? I know Albarn has many different projects on the go so could it be that he’s decided to walk away to pursue those more fully? The sooner the band clear upon this confusion the better but until then we need to keep our fingers crossed this isn’t the end.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

Michael Jackson In Death Owns The British Music Charts

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 09:49 AM PDT

Michael Jackson may be dead but he’s showing he is still the King of Pop. It’s been almost three weeks since Jacko died, and everyone has done their mourning, both privately and publicly. He’s had a public memorial in L.A. and a private funeral. And things are just about now getting back to normal, with the media deciding there are other things worth talking about. But Michael Jackson’s music lives on.

In fact, his music isn’t just living on in people’s hearts and minds, it’s also living on in terms of record sales. The British music chart compiled on the Sunday after Michael Jackson’s death showed the extent of the effect his passing had on the British public. He had the top selling album of the week with Number Ones, while 20 of his songs managed to secure places in the Top 75 singles.

That trend looks set to continue for some time. Michael Jackson - The Essential now occupies the top spot, with six of the Top 10 albums being by Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, even more impressively, Jacko has 22 singles in the Top 75, with Man In The Mirror climbing to an impressive number three spot.

Michael Jackson Albums In Top 75:

1. ‘The Essential…’
3. ‘Off The Wall’
4. ‘Thriller’
5. ‘The Motown Years’ (The Jackson 5)
7. ‘Number Ones’
9. ‘Thriller 25′
14. ‘King Of Pop’
15. ‘The Very Best Of…’ (The Jackson 5)
17. ‘HIStory’

Michael Jackson Singles In Top 75:

3. ‘Man In The Mirror’
20. ‘Smooth Criminal’
21. ‘Billie Jean’
25. ‘Thriller’
28. ‘They Don’t Care About Us’
29. ‘Black And White’
31. ‘Dirty Diana’
32. ‘Beat It’
36. ‘Who’s Lovin’ You’ (with The Jackson 5)
39. ‘Earth Song’
40. ‘You Are Not Alone’
42. ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’
44. ‘Heal The World’
45. ‘Bad’
48. ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’
49. ‘I’ll Be There’ (with The Jackson 5)
51. ‘Will You Be There’
57. ‘I Want You Back’ (with The Jackson 5)
59. ‘ABC’ (with The Jackson 5)
62. ‘Human Nature’
69. ‘Ben’
74. ‘Smile’

I must admit to being well and truly over the death of Michael Jackson. It was a sad event and a terrible end to a life filled with all manner of complications. But it’s over, and the man is no longer with us. His music will live on though, and whatever you thought of Jackson’s personal life, his talent can never really be doubted.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

Post from: Brit Music Scene