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Chemical World

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For the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, see Chemistry World.

"Chemical World"
Single by Blur
from the album Modern Life Is Rubbish
B-side
  • "Maggie May"
  • "Es Schmecht"
  • "Young & Lovely"
  • "My Ark"
  • "Never Clever" (live)
  • "Pressure on Julian" (live)
  • "Come Together" (live)
Released28 June 1993 (1993-06-28)
Genre
Length
  • 4:02 (UK album version)
  • 3:53 (radio edit)
  • 3:45 (reworked/US album version)
  • 6:34 (with "Intermission")
LabelFood
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Blur singles chronology
"For Tomorrow"
(1993) 		"Chemical World"
(1993) 		"Sunday Sunday"
(1993)
Music video
"Chemical World" on YouTube

"Chemical World" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, included on their second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), and released in June 1993 by Food Records. The song was written by the band and produced by them with Stephen Street, Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley and Steve Lovell. It peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Charts as well as number 27 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Tracks

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The single was released in the UK on 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl and two CDs. CD1 and the 12-inch featured the reworked demo version while CD2 and the 7-inch featured the Stephen Street version (in edited form on the 7-inch). The 12-inch and CD2 feature three exclusive tracks "Young & Lovely", "Es Schmecht" and "My Ark". "Young & Lovely" was hailed as one of the greatest "lost tracks" by Q in 2007.

CD1 features three tracks recorded live at Glastonbury Festival 1992. The song "Never Clever" had not been previously released. It was originally intended as the follow-up to Blur's fourth single, "Popscene". However, the commercial death of "Popscene" prompted those plans to be abandoned. The studio version of "Never Clever" was eventually released on a promo CD to celebrate Food Records' 100th release in 1997.

The 7-inch vinyl has a cover version of Rod Stewart's "Maggie May", which had been recorded for and was first released on Ruby Trax, a 1992 triple album compilation of cover versions issued by the NME on its 40th birthday. It was also featured on Blur's The Special Collectors Edition in 1994 along with "Es Schmecht".

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

Release

[edit]

"Chemical World" was released on 28 June 1993 as the second single from Modern Life Is Rubbish,[4] equalling their previous release "For Tomorrow" at number 28 in the UK Singles Charts.[5] In the United States, the song reached number 27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming the only single from the album to chart there.[6]

The song was commissioned by Blur's American record label, SBK Records, to increase the album's appeal for the American market.[7] The first version shown to SBK was a demo produced by the band. It was then re-recorded in a version produced by Stephen Street. This version was used for the UK version of the album but SBK preferred the demo which was 'reworked' by producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley and used for the US album. Although originally never labelled as such (with only the producer credits on the sleeves and labels showing which version is used), this version is now known as "Chemical World (Reworked)" which is how it appeared since the 1999 singles box set.

The single cover features a red Ferrari F40 and a mustang against a background of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. The music video shows the band in a grassy field surrounded by wildlife. On Beavis and Butt-head, when the video was reviewed, Beavis said that he wanted to urinate all over the band and the wildlife, including a snail and Damon Albarn. "Chemical World" did not appear on the 2000 greatest hits compilation Blur: The Best Of but was included on the 2009 compilation Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur.

Track listings

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All music was composed by Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree. All lyrics were written by Albarn except where noted.

Personnel

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  • "Chemical World" and "Young & Lovely" produced by Stephen Street
  • "Es Schmecht" produced by Blur
  • "My Ark" produced by Blur and John Smith
  • "Maggie May" produced by Steve Lovell
  • "Chemical World" (Reworked) produced by Blur, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
  • Damon Albarn: lead vocals
  • Graham Coxon: guitar, backing vocals
  • Alex James: bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree: drums

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 87
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 28
UK Airplay (Music Week)[9] 16
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[10] 27

References

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  1. ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Paste. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Modern Life Is Rubbish – Blur | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  3. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Chemical World – Blur | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 26 June 1993. p. 27.
  5. ^ a b "Blur: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Blur – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  7. ^ Cavanagh, David; Stuart Maconie (July–August 1995). "How did they do that?". Select.
  8. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 30. 24 July 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 24 July 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Blur Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
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