Everything Flows: For Tomorrow

30-years ago #3
For Tomorrow by Blur

For Tomorrow was released in April 30-years ago - 19th April 1993 to be precise. It's safe to say, on reflection, that it was a game changing single for Blur. All of a sudden it felt like Blur had found their sound and look. In that sense, I'd argue that it's one of the most important singles of the Britpop era.

Photo by Kevin Cummins

Damon Albarn was photographed by Kevin Cummins spraypainting the title of his bands forthcoming album (released the following month in May 1993) for the NME. Cummins series of photos really should have been used for the cover and inside sleeve of Modern Life Is Rubbish. Quite why a computer graphic of a steam locomotive was used is beyond me.

Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree in front of their fresh graffti in second hand suit jackets, turned up jeans and Doc Marten boots would surely have been more appropriate. As I said, they had the look. Too bad the records would have already been pressed with the locomotive sleeve.

Photo by Kevin Cummins

Modern Life Is Rubbish was inspired by Albarn listening to The Kinks and dreaming of England while trapped in the grip of a mammoth 44-date tour of America that the band hated.

Disillusioned by the grunge scene and the meteoric rise of Suede, Blur drank heavily to the extent where they were close to being dropped by their label.

Speaking of Suede, Brett Anderson and co had smashed into the top 10 in February 93 with Metal Mickey, only their third single, and were now on the front cover of Select Magazine - Anderson in front of a Union Jack with the title Yanks Go Home - Suede, St Etienne, Denim, Pulp, The Auteurs and the Battle for Britain.

Pulp would fully embrace Britpop with their 1995 album Different Class, featuring era defining singles Common People, Sorted for E's & Whizz and Disco 2000. Although they'd got a taste by breaking into the top 40 for the first time in 1994 with their brilliant Do You Remember The First Time?

Suede went the other way with the release of Dog Man Star in 1994, distancing themselves from Britpop, before coming back with their stunning pure glam pop rush of a single Trash in 1996.

Back to Blur though. For me, For Tomorrow was their first step into Britpop, before they dived in headfirst in 1994 with Girls & Boys and Parklife (single and album).

Recording of Modern Life Is Rubbish didn't go smoothly, it was only when they got together with Stephen Street (who had previously produced their hit There's No Other Way) that the album gathered momentum. Considering Street's success with the quintessentially English-ness of The Smiths, it is a wonder why they didn't go with him in the first place.

When you read back through Britpop memoirs and online articles, it's not over stating the mark to say that the future of the band was really at stake. It was make or break. Dave Balfe from Food Records told Blur that their album was commercial suicide and asked for a single.

On Christmas Day 1992 Albarn wrote For Tomorrow, which would become the opening track and lead single for Modern Life Is Rubbish. It's one of my favourite Blur songs and I also think it's one of their very best.

Albarn and the band refused to re-record the album for the American market. They were done with America for the time being.

For Tomorrow has a beautiful feel to it; strings, la la la's, a very southern English vocal by Albarn and solid beats. The video further stamps Blur's new identity; Albarn hanging off the back of a London double decker bus, floating in The Thames, the band playing football in Trafalgur Square and hanging around on Primrose Hill. All wearing the aforementioned new Blur uniform of suit jacket and jeans. The melody changes for the final two verses, flowing superbly as Albarn sings modern life is rubbish

Dave Balfe didn't really get the hit single he wanted, For Tomorrow reached number 28 in the charts. But the was documented evidence that Blur had changed as a band. One year later they did have the hit (and a massive one at that!) with the glorious pop riot Girls & Boys.

Blur - For Tomorrow official video

Blur - For Tomorrow live at Wembley Arena 1999