Girls & Boys

30-years ago 
Girls & Boys by Blur

Release date - 7th March 1994

Britpop exploded in the spring of 1994 and went technicolour with the release of Blur's Girls & Boys. This single well and truly put the POP in Britpop, reaching number 5 in the charts and catapulting Blur to new heights.

Never mind song titles like Metal Mickey or Animal Nitrate, this was pop in its purest form. Girls who want boys, who want girls ... that's been the case since the dawn of time and even The Beatles hadn't captured this in such a bold way. 

Girls & Boys is almost ridiculously catchy. The synth riff, disco beat, funky (Duran Duran - according to Alex James) bass and Damon Albarn singing about love in the nineties, is paranoid (I always thought it was it's paradise).

Albarn wrote the song after holidaying in Magaluf with his girlfriend Justine Frishmann from Elastica. He couldn't believe the way girls and boys would just meet up in pubs & clubs to get off with each other.

On sunny beaches

Take your chances 

Looking for ...

It's easy to look back at the nineties through rose-tinted glasses (and believe me ... I do!) but it's easy to forget that Labour didn't come to power until May 1997, in the dying embers of Britpop. Albarn beautifully captures some of the challenges faced by the youth of the day in a line that is almost thrown away at the start of the second verse;

Avoiding all work

Cause there's none available

The song is just two verses and that incredibly catchy chorus that is repeated joyfully again and again and again. But just to give you something else to sing to, Albarn throws in an extra little hook while Graham Coxon pushes a phaser effect on his guitar and cranks it up. 

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Girls & Boys is energetic, contagious pop music, this was the Britpop klaxon sounding loud and clear. If Suede kicked down the door then Blur were the first to steam through.

Official video

Live on The Word

Pet Shop Boys remix

Radio

 

30-years ago #5
Radio by Teenage Fanclub

Released on 14th June 1993, Teenage Fanclub's Radio is an impeccable slice of guitar power pop perfection. A song that always makes me want to play air guitar, sing-a-long and (still at my age) jump up and down. 

Radio is a pure rush of a song, the band absolutely tear into it and don't let up. It's all over in 2-minutes 52 seconds. Radio really did help to soundtrack the summer of 93 for me. I bought the CD single from Impulse Records in Hamilton and played it on a loop.

I loved (and love) the cover of the old radio with the Teenage Fanclub stencil logo proudly and boldly emblazoned on the front. The song begins with a little banjo intro, then there is a glorious explosion of ferocious drumming by Brendan, loud and fuzzy guitars and Gerry sounding super cool;

I think I'll kill the radio

Don't wanna hear this song

Can't relate to yesterday

What we did was wrong

Yeah, mmm

The way Gerry sings baby as he hits the chorus as Norman sings backing vocals and then harmonizes is spine tingling. The pace is fast, furious and fun throughout. Raymond's brilliant guitar riff comes out even stronger in the live performances below.

Baby, justify the reason behind your style

Find a place that fits and stay there for a while

Love to hear your song

On the AM

On the AM

I'd already fallen for Teenage Fanclub as a 15-year old in 1991. Two years on, at 17 and having just left school,  I was head over heels, eagerly anticipating their forthcoming Thirteen album and the prospect of seeing them live for the first time. 

Now, at 47, I'm instantly transported back to being 17 when I hear Radio. Energy leaps out of the song and straight into my heart, putting a big smile on my face.

Oh how I love that exuberant burst of guitar after the first chorus. It only lasts 10-seconds and then we're into the second verse. The crash after the first line is beautifully timed, the band are absolutely flying through it. Guitar pop punk perfection!

When I try to trip you up

I'm the one who falls

All these years down the line, I still find myself eagerly anticipating new releases and live dates by Teenage Fanclub. I still love to hear their songs on the radio! 

Did you know when I was young

I'd paint my face

With the latest craze

The band have announced an extensive European Tour for October and November to promote new album Nothing Lasts Forever, out on September 22nd.

And Gerry has been recording down in Liverpool with Bill Ryder-Jones. Hopefully we'll hear a single before the year is out and then the album in early 2024.

In the meantime, check out the official video for Radio, performances from T in the Park 1994 and Later with Jools (love Gerry's grin right at the end!) and a blast through it in 1995 - anyone know the venue?

And you can check my blog on Thirteen HERE

Official video

T in the Park

Later with Jools

1995 live performance

30-years ago - previous blogs in the series

1. Loser by Beck

2. Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use) by Sub Sub

3. For Tomorrow by Blur

4. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels