"Music Is My Radar" is a song by British band Blur. As a single, it reached No. 10 in the UK. It was released in support of the band's greatest hits compilation, '' Blur: The Best Of'', on which it was the only song that had not previously appeared on an album. An alternative version called "Squeezebox" appeared in 2012 on one of the rarities CDs from the ''

Blur 21 ''Blur 21'' is a CD, DVD and vinyl box set encompassing the vast majority of music by Blur. It was released on 30 July 2012, commemorating the 21st anniversary of the release of ''Leisure'', the band's first album. The release took place before ...

'' box collection, released to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their debut album release, ''

Leisure Leisure (, ) has often been defined as a quality of experience or as free time. Free time is time spent away from business, Employment, work, job hunting, Housekeeping, domestic chores, and education, as well as necessary activities such as ...

''. Nigerian musician Tony Allen, who is repeatedly mentioned in the lyrics, later collaborated with Blur frontman

Damon Albarn Damon Albarn (, ; born 23 March 1968) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the frontman, main vocalist, and lyricist of the rock band Blur (band), Blur and the co-creator and primary musical con ...

as the drummer in the supergroups

The Good, the Bad & the Queen The Good, the Bad & the Queen were an English art rock supergroup composed of singer Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, bassist Paul Simonon of the Clash, guitarist Simon Tong of the Verve, and drummer Tony Allen of Fela Kuti's band Africa ...

and

Rocket Juice & the Moon ''Rocket Juice & the Moon'' is the only album by the supergroup of the same name, formed in 2008. The group consisted of Damon Albarn, Flea, and Tony Allen. Album history The project was announced in mid-2008; however due to various other pro ...

, and appears posthumously with Albarn on the 2020

Gorillaz Gorillaz are an English virtual band created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett in London, England in 1998. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (gui ...

song " How Far?".

Reception

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' critic Richard M. Juzwiak described the song as "truly one of lur'sbest", adding: "It's minimalist, groovy, and combines the shiny poppy old Blur with the ragged noisy new Blur perfectly." Daniel Durchholz of ''

Wall of Sound The Wall of Sound (also called the Spector Sound) is a music production formula developed by American record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios, in the 1960s, with assistance from engineer Larry Levine and the conglomerate of session m ...

'' called it "vital", while a less enthused

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...

saw it as "good, not great". Conversely, Graham Reed of '' Drowned in Sound'' called the song a "creative misfire" that is "devoid of tune or melody", while ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'' critic Steve Sutherland labelled it a "will-this-do

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1975.Talking Heads

y clunkalong".

Music video

The video shows Blur on a 1960s/1970s-inspired "Variety Hour" talk show where they sit on a couch (embedded into the red floor) while a group of dancers in black (male) and white (female) MOD-esque outfits perform a dance routine to accompany the song during an interval break. Those outfits are clearly inspired to the costumes created by the

Sorelle Fontana Sorelle Fontana (literally "Fontana Sisters", also known as "Sorelle Fontana, Alta Moda SRL") is an Italian fashion house, specializing in production of high-fashion couture. It was founded in Rome in 1943 by three sisters and Italian designers: ...

for the dystopian movie “La decima vittima” by italian director

Elio Petri Eraclio Petri (29 January 1929 – 10 November 1982), commonly known as Elio Petri, was an Italian film and theatre director, screenwriter and film critic. The Museum of Modern Art described him as "one of the preeminent political and social ...

. The dance choreography itself was executed by Blanca Li. The music video was not included on the '' Blur: The Best Of'' VHS/DVD but was on the ''

'' box set in 2012.

Track listings

*CD1 #"Music Is My Radar" (radio edit) – 4:21 #"Black Book" – 8:30 #"Headist" / "Into Another" (live) – 3:45 *CD2 #"Music Is My Radar" (radio edit) – 4:21 #"7 Days" (live) – 3:28 #" She's So High" (live) – 4:45 *Cassette #"Music Is My Radar" (radio edit) – 4:21 #"Black Book" – 8:30 #"She's So High" (live) – 4:45 *12" vinyl #"Music Is My Radar" (album version) – 5:29 #"Black Book" – 8:30 *Japan and Europe CD #"Music Is My Radar" (radio edit) – 4:21 #"Black Book" – 8:30 #"7 Days" (live) – 3:28 #"She's So High" (live) – 4:45 *"Headist" / "Into Another" and "7 Days" were recorded for Radio One's Evening Session. First transmission date 5 May 1992. *"She's So High" was recorded for Radio One's Mark Goodier Show. First transmission date 24 June 1990.

Credits and personnel

– vocals, synthesizers, acoustic guitar *

Graham Coxon Graham Leslie Coxon (born 12 March 1969) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter who came to prominence as a founding member of the rock band Blur. As the group's lead guitarist and secondary vocalist, Coxon is featured on all of Blur' ...

– electric guitar * Alex James – bass guitar *

Dave Rowntree David Alexander De Horne Rowntree (born 8 May 1964) is an English musician, politician, solicitor, composer and animator. He is best known as the drummer for the rock band Blur (band), Blur. In his political career, Rowntree served on the Norf ...

– drums *"Music Is My Radar" produced by Blur and Ben Hillier *"Black Book" produced by Chris Potter

References

{{authority control 2000 songs 2000 singles Blur (band) songs Food Records singles Parlophone singles Songs written by Damon Albarn Songs written by Dave Rowntree Songs written by Alex James (musician) Songs written by Graham Coxon Song recordings produced by Ben Hillier