The days, they seem to fall through you

No Distance Left To Run destroyed me. The gorgeously shot feature documentary chronicling Blur's career from the vantage point of their reunion tour last year was primarily a reunion in my head. It reintroduced me to this band of Brits that I haven't thought too much about since they meant so much to me during such formative time (late high school/early college years). The change in extremes was somewhat shocking. Instead of no-strings-attached nostalgia, though, Run confronted me with very tangible sense of the passing of time. 

We're a far cry from these days:

Beyond the superficial, No Distance Left To Run tells the story of a group of boys who became men in public, without much scandal. Graham Coxon's alcoholism and Damon Albarn's heroin dabbling (he confirms a longstanding rumor that "Beetlebum" is about smack) won't quite be enough to make a voyuer's eyes water with drool, and so I suspect that Blur's story may be a bit on the unremarkable side for the casual-to-non listener. For those of us who care (or cared), it's a poignant journey through the emotional lives of four men who were never afraid to be emotional, even with each other.

 

 

Their unqualified homoeroticism must have made them subconsciously attractive to me back in the day, as did the fey resistance inherent in their work (Brit pop, as devised by Damon on Modern Life Is Rubbish, was a conscious rejection of the garbage grunge unleashed in Nirvana's wake). Even before I understood everything that was going on with me, I picked up on how wise Blur's choice of wit as a method of protest was. Plus, they sang ridiculously, at times obnoxiously, catchy songs and Damon was dreamy. (Although, looking back on it and even though he's still not my type, Alex is clearly the best-looking of the bunch.)

A big part of their journey has involved learning which bullshit is worthy of attention, and which bullshit is worth discarding. Midway into their run (around the time of The Great Escape), they found themselves as teenage girls' heartthrobs du jour, a role they were not comfortable with as a band. So, they again protested  through their music, slightly more raucously this time and made the noisiest album of their career, Blur. They used their unease with their celebrity toward their creativity, instead of abandoning it all together. Because, whatever pond you were on whatever side of at the time, it was clear with their feud with Oasis, they knew how to play the fame game.

In the film, Damon explains how much that public battle traumatized him, while Graham attempted to jump out a window “to remind people there were actual human beings involved” the night that it was announced that "Country House" had beat Oasis' "Roll With It" to the No. 1 spot.

By the way, if Alex is the best-looking, Graham is the best, period. Like, really, he might be the best person in the world. At the very least, he says the best stuff in the movie.

 

 

 

And also, when things started to fall apart and he left the band, he thought:

 

He uses words like "twanners," and says things like, "Our shows were pretty crackers." I don't know what it means, but I love it.

Part of Graham's bullshit-sorting out involves himself. At the climax of the film, as Blur are playing two nights worth of shows at Hyde Park to a rapturous audience, he explains that he feels more "innocent" now than he did in his 20's. His best line in the entire film really could be, "I feel a lot more pre-mid ‘90s these days."

Of course, a sanctioned documentary is as self-serving as any album, and No Distance Left To Run isn't probing journalism by any means. Certain major events are merely mentioned (Dave Rowntree's divorce, Damon's courtship and split with Elastica's Justine Frischmann), and others are explored through a lens covered by a cataract (Graham's departure remains cloudy -- Alex himself seems all together uncertain what was going on there). But their obvious interest in keeping things for themselves, in refusing to sensationalize their own story feels wise and real. It's yet another reminder that there are actual human beings involved.

The film also reminded me of the person I used to be. Back then, music really mattered to me. It was a life force. Albums were something to cherish, not just something to listen to obsessively for a brief period, emote about and then move on from. The people who made them were superhuman. Blur was a group of people I looked up to in absolute awe before the cynicism of contemporary celebrity culture set in. I wouldn't necessarily trade my current grasp on the bullshit of it all for my naivete, but it was nice to be reminded how commonplace magic once was in my life. If I look at this movie removed and with the cynicism I'm prone to, it's the story of a bunch of privileged guys who conquered the world, bickered and then conquered it again without too much tragedy to speak of/gawk at. A band forming, un-forming and re-forming should barely make me bat an eye, and yet I wept a few times during No Distance Left To Run, unjaded and overcome with the joy of feeling a lot more pre-early '00s for the moment.

Comments

[Bar stoors]

In my head I'm hearing this on the stage as a spoken-word performance. I would love to hear this at an open mic or poetry slam!! Beautiful. Provocative. Inspiring. Thanks.

[floor-jack]

It all comes down to economics, I suppose, and how business in different countries try to fight their relative cultural baggage, in order to boost productivity, increase political stability, reduce wages, and increase efficiency.

[hydraulic-bottle-jack]

Thanks, Gary. It just occurred to me the euphoria could have been delusional. My estimation as to how high the bullets actually were might have been pure hallucination.

[battery cable]

That would be fine if that is what happened. But, despite your obvious business expertise, there is a chance that all books will someday be sold online.

[Protective-masks]

The writing here was exquisite, with great flow and a compelling tale. I relaxed at your epiphany when you figured out that the danger was being exaggerated.

[extension cords]

This is an amazing piece that kept me reading on the edge of my seat till the end.

[crystal products]

Everyone deserve the right to find the right one. Sometimes it just takes time which is pretty precious at some ages.

[China digital thermometer manufacturer]

What a great article Bert. One of the worst things about this recession is how so many good workers like you, folks with ambition and diligence, how been sidelined.

[dinning chairs]

You are so funny! Though I'm not an expert, your descriptions of the French perfectly matches my perception of them, especially the fear of embarrassment.

[China digital thermometer]

A whole bunch of stores have already started with the Christmas displays here, too. What's up with that

[Solar water heater supplier]

Very beautiful tribute, my ears are teary as I write this, it is an anniversary for me as well. I lost my mom 6 years ago today, on Halloween, I still think of this as a unusual time to have died. But that is the date, I loved your memorys, as they show her attentive touch, grandmothers just know.

[Solar water heatings]

That was beautiful and made me use up at least 4 tissues. Your Grandma would be so proud of you, obviously the seeds she planted have flourished.