Charmless Man
Encyclopedia
"Charmless Man" is a song by English alternative rock
band Blur
and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album
, The Great Escape. It was released on 29 April 1996 as the fourth and final single
from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart
(see 1996 in British music
). The title is likely a play on the song "This Charming Man
" by British band The Smiths
.
Speaking in December 1996, Damon Albarn
said, "Charmless Man was the end of something... it was the end of British pop
. For us, anyway". He also commented that the song would be suitable in a musical.
The inspiration for the song came from when Damon Albarn was visiting his grandmother in Lincolnshire
. He stopped off at Grantham railway station
and when inside the gentlemen's toilet
, he noticed a piece of graffiti on a similar theme to the song's title.
.
The video starts with a man (the Charmless Man, played by Jean-Marc Barr
) running down a dark street before entering a hall, where the band are playing. (It becomes clear in retrospect that this is a 'continuous flashback' or Groundhog Day
scenario.) After the verse which is accompanied by piano
, the band are playing in the bathroom whilst the man uses an electric toothbrush
and drinks some red wine. After becoming fully dressed, the man goes out into the corridor, where the band are again. After pushing Damon Albarn
out of the way, he enters a lift. The band once again are there. They are also there in the foyer when the man leaves the lift. The members of the band hang around outside, when the man, frustrated at the band following him anywhere he goes, pushes Albarn over and kicks him. After calling a cab, he drives off, hoping to be free from the band. They appear at the roadside twice as the man drives down the street. At the third time, the band are standing in the middle of the road and the man drives straight into them, knocking them all over. Following this latest appearance by the band, he smashes the car windows with his fists in anger. He is then seen again running back down the road, with a badly cut hand. He staggers into the hall and the camera zooms in onto Albarn's face as the final notes are played. Albarn has a contemptuous smile on his face.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, The Great Escape. It was released on 29 April 1996 as the fourth and final single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(see 1996 in British music
1996 in British music
This is a summary of 1996 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.-Summary:This year saw the start of an increase in the number of number 1 singles. 24 hit the top spot this year, the highest since 1980, which had an equal number.The first number 1 single of the...
). The title is likely a play on the song "This Charming Man
This Charming Man
"This Charming Man" is a song by the English band The Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer/lyricist Morrissey. It was released as the group's second single in October 1983 on the independent record label Rough Trade...
" by British band The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
.
Speaking in December 1996, Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
said, "Charmless Man was the end of something... it was the end of British pop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
. For us, anyway". He also commented that the song would be suitable in a musical.
The inspiration for the song came from when Damon Albarn was visiting his grandmother in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. He stopped off at Grantham railway station
Grantham railway station
Grantham railway station serves the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, England and lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross.-Description:Junctions near the town also connect to branches to Nottingham, and to Sleaford and Skegness...
and when inside the gentlemen's toilet
Washroom
A public toilet is a room or small building containing one or more toilets and possibly also urinals which is available for use by the general public, or in a broader meaning of "public", by customers of other...
, he noticed a piece of graffiti on a similar theme to the song's title.
Promotional video
The video was directed by Jamie ThravesJamie Thraves
Jamie Thraves is a British film writer and director.Jamie Thraves began making early short experimental films in 1989 at Hull University, having previously studied illustration . His graduation film Scratch and The Take-Out both went on to win numerous awards at short film festivals worldwide...
.
The video starts with a man (the Charmless Man, played by Jean-Marc Barr
Jean-Marc Barr
Jean-Marc Barr is a French-American film actor and director. His mother is French. His American father was in the US Air Force and served in the Second World War. Jean-Marc Barr is primarily known as an actor, but is also a film director, screenwriter and producer...
) running down a dark street before entering a hall, where the band are playing. (It becomes clear in retrospect that this is a 'continuous flashback' or Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter-like weather will soon end...
scenario.) After the verse which is accompanied by piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, the band are playing in the bathroom whilst the man uses an electric toothbrush
Electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush is a toothbrush that uses electric power supplied usually by a battery to move the brush head rapidly, either oscillating side to side, or rotation-oscillation .- History :...
and drinks some red wine. After becoming fully dressed, the man goes out into the corridor, where the band are again. After pushing Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
out of the way, he enters a lift. The band once again are there. They are also there in the foyer when the man leaves the lift. The members of the band hang around outside, when the man, frustrated at the band following him anywhere he goes, pushes Albarn over and kicks him. After calling a cab, he drives off, hoping to be free from the band. They appear at the roadside twice as the man drives down the street. At the third time, the band are standing in the middle of the road and the man drives straight into them, knocking them all over. Following this latest appearance by the band, he smashes the car windows with his fists in anger. He is then seen again running back down the road, with a badly cut hand. He staggers into the hall and the camera zooms in onto Albarn's face as the final notes are played. Albarn has a contemptuous smile on his face.
Track listings
- 7" and Cassette
- "Charmless Man"
- "The Horrors"
- CD
- "Charmless Man"
- "The Horrors"
- "A Song"
- "St Louis"
- European CDs
- "Charmless Man"
- "The Man Who Left Himself"
- "Tame"
- "Ludwig"
Production credits
- "Charmless Man" produced by Stephen Street
- "The Horrors", "A Song" and "St Louis" produced by Blur
- "The Man Who Left Himself", "Tame" and "Ludwig" produced by Blur and John Smith