The Universal (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Universal" is a song by English alternative rock
band Blur
and is featured on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released 13 November 1995 as the second single
from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart
(see 1995 in British music
).
In keeping with the song's science fiction
theme, the single's cover art is an allusion to the opening shot of 2001: A Space Odyssey
, and the music video is a tribute to the movie A Clockwork Orange
, with the band dressed up in costumes similar to Alex and his droogs. Both movies were directed by Stanley Kubrick
.
The song has increased in stature since its release; this is proved by it being voted second best of all Blur singles on blurtalk.com. In addition, on Rate Your Music
the song is often in the Top 5 for 1995 as well as being in the Top 500 of all time. It is also Blur's highest rated song at the site.
for the song was directed by Jonathan Glazer
. The band is presented in imitation of the opening scenes from the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange
, in the Milk Bar
. Blur star as the quasi-Droogs, complete with Damon Albarn
wearing eyeliner similar to the character Alex DeLarge. They perform in the bar in all-white. Though the band do not engage in their usual vibrant stage demeanor, Damon frequently turns to the camera and gives a sly, crooked smile. Graham Coxon spends the majority of the video sitting against the wall while playing.
The bar patrons consist of different groups; a lone female entertains male business colleagues by exploiting their sexual interest in her; two men, one identified as a 'red man' (dressed entirely in red) who used to be 'blue', conduct a stilted (subtitled) conversation; two other men – one of them wearing a vicar
's clerical collar – become increasingly drunk on cocktails, laughing more and more hysterically until the clergyman tells his friend something to which the viewer is not privy, causing his friend to withdraw into stunned silence (a device similar to that used in Radiohead
's promotional video for the song "Just
" in the same year). There are also two old men who make a few comments marveling at the scene.
These clips are interchanged with scenes of a crowd of ordinary people standing motionless before an oddly shaped speaker. Similarities between them and the patrons in the milk bar, as well as behavior mimicking between the two scenes, indicate that the patrons in the milk bar are the people in the crowd, captivated and transported by the music into the ethereal, seemingly utopian world.
Minimalistic stills can also be seen scattered throughout the video, used to accentuate certain aspects of the video. For example, when the man in the clerical collar and his friend begin their drinking binge, a still showing a fetus
in a cocktail glass is shown where the glass seems to represent a womb. When the female begins entertaining her fellow patrons, a still of handcuffs is shown, suggesting that though she seems happy, she is really feeling trapped and dehumanized. A similar still of a magnet drawing a man is shown, directly after the man in the clerical collar whispers something to his friend, which prompts a reaction of quiet dismay. The still in this case seems to have a dual-meaning, representing the band's ability to attract people and doubling as a euphemism for homosexuality, as at the end of the video the man with the clerical collar attempts to kiss his shocked friend.
The golf ball
-shaped speaker featured in the video was sold in a charity auction in 1999.
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 featured on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released 13 November 1995 as the second 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 1995 in British music
1995 in British music
This is a summary of 1995 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.-Summary:1995 saw a number of changes occur...
).
In keeping with the song's science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
theme, the single's cover art is an allusion to the opening shot of 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey (film)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
, and the music video is a tribute to the movie A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange (film)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
, with the band dressed up in costumes similar to Alex and his droogs. Both movies were directed by Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
.
The song has increased in stature since its release; this is proved by it being voted second best of all Blur singles on blurtalk.com. In addition, on Rate Your Music
Rate Your Music
Rate Your Music is a metadata database where musical albums, EPs, singles, videos, bootlegs, and movies are rated and reviewed by users. This data is then used to generate recommendations for users and to create rated lists of albums...
the song is often in the Top 5 for 1995 as well as being in the Top 500 of all time. It is also Blur's highest rated song at the site.
Music video
A highly-acclaimed music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was directed by Jonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer is an English director of films, commercials and music videos.-Biography:After studying theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, Glazer started out directing theatre and making film and television trailers, including award-winning work for the BBC...
. The band is presented in imitation of the opening scenes from the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange (film)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
, in the Milk Bar
Korova Milk Bar
The Korova Milk Bar appears in the novel and film A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. It is a twisted version of a milk bar....
. Blur star as the quasi-Droogs, complete with 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...
wearing eyeliner similar to the character Alex DeLarge. They perform in the bar in all-white. Though the band do not engage in their usual vibrant stage demeanor, Damon frequently turns to the camera and gives a sly, crooked smile. Graham Coxon spends the majority of the video sitting against the wall while playing.
The bar patrons consist of different groups; a lone female entertains male business colleagues by exploiting their sexual interest in her; two men, one identified as a 'red man' (dressed entirely in red) who used to be 'blue', conduct a stilted (subtitled) conversation; two other men – one of them wearing a vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
's clerical collar – become increasingly drunk on cocktails, laughing more and more hysterically until the clergyman tells his friend something to which the viewer is not privy, causing his friend to withdraw into stunned silence (a device similar to that used in Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's promotional video for the song "Just
Just (song)
"Just" is a single by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released in 1995. It is the seventh track on their 1995 album The Bends. Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke wrote the song about a narcissistic friend of his, which on closer inspection is showcased by the imagery in the lyrics - a parallel...
" in the same year). There are also two old men who make a few comments marveling at the scene.
These clips are interchanged with scenes of a crowd of ordinary people standing motionless before an oddly shaped speaker. Similarities between them and the patrons in the milk bar, as well as behavior mimicking between the two scenes, indicate that the patrons in the milk bar are the people in the crowd, captivated and transported by the music into the ethereal, seemingly utopian world.
Minimalistic stills can also be seen scattered throughout the video, used to accentuate certain aspects of the video. For example, when the man in the clerical collar and his friend begin their drinking binge, a still showing a fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
in a cocktail glass is shown where the glass seems to represent a womb. When the female begins entertaining her fellow patrons, a still of handcuffs is shown, suggesting that though she seems happy, she is really feeling trapped and dehumanized. A similar still of a magnet drawing a man is shown, directly after the man in the clerical collar whispers something to his friend, which prompts a reaction of quiet dismay. The still in this case seems to have a dual-meaning, representing the band's ability to attract people and doubling as a euphemism for homosexuality, as at the end of the video the man with the clerical collar attempts to kiss his shocked friend.
The golf ball
Golf ball
A golf ball is a ball designed to be used in the game of golf.Under the Rules of Golf, a golf ball weighs no more than 1.620 oz , has a diameter not less than 1.680 in , and performs within specified velocity, distance, and symmetry limits...
-shaped speaker featured in the video was sold in a charity auction in 1999.
Track listings
- CD1
- "The Universal"
- "Ultranol"
- "No Monsters in Me"
- "Entertain Me" (the live it! remix)
- CD2 "The Universal II - live at the beeb"
- "The Universal" (live)
- "Mr Robinson's Quango" (live)
- "It Could Be You" (live)
- "Stereotypes" (live)
- 7" and Cassette
- "The Universal"
- "Entertain Me" (the live it! remix)
- Japan CD
- "The Universal"
- "It Could Be You" (live)
- "Stereotypes" (live)
- "Entertain Me" (the live it! remix)
- Note: the 7" vinyl edition was pressed for use on jukeboxes and was not issued commercially.
Uses in popular culture
- The song was used during the closing montage of ITV's Rugby World Cup 2003 footage.
- The song is currently used on a British TV advertisement for British GasCentricaCentrica plc is a multinational utility company, based in the United Kingdom but also with interests in North America. Centrica is the largest supplier of gas to domestic customers in the UK, and one of the largest suppliers of electricity, operating under the trading names "Scottish Gas" in...
. - The song features for PJ Ladd's video part in PJ Ladd's wonderful horrible life.
- The song was used in a 2002 ad for the Chrysler ConcordeChrysler ConcordeThe Chrysler Concorde was a large four-door, full-size, front wheel drive sedan produced by Chrysler from 1993 to 2004. It replaced the Chrysler Fifth Avenue on the lineup. One of Chrysler's 3 original Chrysler LH platform models derived from the American Motors/Renault-designed Eagle Premier, it...
.
Production credits
- "The Universal", "Ultranol" and "No Monsters in Me" produced by Stephen Street