Blur record sales update

[thespider]

So last week, Girls & Boys was upgraded from a silver to a gold disc in the UK (400,000 sales). Yay!

Great to have confirmation that people are still listening. I'd imagine this certification is from streams?
Do people even still purchase mp3s anymore?

[Pavlich]

That is a surprisingly low amount from the lead (?) single from one of the most iconic albums ever, which was released in the golden age for the music industry.

[stephen]

Sounds like quite a lot to me

[Neal Zeal]

Strikes me as pretty high, too. I would've guessed at half the number.
Is there a list of Blur singles that have sales certifications?
My guess at the biggest selling ones would be something like:
Country House (way ahead).
Then (in no particular order).
Parklife, There's No Other Way, Tender, Charmless Man, Song 2, possibly Beetlebum, and that's probably about it...

[PaulG]

Here you go, the awards for all the Blur singles in the UK along with the date they were released and the date they awarded that level. Some of the dates look completely wrong but don't blame me, it''s just a cut and paste

Blur Country House Food Platinum Single 25.08.2017 15.11.2004
Blur Country House Food / Parlophone Gold Single 01.08.1995 14.08.1995
Blur Country House Food / Parlophone Silver Single 01.08.1995 14.08.1995

Blur Song 2 Food Platinum Single 27.10.2017 14.11.2004
Blur Song 2 Food Gold Single 12.06.2015 14.11.2004
Blur Song 2 Food Silver Single 22.07.2013

Blur Parklife Food Gold Single 26.10.2018 14.11.2004
Blur Parklife Food Silver Single 25.07.2014 14.11.2004

Blur Tender Food Gold Single 22.07.2013
Blur Tender Chrysalis Silver Single 26.03.1999 22.02.1999

Blur Girls And Boys Food Gold Single 03.07.2020 08.02.2006

Blur The Universal Parlophone Silver Single 01.11.1995 13.11.1995

Blur Beetlebum Food Silver Single 22.07.2013

[idreamofpikas]

Coffee and TV is now Silver and Parklife has gone Platinum and Girls and Boys Gold.

[Neal Zeal]

Coffee and TV is now Silver and Parklife has gone Platinum and Girls and Boys Gold.

Wow - great news for Graham (about Coffee&TV). Well done Mr C, if you're reading!
I do love the sound of Graham's voice on these big melancholic songs.

[Neal Zeal]

Ps I just read on Wikipedia that Graham wrote Coffee&TV.
Is this true? Had not realised.
Assumed it was mainly an Albarn composition like most Blur songs but just sung by GC.

[lumaka]

According to Blurb fanzine "some lyrics to Tender and the full lyric to Coffee & TV were written by Graham".

[Neal Zeal]

According to Blurb fanzine "some lyrics to Tender and the full lyric to Coffee & TV were written by Graham".

Thanks - any idea about who wrote the music?

[idreamofpikas]

Thanks - any idea about who wrote the music?

Like all Blur songs, music is credited to all four. Probably one of the reasons why the band are still on really great terms. Alex and Dave probably benefited a lot from Damon and Graham on that one as I imagine most of the music came from them or could have done, but they chose to share.

[Mallard No. 22]

I do love the sound of Graham's voice on these big melancholic songs.

Yes, I also like Graham's backing vocals - they give songs an edge.

[John_d]

Ps I just read on Wikipedia that Graham wrote Coffee&TV.
Is this true? Had not realised.
Assumed it was mainly an Albarn composition like most Blur songs but just sung by GC.

They were struggling to make the Damon demo work so Graham changed the rhythm and tempo to match a Sonic Youth song. I think he has publicly acknowledged the Sonic Youth link but not named the song. (It's obviously Sunday.) Damon said he no longer "felt" it so asked Graham to come up with new lyrics and probably an adapted melody. It's a fantastic song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CXD8PK6Djc

[stephen]

I just automatically assumed it was a Graham song (even if the rights are shared equally)...gosh you can hear coffee and tv all over that sonic youth song (or vice verse)