"No Distance Left to Run" is a song by English rock band Blur from their sixth studio album, 13 (1999). It was released as the third and final single from the album on 15 November 1999, reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It is widely understood to refer to Blur vocalist Damon Albarn's split from long-term partner Justine Frischmann.
| "No Distance Left to Run" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 CDS cover | ||||
| Single by Blur | ||||
| from the album 13 | ||||
| B-side | "Beagle 2" | |||
| Released | 15 November 1999[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1998[2] | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, art rock | |||
| Length | 3:27 | |||
| Label | EMI, Food Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Dave Rowntree, and Alex James | |||
| Producer(s) | William Orbit | |||
| Blur singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Enhanced CD cover | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "No Distance Left to Run" on YouTube | ||||
Music and lyrics
editDamon Albarn says that he is affected by this song: "It upsets me, that song. It upset me singing it. Doing that vocal upset me greatly. To sing that lyric I really had to accept that that was the end of something in my life. It's amazing when you do have the guts to do that with your work, because it don't half help you."[3] The name of the song is also the title of a documentary about the band, which was released in cinemas in January 2010.[4]
Music video
editThe promotional video directed by Thomas Vinterberg is notable for using night-vision cameras to capture all four members of the band asleep in their respective beds. A DVD version was also released that featured a short documentary about the making of the video. Alex James reportedly dreamt that he "was in Germany in a karaoke bar. I think I was a leopard for a minute."[5]
B-sides
editThe B-side "Beagle 2", was sent aboard Beagle 2, an unsuccessful British landing spacecraft that formed part of the European Space Agency's 2003 Mars Express mission. The DVD edition of the single features a video of footage of the Beagle 2 over which plays "Far Out (Beagle 2 remix)", a full band version of a song originally from Parklife, using an outtake from the Parklife sessions.
Track listing
edit- CD1
- Enhanced CD2
- "No Distance Left To Run" – 3:28
- "Battle" (UNKLE remix) – 7:15
- "Beagle 2" – 2:52
- "No Distance Left To Run" (video)
- Cassette / Promo CD
- 12" vinyl
- DVD
- "No Distance Left To Run" (promotional video)
- "No Distance Left To Run" (live video)
- The Making Of No Distance Left To Run
- "Tender" (live video)
- "Battle" (live video)
- Beagle 2 (Space Footage) ("Far Out (Beagle 2 Remix)" soundtracks the space footage)
- European CD
Production credits
edit- "No Distance Left to Run" produced by William Orbit
- "So You" and "Beagle 2" produced by Blur
- Damon Albarn: lead vocals, keyboards
- Graham Coxon: guitar, backing vocals
- Alex James: bass guitar
- Dave Rowntree: drums
Charts
edit| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] | 52 |
| Scotland (OCC)[7] | 16 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 14 |
References
edit- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 15 November, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 November 1999. p. 27. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Power 2013, p. 301.
- ^ "Damon". www.blurcentral.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "New Blur Documentary: No Distance Left To Run". DangerousMinds. 30 November 2009.
- ^ "blurcentral.co.uk". www.blurcentral.co.uk.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 49. 4 December 1999. p. 11. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- Power, Martin (2013). The Life of Blur. Music Sales Group. ISBN 978-0-857-12862-1.