A GUEST POSTING by flimflamfan
Be My Wife by David Bowie, was it the catalyst, the template for just about everything Blur achieved? It’s a thought…
Hardcore Blur fans will be aghast at the speculation and will no doubt have apparently reasoned arguments to foil mine. My argument is a simple one… listen to Be My Wife, m’lud.
Apart from the lead guitar – which I’m not aware Blur have utilised in the same fashion – the jaunty piano, the vocal, the keyboard stabs it all adds up to a very convincing ‘cheeky-chappy-alright-geezers’ Blur.
Nay sayers, will nay say and that is their right.
It has long been discussed in my small circle that Blur did, in fact, pillage Bowie’s Anthony Newley period circa The World of David Bowie (quite the favourite of mine). Those discussions combined several songs to create an argument. An argument I agreed with. However, there is no need to combine songs when the singular Be My Wife presents its truth in such an obvious and powerful fashion.
I wonder how many songs out there cast a potential template for the musical direction of other bands? A song when you hear it you think “? based a career on that song?”
To Blur fans – the lineage is of pedigree quality.
To Bowie fans – you are now and have been unknowing Blur fans.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Always loved Be My Wife, particularly the odd placement of the guitar solo – right after the first verse!
kontroller
you could probably make a similar case for The Colourfield’s Things Could Be Beautiful that was in a recent ICA and much of Pulp’s career.
winterinmaypark
*the mid-nineties part
winterinmaypark
“Him and his stupid imitators.”
blur shamelessly ripped-off Bowie & the brothers Davies.
I’m fine with it
Wow what an eye opening, so true.
Middle Aged man