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{{Short description|1996 single by Blur}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}} {{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox single | {{Infobox song
Name = Charmless Man | | name = Charmless Man
Cover = Charmless Man 7.jpg | | cover = Charmless Man 7.jpg
Artist = ] | | alt =
| type = single
from Album = ] |
| artist = ]
B-side = "The Horrors" (7")<br/>"The Horrors", "A Song", "St Louis" (CD) |
| album = ]
Released = 29 April 1996 |
| B-side = {{ubl|"The Horrors"|"A Song"|"St. Louis"}}
Format = ], ], ] |
| released = {{start date|1996|4|29|df=y}} (UK)
Recorded = 1995 |
| recorded =
Genre = ], ] |
Length = 3:34 | | studio =
| venue =
Label = ] |
Producer = ] | | genre =
* ]<ref name= "Erlewine 2024">{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas|last= Erlewine|title= The 25 most essential Blur songs|website= ]|date= May 4, 2024|url=https://www.avclub.com/blur-band-best-songs-ranked-1851455676|accessdate= May 5, 2024}}</ref>
Last single = "]"<br />(1996) |
* ]<ref name="Shipley 2023">{{cite news|first= Al|last= Shipley|title= Every Blur Album, Ranked|website= ]|date= 21 July 2023|access-date= 16 December 2024|url= https://www.spin.com/2023/07/best-blur-albums/|quote=Such self-explanatory titles as ‘Charmless Man’ are supported by serrated, droll lyrics and irony-filled baroque-pop music...}}</ref>
This single = "'''Charmless Man'''" <br />(1996) |
<!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
Next single = "]"<br />(1997) |
| length = 3:34
Misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|p1a_4CN4onA|"Charmless Man"}}}}
| label = ], ]
| writer = ], ], ], ]
| producer = ]
| prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 1997
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|p1a_4CN4onA|"Charmless Man"}}}}
}} }}
"'''Charmless Man'''" is a song by English band ] and is the fourth track on their fourth studio ], '']''. It was released on 29 April 1996 as the fourth and final ] from that album, charting at number 5 in the ].<ref name=OCC/> The title is likely a play on the song "]" by English band ]. "'''Charmless Man'''" is a song by English ] band ] and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album, '']'' (1995). It was released on 29 April 1996 in the United Kingdom as the fourth and final single from that album, reaching number five on the ] and also charting in Australia, France, Iceland, and Ireland.


The accompanying UK ]s, "The Horrors", "A Song" and "St. Louis", continued the dramatic change in style for Blur first evidenced on the "]" single, being stark and raw, foreshadowing the stylistic shift that would realize itself on their ].
Speaking in December 1996, ] said, "Charmless Man was the end of something... it was the end of ]. For us, anyway". He also commented that the song would be suitable in a musical.


==Background==
The inspiration for the song came from when Damon Albarn was visiting his grandmother in ]. He stopped off at ] and when inside the ], he noticed a piece of graffiti on a similar theme to the song's title.<ref>Zoë Ball, BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show, December 1998</ref>
The inspiration for the song was a visit by ] to his grandmother in ]. He stopped off at ] and when inside the ], he noticed a piece of graffiti on a similar theme to the song's title.<ref>], '']'', ], December 1998</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/songs-that-could-be-movies-blur/|title=Songs That Could Be Movies: Blur|last=Ashurst|first=Sam|date=2 July 2009|work=]|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
British magazine '']'' rated the song five out of five, picking it as Single of the Week. They wrote, "The fourth and final single from ''The Great Escape'' is probably its best track. This should restore Blur's status as a more-than-convincing chart band."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-04-20.pdf|first=|last=|title=Reviews|magazine=]|date=20 April 1996|page=10|accessdate=15 August 2021}}</ref>

Morrissey stated that he liked the song in an interview at the time.<ref name="moz in convo">{{cite book |last1=Woods |first1=Paul A. |title=Morrissey In Conversation: The Essential Interviews |date=1 October 2017 |publisher=Plexus Publishing |isbn=978-0-85965-874-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7sw2DwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>


==Promotional video== ==Promotional video==
] (pictured 2002) played the Charmless Man in the music video]]
The video was directed by ].
The video starts with a man (the ''Charmless Man'', played by ]) 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 ] scenario.) After the verse which is accompanied by ], the band are playing in the bathroom whilst the man uses an ] and uses some ] as mouthwash. After becoming fully dressed, the man goes out into the corridor, where the band are again. After pushing ] 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. The video was directed by ]. It starts with a man (the ''Charmless Man'', played by ]) running down a dark street with a makeshift bandage or wrapping on his right hand, while cross cut edits show Blur playing in a music hall. After the verse which is accompanied by ], the band are playing in the man's apartment in his bathroom, whilst the man uses an ] and uses some ] as mouthwash. After becoming fully dressed, the man goes out into the corridor, where the band are again. After pushing ] 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 collecting his car from the valet, the man 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 on the dark street, with his badly cut hand wrapped, at which point it becomes clear that the earlier scene of him running was out of time sequence. He staggers into the hall, once again finding it his fate to see the band performing in front of him. He can escape neither the band nor his own nature. In the final shot, the camera zooms in onto Albarn's face as the final notes are sung and played and he has a contemptuous smile on his face.


==Track listings== ==Track listings==
All music composed by ], ], ] and ]. All lyrics composed by Albarn. All music was composed by ], ], ] and ]. All lyrics were composed by Albarn.
{{col-begin}}
;7" and Cassette
{{col-2}}
#"Charmless Man" – 3:33
'''UK 7-inch and cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Charmless Man|others=]|year=1996|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=], ]|id=FOOD 77, 7243 8 82884 7 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Charmless Man|others=Blur|year=1996|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Food Records, Parlophone|id=TC-FOOD 77, 7243 8 82884 4 6}}</ref>
#"The Horrors" – 3:18
# "Charmless Man"
# "The Horrors"


'''UK CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Charmless Man|others=Blur|year=1996|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Food Records, Parlophone|id=CDFOOD 77, 7243 8 82884 2 2}}</ref>
;CD
#"Charmless Man" – 3:33 # "Charmless Man"
#"The Horrors" – 3:18 # "The Horrors"
#"A Song" – 1:44 # "A Song"
#"St. Louis" – 3:12 # "St. Louis"


'''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Charmless Man|others=Blur|year=1996|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Food Records, Parlophone|id=7243 8 82708 2 3}}</ref>
;CD International versions
#"Charmless Man" – 3:33 # "Charmless Man" – 3:33
#"The Man Who Left Himself" – 3:21 # "The Man Who Left Himself" – 3:21
{{col-2}}
#"Tame" – 4:47
'''French CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Charmless Man|others=Blur|year=1996|type=French CD single liner notes|publisher=]|id=7243 8 82757 2}}</ref>
#"Ludwig" – 2:24
# "Charmless Man" – 3:34
# "It Could Be You" (live) – 3:19


'''Australasian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Charmless Man|others=Blur|year=1996|type=Australasian CD single liner notes|publisher=Food Records, Parlophone|id=8827092}}</ref>
==Production credits==
*"Charmless Man" '''produced by Stephen Street''' # "Charmless Man" – 3:33
# "The Man Who Left Himself" – 3:21
*"The Horrors", "A Song" and "St Louis" '''produced by Blur'''
# "Tame" – 4:47
*"The Man Who Left Himself", "Tame" and "Ludwig" '''produced by Blur and John Smith'''
# "Ludwig" – 2:24
{{col-end}}

==Personnel==
* ] – lead vocals, piano
* ] – electric guitar, backing vocals
* ] – bass guitar
* ] – drums


==Charts== ==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{{col-2}}
!align="center"|Charts (1996)

!align="center"|Peak<br>position
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Charts (1996)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|35|song=Charmless Man|artist=Blur|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2018}}
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-05-18.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=]|volume=13|issue=20|page=24|date=18 May 1996|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref>
|16
|-
{{single chart|France|33|song=Charmless Man|artist=Blur|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2018}}
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland (])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2939275#page/n29/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.4. – 19.4. '96)|newspaper=]|language=is|page=38|date=13 April 1996|accessdate=2 October 2019}}</ref>
|6
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|25|song=Charmless Man|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|6|date=19960511|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2018}}
|- |-
{{single chart|UK|5|date=19960511|rowheader=true|accessdate=31 March 2018}}
|align="left"|]<ref name=OCC>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/blur/ |title=BLUR &#124; Artist |publisher=Official Charts |date= |accessdate=6 May 2013}}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|} |}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts===
==References==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{reflist}}
!Charts (1996)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1996|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=2 January 1997|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref>
|72
|}
{{col-end}}


==External links== ==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
* {{MetroLyrics song|blur|charmless-man}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Blur|title=Charmless Man|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=17484-388-1|access-date=10 September 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row"|Australia
|rowspan="2"|1996
|rowspan="2"|CD
|{{hlist|]|]}}
|
|-
!scope="row"|France
|]
|
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|29 April 1996
|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|{{hlist|Food|Parlophone}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-04-27.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=]|page=35|date=27 April 1996|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Blur}} {{Blur}}
{{Authority control}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 06:08, 17 December 2024

1996 single by Blur
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Charmless Man" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

"Charmless Man"
Single by Blur
from the album The Great Escape
B-side
  • "The Horrors"
  • "A Song"
  • "St. Louis"
Released29 April 1996 (1996-04-29) (UK)
Genre
Length3:34
LabelFood, Parlophone
Songwriter(s)Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
Producer(s)Stephen Street
Blur singles chronology
"Stereotypes"
(1996) 		"Charmless Man"
(1996) 		"Beetlebum"
(1997)
Music video
"Charmless Man" on YouTube

"Charmless Man" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape (1995). It was released on 29 April 1996 in the United Kingdom as the fourth and final single from that album, reaching number five on the UK Singles Chart and also charting in Australia, France, Iceland, and Ireland.

The accompanying UK B-sides, "The Horrors", "A Song" and "St. Louis", continued the dramatic change in style for Blur first evidenced on the "Stereotypes" single, being stark and raw, foreshadowing the stylistic shift that would realize itself on their eponymous follow-up album.

Background

The inspiration for the song was a visit by Damon Albarn to 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.

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week rated the song five out of five, picking it as Single of the Week. They wrote, "The fourth and final single from The Great Escape is probably its best track. This should restore Blur's status as a more-than-convincing chart band."

Morrissey stated that he liked the song in an interview at the time.

Promotional video

Jean-Marc Barr (pictured 2002) played the Charmless Man in the music video

The video was directed by Jamie Thraves. It starts with a man (the Charmless Man, played by Jean-Marc Barr) running down a dark street with a makeshift bandage or wrapping on his right hand, while cross cut edits show Blur playing in a music hall. After the verse which is accompanied by piano, the band are playing in the man's apartment in his bathroom, whilst the man uses an electric toothbrush and uses some red wine as mouthwash. 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 collecting his car from the valet, the man 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 on the dark street, with his badly cut hand wrapped, at which point it becomes clear that the earlier scene of him running was out of time sequence. He staggers into the hall, once again finding it his fate to see the band performing in front of him. He can escape neither the band nor his own nature. In the final shot, the camera zooms in onto Albarn's face as the final notes are sung and played and he has a contemptuous smile on his face.

Track listings

All music was composed by Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree. All lyrics were composed by Albarn.

UK 7-inch and cassette single

  1. "Charmless Man"
  2. "The Horrors"

UK CD single

  1. "Charmless Man"
  2. "The Horrors"
  3. "A Song"
  4. "St. Louis"

European CD single

  1. "Charmless Man" – 3:33
  2. "The Man Who Left Himself" – 3:21

French CD single

  1. "Charmless Man" – 3:34
  2. "It Could Be You" (live) – 3:19

Australasian CD single

  1. "Charmless Man" – 3:33
  2. "The Man Who Left Himself" – 3:21
  3. "Tame" – 4:47
  4. "Ludwig" – 2:24

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Charts (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 35
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 16
France (SNEP) 33
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 6
Ireland (IRMA) 25
Scotland (OCC) 6
UK Singles (OCC) 5

Year-end charts

Charts (1996) Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 72

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia 1996 CD
France EMI Music France
United Kingdom 29 April 1996
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
  • Food
  • Parlophone

References

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (4 May 2024). "The 25 most essential Blur songs". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  2. Shipley, Al (21 July 2023). "Every Blur Album, Ranked". Spin. Retrieved 16 December 2024. Such self-explanatory titles as 'Charmless Man' are supported by serrated, droll lyrics and irony-filled baroque-pop music...
  3. Zoë Ball, The Radio 1 Breakfast Show, BBC Radio 1, December 1998
  4. Ashurst, Sam (2 July 2009). "Songs That Could Be Movies: Blur". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  5. "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 20 April 1996. p. 10. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. Woods, Paul A. (1 October 2017). Morrissey In Conversation: The Essential Interviews. Plexus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85965-874-4.
  7. Charmless Man (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Blur. Food Records, Parlophone. 1996. FOOD 77, 7243 8 82884 7 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Charmless Man (UK cassette single sleeve). Blur. Food Records, Parlophone. 1996. TC-FOOD 77, 7243 8 82884 4 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Charmless Man (UK CD single liner notes). Blur. Food Records, Parlophone. 1996. CDFOOD 77, 7243 8 82884 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Charmless Man (European CD single liner notes). Blur. Food Records, Parlophone. 1996. 7243 8 82708 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Charmless Man (French CD single liner notes). Blur. EMI Music France. 1996. 7243 8 82757 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Charmless Man (Australasian CD single liner notes). Blur. Food Records, Parlophone. 1996. 8827092.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Blur – Charmless Man". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 20. 18 May 1996. p. 24. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  15. "Blur – Charmless Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  16. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.4. – 19.4. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 13 April 1996. p. 38. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Charmless Man". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  20. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  21. "British single certifications – Blur – Charmless Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  22. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 April 1996. p. 35. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
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