"On Your Own" is a song by English

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band Blur. It was released as a single on 16 June 1997 from the band's fifth studio album, '' Blur'' (1997). It charted at number five on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. Although it was not released exclusively under the name, Damon Albarn, frontman of both musical projects, has since referred the song as 'one of the first ever Gorillaz tunes'.

Music video

The music video for "On Your Own" was directed by

Sophie Muller Sophie Luise Elisabeth Muller (born 31 January 1962) is a British music video director who has directed more than 300 music videos. She won a Grammy Award for Annie Lennox's 1992 '' Diva'' video album, and an MTV Video Music Award for Lennox's so ...

and recorded in Barcelona, in what at the time was an industrial site, by the Besos Water Tower.

B-sides

The B-sides were all recorded at John Peel's home studio: Peel Acres. They were previously broadcast on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

on 8 May 1997. Stickered copies of CD1 and the white vinyl 7-inch features the text 'includes POPSCENE'. This is because "

Popscene "Popscene" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, released as a non-album single on 30 March 1992. Despite its relatively low chart placing, it has since become critically praised and regarded as one of the pioneering songs of the B ...

" did not appear on the UK version of ''

Modern Life is Rubbish ''Modern Life Is Rubbish'' is the second album by English alternative rock band Blur, released in May 1993. Although their debut album ''Leisure'' (1991) had been commercially successful, Blur faced a severe media backlash soon after its releas ...

'' and was, therefore, rare and sought after by fans until its inclusion on '' Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur''. The version that appears here merges into " Song 2". All of Blur's Peel Sessions were later released on the second disc of the Japan only compilation '' Bustin' + Dronin''', an album that features three versions of "On Your Own".

Track listings

All music was composed by Damon Albarn,

Graham Coxon Graham Leslie Coxon (born 12 March 1969) is an English musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter who came to prominence as a founding member of the rock band Blur. As the group's lead guitarist and secondary vocalist, Cox ...

, Alex James, and Dave Rowntree. All lyrics were written by Albarn. UK CD1 # "On Your Own" # "Popscene" (live at Peel) # "Song 2" (live at Peel Acres) # "On Your Own" (live at Peel Acres) UK CD2 # "On Your Own" # "Chinese Bombs" (live at Peel Acres) # "Movin' On" (live at Peel Acres) # " M.O.R." (live at Peel Acres) UK limited-edition 7-inch clear vinyl single :A1. "On Your Own" :B1. "Popscene" (live at Peel Acres) :B2. "Song 2" (live at Peel Acres) Australian CD single ("On Your Own" / "Popscene") # "On Your Own" – 4:27 # "Popscene" – 3:14 # " Death of a Party" (Well Blurred remix) # "Death of a Party" (Billy Whisker's mix)

Personnel

* Damon Albarn – lead vocals, synthesizers, acoustic guitar *

–

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...

* Alex James –

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

* Dave Rowntree – drums, drum machine

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

In popular culture

The song is used in the film '' The Beach'' (2000) and appears on the soundtrack to the film.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:On Your Own (Blur Song) Blur (band) songs 1997 singles Food Records singles Music videos directed by Sophie Muller Parlophone singles Song recordings produced by Stephen Street Songs written by Alex James (musician) Songs written by Damon Albarn Songs written by Dave Rowntree Songs written by Graham Coxon