M.O.R.

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This article is about the song by Blur. For the radio format see Middle of the road.
“M.O.R.”
“M.O.R.” cover
Single by Blur
from the album Blur
Released September 15, 1997 (UK)
September 23, 1997 (US)
February 11, 1998 (Japan)
Format 7" vinyl, cassette, CD
Recorded 1996
Genre Britpop
Length 3 min 27 s (album version)
Label Food (UK, Australia)
FOODCD 107 (UK)
7243 8 84432 2 (Australia)
Virgin 38611-2 (US)
Toshiba-EMI (Japan)
TOCP-40081
Producer Stephen Street
Blur singles chronology
"On Your Own"
(1997)		 "M.O.R."
(1997)		 "Tender"
(1999)

"M.O.R." is a song by Blur, from their eponymous album, Blur. "M.O.R." reached #15 in the UK singles chart on its release as a single in 1997.

The song's melody was effectively borrowed from David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" and is perhaps the most straightforward example of Bowie's influence on the band. Bowie and collaborator Brian Eno received credit for "M.O.R.", though the words, tempo, and instrumentation are completely different. "M.O.R." itself stands for "middle of the road", which appears in the lyrics.

[edit] Music Video

The song's video was directed by John Hardwick and is considered one of the most expensive videos the band ever made. It was shot in Sydney, Australia, and follows the misadventures of the band members (or rather, stuntmen in balaclavas pretending to be them) as they try to escape from the police. It also features cameos by stunt choreographer Grant Page as a helicopter pilot, and actor Noah Taylor as a truck passenger. The video is included in the Blur: The Best of DVD/VHS released on October 30, 2000. The 'actors' in the video are all anagrams of the member of the band they play. They are as follows:

  • Morgan C. Hoax - Graham Coxon
  • Lee Jaxsam - Alex James
  • Trevor Dewane - Dave Rowntree
  • Dan Abnormal - Damon Albarn (A previously used pseudonym, on The Great Escape)

[edit] Track listing

  • 7" FOOD107/Cassette TCFOOD107
  1. "M.O.R. (Road Version)"
  2. "Swallows in the Heatwave"
  • CD CDFOOD107
  1. "M.O.R." (Road Version) - 3:13
  2. "Swallows in the Heatwave" - 2:33
  3. "Movin' On (William Orbit Remix)" - 8:00
  4. "Beetlebum (Moby's Minimal House Remix)" - 6:16
  • US CD
  1. "M.O.R. (Road Version)"
  2. "Pop Scene" (Live at Peel Acres)
  3. "Song 2" (Live at Peel Acres)
  4. "Bustin' + Dronin'"
  • US Promo CD
  1. "Road Version Edit"
  2. "Alan Moulder Mix Edit"
  3. "Call out Research Hook #1"
  4. "Call out Research Hook #2 (Moulder Mix)"

Notes:

  • The UK and US 'Road versions' are different, the U.S. version using the same take as is used in the video while the U.K. version is closer in pace to the album version.
  • The UK 7" is on orange vinyl.
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Blur
Damon Albarn · Graham Coxon · Alex James · Dave Rowntree
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