Chemical World

"Chemical World" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, featured on their second album Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993). It was released on 28 June 1993 as the second single from that album, equalling their previous release "For Tomorrow" at number 28 in the UK Singles Charts. In the United States, the song reached number 27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming the only single from Modern Life Is Rubbish to chart there. The song was commissioned by Blur's American record label, SBK Records, to increase the album's appeal for the American market. The version on the SBK version on the album though is the demo version, which was also called the "reworked" version, on the single.

The single is notable because of the two single releases, the first contained a double case with two trays, the second of which was empty. This tray was intended to hold the second CD of the singles.

The first of the two CDs released for the single contains the song "Never Clever" (recorded live at Glastonbury Festival, June 1992) which was originally intended as the follow-up single to Blur's fourth single, "Popscene". However, the commercial death of "Popscene" prompted those plans to be abandoned. The studio version of "Never Clever" was eventually released on a promo CD to celebrate Food Records' 100th release. The 7" vinyl of "Chemical World" has a cover version of Rod Stewart's "Maggie May", which was also featured on Ruby Trax, a 3-CD compilation of cover versions issued by the NME on its 40th birthday and on Blur's The Special Collectors Edition.

B-side "Young and Lovely" was hailed as one of the greatest "lost tracks" by Q in 2007.

The music video shows the band in a grassy field surrounded by wildlife. On Beavis and Butt-head, when the video was reviewed, Beavis said that he wanted to urinate all over the band and the wildlife, including a snail and Damon Albarn.

The track appeared in Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur.

Track listings

7"

1. "Chemical World" (edit)
2. "Maggie May"

CD1 (live tracks from Glastonbury Festival 1992)

1. "Chemical World" (Reworked) (uncredited on sleeve that it is the reworked version)
2. "Never Clever" (live)
3. "Pressure On Julian" (live)
4. "Come Together" (live)

CD2

1. "Chemical World"
2. "Young & Lovely"
3. "Es Schmecht"
4. "My Ark"

12"

1. "Chemical World"
2. "Es Schmecht"
3. "Young & Lovely"
4. "My Ark"

Personnel

• "Chemical World" and "Young & Lovely" produced by Stephen Street
• "Es Schmecht"produced by Blur
• "My Ark" produced by Blur and John Smith
• "Maggie May" produced by Steve Lovell
• "Chemical World" (reworked) produced by Blur, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley

Trivia

On the American version of the album, the original version of the song was replaced with a demo.

External links

• Allmusic reviews: CD1, CD2