To the End (Blur song)

"To the End" is a song by English rock band Blur. It appears on their third album, Parklife, and was released as single in May 1994. The song describes a couple unsuccessfully trying to overcome a bad patch in a relationship, and features full orchestral accompaniment with a choric refrain in French by a female singer (Lætitia Sadier from Stereolab).The song was produced by Stephen Hague, unlike the rest of the Parklife album, which was produced by Stephen Street. Blur have produced several different recordings of the song.

Release

Single

"To the End" was released on 30 May 1994, as the second single from Parklife. It was not one of Blur's major hits, charting only at #16 in the UK Singles Chart, unlike the singles released before and after, which both reached the Top 10 (see 1994 in British music).

French version

Blur also recorded a version in which Albarn sings the lead vocal in French. This was released as the third track on the 12" and CD2 editions of the "Parklife" single. This version features a relatively straightforward French translation of the lyrics and has a slightly demo-ish sound.

To The End (La Comedie)

In 1995, Blur re-recorded "To the End" with French singer Françoise Hardy, with verses sung in French. The recording mutated into a duet entitled "To The End (La Comedie)". This recording was released as a single in France and included in the Brit Pop Box Set along with other Parklife-era singles. It was also released as a B-side to the single "Country House" and on French editions of the album The Great Escape.

Video

The promo video for "To the End" was directed by David Mould and shot in Prague in 1994. In keeping with the song's use of French, the video is a pastiche of the classic French New Wave film Last Year at Marienbad (1961). The 4-minute video imitates the cinematography and editing style of the film, and replicates numerous scenes from it. Enigmatic subtitles (not from the film) appear. The band takes the place of the characters from the film: Damon Albarn plays "X" and Graham Coxon is "M", both of whom are involved in a love triangle with a mysterious woman. The video was released on the VHS and DVD editions of Blur: The Best of.

Track listings

• CD1

1. "To the End"
2. "Threadneedle Street"
3. "Got Yer!"

• CD2

1. "To the End"
2. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys 7" remix)
3. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys 12" remix)

• Cassette

1. "To the End"
2. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys 7" remix)
3. "Threadneedle Street"

• 12"

1. "To the End"
2. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys 7" remix)
3. "Girls & Boys" (Pet Shop Boys 12" remix)

Other appearances

• The Acoustic Album (2006, Virgin)