M.O.R.


"M.O.R." is a song by English rock band Blur, from their eponymous album. "M.O.R." reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart on its release as a single in 1997. Worldwide, it reached number 45 in New Zealand and also charted in Australia, Canada and the United States.

Composition and lyrics

The song's chord progression was borrowed from David Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" and "Fantastic Voyage". On the album Lodger Bowie and collaborator Brian Eno carried out a musical experiment in which multiple songs were written with the same chord progression, of which "Boys Keep Swinging" and "Fantastic Voyage" were the two that surfaced. "M.O.R." is both a continuation of, and tribute to that experiment, as its chorus also lifts the melody and call-and-response vocals from "Boys Keep Swinging".
"M.O.R." itself stands for "middle of the road", which appears in the lyrics.

Music video

The song's music 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 as they try to escape from the police. It was intended that the stuntmen wear masks of the band members to make it appear that the band were performing their own stunts, but the masks created for the video were such poor representations that the decision was made to use balaclavas instead. The video also features cameos by stunt choreographer Grant Page as a helicopter pilot, and actor Noah Taylor as a truck passenger. It is included in the DVD/VHS released on 30 October 2000.
The 'actors' in the video are all anagrams of the member of the band they play. They are as follows:
"Dan Abnormal" was an alias also used by Albarn whilst playing keyboards on the first Elastica album, as well as the title of a track on The Great Escape.

Track listing

All lyrics by Albarn. All music by Albarn / Coxon / James / Rowntree.
Orange 7"
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:14
  2. "Swallows in the Heatwave" – 2:33
CD
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:14
  2. "Swallows in the Heatwave" – 2:33
  3. "Movin' On" – 8:00
  4. "Beetlebum" – 6:16
UK promo CD
  1. "M.O.R."
US CD
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:13
  2. "Popscene" – 2:58
  3. "Song 2" – 1:56
  4. "Bustin' + Dronin'" – 6:30
US promo CD
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:02
  2. "M.O.R." – 3:11
  3. "M.O.R." – 0:11
  4. "M.O.R." – 0:11
Japan CD
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:13
  2. "M.O.R." – 3:13
  3. "I Love Her" – 3:34
  4. "Death of a Party" – 4:16
Australia CD
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:01
  2. "Dancehall" – 3:13
  3. "Country Sad Ballad Man" – 4:58
  4. "Popscene" – 3:05
  5. "On Your Own" – 4:27
Holland and Germany CD
  1. "M.O.R." – 3:01
  2. "Beetlebum" – 4:33
  3. "On Your Own" – 4:12
  4. "Country Sad Ballad Man" – 4:35
  5. "This is a Low" – 3:29
Notes: