"Out of Time" is a song by Blur and was released as the lead single from their seventh albumThink Tank in 2003. The song is a bass-driven track with minimal drums and acoustic guitar accompanied by eastern and orchestral flourishes. The faint gargling noises in the intro is part of a scene from Doctor Who. It reached number five in the UK Singles Chart. "Out of Time" was Blur's first release in three years and also the band's first release without guitarist Graham Coxon. Since the 2009 reunion, the song has been a staple of Blur's live sets, albeit in a slightly different arrangement featuring Coxon playing electric guitar. This, along with "Caravan" are two songs from Think Tank originally without Coxon's involvement to ever be played. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 73 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" and eighth on its list "Greatest Tracks of the Decade". They later ranked it the 499th best song ever.
Video
The song was accompanied by an anti-war music video directed by John Hardwick, edited by Quin Williams and produced by Mike Wells through London-based production company Helen Langridge Associates. It was the first of Blur's videos to not feature the band members themselves in any way, consisting entirely of footage from a 2002 BBCCorrespondent documentary depicting life aboard the United Statesaircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on duty in the Persian Gulf. Produced and directed by Anthony Makin, shot by Brian Green and Dale Rodkin and edited by Karen O'Connor, Warship was filmed in October 2002 and premiered 1 December 2002 on BBC Two. Hardwick got the idea to use the documentary footage for the music video while watching the film. He showed the band a reference tape cut to fit the song in early February 2003. Blur decided to release it as the finished video. It premiered on 10 March. The video is centred on Jill Ameperosa, a 24-year-old aircraft maintenance technician. After walking up to the deck, she looks out at sea whilst subtitles on the screen read, "Two days after I get home he leaves. It's just too hard. I used to love him. But you can't love someone you don't know anymore...". Albarn described the video as
the antithesis of the 'Top Gun' image of the American military machine. It focuses on the loneliness of somebody working on an aircraft carrier and the fact that a six-month tour of duty means that relationships break down and children go without their parents. That's the reality of it."
Commenting on the video, Hardwick explained,
it occurred to me that some of the personnel revealed in that film communicated a fragility that I felt was echoed in the song. Putting the two together was a comparatively simple task. The video offers an alternative perspective on the individuals who exist at the sharp end of government policy by portraying the armed forces as being staffed by people who have the same needs as all others."
First the shock, then the awe... Alex applies a low rumble of bass; Dave, clearly dreaming of a solo voyage to Mars, adds space-dust brushes, and Damon sings in a voice so pure, clear and welcoming you want to have a shower in it. And those lyrics: "You've been so busy lately / You haven't found the time..." If 'Out Of Time' isn't a love song to Graham, adolescent dreams going awry in the muddle of adulthood, frankly, we don't want to know. Wow. Suddenly 'Songbird' doesn't sound so clever after all...".
In October 2011, the publication placed it at number 73 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" and eighth on its list "Greatest Tracks of the Decade".
Track listing
CD and 7"
"Out of Time"
"Money Makes Me Crazy"
DVD
"Out of Time"
"Money Makes Me Crazy"
"Tune 2"
Japan CD
"Out of Time"
"Money Makes Me Crazy"
"Tune 2"
"Don't Be"
"The Outsider"
"Out of Time"
"Crazy Beat"
Charts
Production credits
"Out of Time", "Tune 2", "Don't Be" and "The Outsider" produced by Blur and Ben Hillier
"Money Makes Me Crazy" produced by Norman Cook, Blur and Ben Hillier
