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"The Narcissist"
Single by Blur
from the album The Ballad of Darren
Released	18 May 2023
Recorded	January–May 2023
Studio	Studio 13, London & Devon
Genre	Alternative rock indie pop pop rock arena pop
Length	4:05
Label	Parlophone Warner
Songwriter(s)	Damon Albarn Graham Coxon Alex James Dave Rowntree
Producer(s)	James Ford
Blur singles chronology
"I Broadcast" (2015) "The Narcissist" (2023) "St. Charles Square" (2023)

"The Narcissist" is a song by British rock band Blur. It was released on 18 May 2023 as the lead single for the band's ninth studio album The Ballad of Darren. The release of the track marked the first new material by the band since The Magic Whip in 2015.

On Thursday 23rd May 2024, the work was nominated for the Best Song Musically and Lyrically Ivor Novello Award.

Reception

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian gave the track 4 out of 5 stars, calling it far less counfounding and straightforward than "Go Out", the lead single of the band's previous record, The Magic Whip. He also called the rhythm track and beat Motorik-esque.

Mollie Potter of The Edge gave it 4.5 stars out of 5, calling the track a "brilliant, crafty acknowledgement of their past triumphs, alongside a recognition of their growth as a band in the decades following their nineties heydey".

Christopher Jackson of City A.M. described the track as a soundtrack to the summer.

Consequence selected the track as its song of the week on 19 May 2023, calling it "an odyssey that builds but never implodes".

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "The Narcissist" peaked at number 81 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2023, and was the band's first entry on the chart since "Under the Westway" in 2012.

In the United States, "The Narcissist" debuted on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart at number 37 on June 10, 2023. The song was Blur's first appearance on the chart since "Crazy Beat" in May 2003, which broke the record for the longest time between entries by a band in the chart's history.

Personnel

Blur

• Damon Albarn – lead vocals, keyboards
• Graham Coxon – guitar, backing vocals
• Alex James – bass guitar
• Dave Rowntree – drums, percussion

Additional Personnel

• James Ford - keyboards

Charts

References

1. Deville, Chris (18 May 2023). "Blur – "The Narcissist"". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
2. Curto, Justin (18 May 2023). "Blur Is Back, Again, With New Song 'The Narcissist'". Vulture. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
3. Grow, Kory (18 May 2023). "Hear Blur's First New Song in Eight Years, 'The Narcissist'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
4. Petridis, Alexis (18 May 2023). "Blur: The Narcissist review – a band finally at ease with themselves". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
5. "Blur – 'The Narcissist' single review: a gem that combines the very best of their career". The Edge. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
6. Jackson, Christopher (30 May 2023). "Blur - The Narcissist: A deep-dive into the genesis of (another) hit". CityAM. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
7. Krueger, Jonah (19 May 2023). "Song of the Week: Blur Return with the Sophisticated Odyssey "The Narcissist"". Consequence. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
8. "Blur chart history". Official Charts Company. 27 October 1990. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
9. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (8 June 2023). "Blur Returns to Alternative Airplay Chart After 20-Year Break". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
10. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of July 26, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 July 2023.
11. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
13. "Blur Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

• 2023 singles
• 2023 songs
• Blur (band) songs
• Song recordings produced by James Ford (musician)
• Warner Records singles
• Parlophone singles
• Songs written by Damon Albarn