Blur frontman Damon Albarn revealed earlier this year that a song from the band’s forthcoming album The Magic Whip was inspired by the events of December’s Sydney siege hostage crisis in Martin Place. Now the band have shared the song, titled There Are Too Many Of Us.
Blur uploaded a self-directed video (below) of them performing the haunting song during their rehearsals this month for a number of headlining gigs. Lyrics include, “There are too many of us, that’s plain to see. We all believe in praying, for our immortality.”
Albarn, who had to reschedule his Sydney Opera House solo performance due to the December siege, recently explained that he watched the events play out from his hotel room, and used it as inspiration for the song.
“Being in that position, as a songwriter that’s a very interesting standpoint – seeing it there and out the window it’s happening. Seeing the reality of what was happening and how it was being distorted through the prism of [the camera] was kind of fascinating.”
Yesterday, the Sydney Lindt Cafe in which the siege took place was re-opened, three months after the event that claimed the lives of two hostages. There are now two gold plaques at the entrance, dedicated to victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.
There Are Too Many Of Us appears on The Magic Whip, which will be the first new Blur album since 2003’s Think Tank when it’s released on 24th April. The new song follows the album’s first single, Go Out.
