1994 Japanese Tour (LONG POST ALERT!)

Blur has made multiple tours of Japan (1993-1995, 1997, 1999, 2003). However, based on the available recordings, none of them can compare to their 1994 tour there. Blur played eight concerts in Japan between November 18 and November 29, 1994. Three recordings are available:

November 19, 1994 Club Citta, Kawasaki
November 26, 1994 Shibuya Kokaido, Tokyo
November 29, 1994 U-Port Hall, Tokyo

What makes this tour so interesting to me as a fan and listener is that something special that always seems to happen in Japan with big bands. I'm going to make the analogy to another legendary band, Led Zeppelin.

Led Zeppelin played two tours in Japan, one in 1971 and one in 1972. Every show from each tour is available on recording, and while the 1972 was very good, 1971 was superlative. The band was followed by absolutely maniacal fans cheering loudly and enthusiastically from beginning to end. Additionally, they played with abandon, really stretching out with extended sets and throwing in covers and album tracks that they'd never play ever again. I'm making this analogy because Blur did the same thing during this 1994 tour, which saw rabid fans treated to long concerts with some real unique set lists. The typical set list for a late 1994 show (taken at random from the European tour) was:

Lot 105
Coping
Jubilee
Popscene
Tracy Jacks
End Of A Century
Chemical World
Badhead
There's No Other Way
To The End
Advert
Supa Shoppa
Parklife
Girls & Boys
The Debt Collector
Bank Holiday
This Is A Low

Contrast that with this set list from the set lists from the three Japanese recordings:

November 19, 1994

Lot 105
Coping
Jubilee
Tracy Jacks
Magic America
End Of A Century
Popscene
Chemical World
Badhead
There's No Other Way
To The End
Advert
Supa Shoppa
Parklife
Colin Zeal
For Tomorrow
Girls & Boys
Mr. Robinson's Quango
The Debt Collector
Bank Holiday
This Is A Low


November 26, 1994

Intermission
Sunday Sunday
Coping
Jubilee
Tracy Jacks
Magic America
Happy Birthday/The Tuning Song
End Of A Century
Popscene
Trouble In The Message Centre
Chemical World
Badhead
There's No Other Way
To The End
Advert
Supa Shoppa
Parklife
Colin Zeal
She's So High
Girls & Boys
The Debt Collector
Bank Holiday
Day Upon Day
This Is A Low


November 29, 1994

Intermission
Sunday Sunday
Coping
Jubilee
Tracy Jacks
Magic America
End Of A Century
Popscene
Trouble In The Message Centre
Chemical World
Badhead
There's No Other Way
To The End
Advert
Supa Shoppa
Parklife
She's So High
Colin Zeal
For Tomorrow
Girls & Boys
Theme from Batman and Robin
Mr. Robinson's Quango
The Debt Collector
Bank Holiday
This Is A Low
Day Upon Day


You can see the first show has a longer set list than typical for the European tour. However, they really let loose with the last two shows, extended the set with many more songs (bringing back Trouble in the Message Centre, She's So High), starting the shows with Intermission (Lot 105 was the opener used for all of 1994 previously), bringing Day Upon Day back into the set in the encore section. Additionally, they played these shows with reckless abandon and energy, making these some of the most exciting concerts of their career.

While recordings from Japan in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2003 exist, all with their own treats (Yuko and Hiro in 1995, You're So Great, Beard, and Strange News From Another Star in 1997), none can match the mania and energy of these 1994 shows. I can only hope more recordings from this tour come to light in the future!