Blur Earns First Airplay Chart Top 10 Since 1997, With ‘The Narcissist’

For the first time since 1997, Blur is in the top 10 of a Billboard airplay chart.

“The Narcissist,” the lead single from the Damon Albarn-fronted band’s upcoming album The Ballad of Darren, rises to No. 8 on the Adult Alternative Airplay list dated July 8.

It’s Blur’s first time within the top 10 of an airplay tally since the July 19, 1997, edition of Alternative Airplay, when “Song 2” ranked at No. 9.

In between “Song 2” and “The Narcissist,” Blur reached Alternative Airplay once, peaking at No. 22 in April 2003 with “Crazy Beat.”

“The Narcissist” is Blur’s fourth song to hit the top 10 of a Billboard airplay survey. In addition to “The Narcissist” on Adult Alternative Airplay and “Song 2” on Alternative Airplay, the band boasts the No. 4-peaking “Girls & Boys” (July 1994, Alternative Airplay) and No. 5 hit “There’s No Other Way” (November 1991, also Alternative Airplay).

Concurrently, “The Narcissist” lifts 32-30 on Alternative Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, the song pushes 42-39 with 883,000 audience impressions, up 9%, in the June 23-29 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The song is Blur’s first to appear on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, which began in 1996.

Frontman Albarn has achieved a variety of airplay top 10s with his other band, Gorillaz, including one Alternative Airplay ruler in “Feel Good Inc.” in 2005.

The Ballad of Darren, Blur’s first full-length since 2015’s The Magic Whip, is due July 21. The set’s “St. Charles Square” has also been released ahead of the LP.