Damon Albarn Performs ‘The Universal’ | The Jonathan Ross Show 

He deserves his place among the greatest brit songwriters.

In 96 my school mates and I saw Damon at a train station and I had the great idea to shout Oasis at him and proceed to slag him off, I know, very original. Sorry Damon, you deserved more respect , the image of you waving your hand at me in a w@nker motion is one of my greatest childhood memories though so no regrets. Top man.

It’s somewhat comforting to see your idols grow old with you.

It’s one of the best songs ever written.

So happy I had my teen years in the 90's. TFI Friday, Gladiators, Blur v Oasis, Battle of the boybands, Club 18-30 holiday's, taking photo's and waiting a week for them to develop showing them to mates down the pub. No social media, my mum and dad were young, fit and healthy. Gathered around the TV at Christmas watching the Only Fools & Horses specials. Seeing my nan & grandad on boxing day. Now they're all gone and life just isn't as simple.

I'm Italian, I'm 51 years old. between the ages of 16 and 19 I went to England every summer to study and have fun. even today my eyes, thinking of that time, see poetry... shivers... I close my eyes and hear the blur singing, I feel the lightheartedness... I feel like I've lived my youth. Thanks Damon

My biggest teenage crush. 90s were something else, man.

His voice is ageing gnarly, Bowie-esque, love it

Saw him live a few days back, he was incredible. Not to mention, so kind to his fans he tried to stay as long as he could to meet us.

I’ve grown up listening to his music and somehow it’s still just as fresh and inspired as his early Blur songs. You and your music are universally loved, Damon!

Damon Albarn seems to just get better and better.

damon is a legend

The best song he ever wrote. Top 20 of my favourite songs ever

Damon's amazing here obviously but let's also appreciate the ladies on the violin and cello, they did incredibly well

This has to be one of the best live performances of Universal.. ❤ Moving

A beautiful song carried me back to better times and a fun-filled era. Damon is a great man and much loved. Stay free Stay strong.

Saw them back in 1997. This song still gives me chills when I think about the atmosphere this song generated live.

Wow... it hits me hard that his voice seems to break each time he sings the lyric "When the days they seem to fall through you/ Well just let them go". The power of music...

Beautiful version. He really feels what he sings. Gracias, Damon!

This just took me back to my highschool days. Blur fan for life. Now I have a 20 year old son and named him after Damon Albarn. Time flies so fast.

Fun fact, each member of the band get free gas for life from British Gas as their payment on the ad used with this song. Damons house is warmest, an average of 32c from october to february. Dave the drummer sweats a lot playing drums so has it on a cooler 22c.Dont know about the other two, they didnt care to divulge, but mentioned as long as they can dry their washing indoors in the winter months its ok.

I grew up listening to his songs. They saved my life. Made me a musician .

I was introduced to Damon’s music by my dad during the beginning of the 90s. I’ve grown up listening to Blur, his solo work and of course Gorillaz. Considering universal is well over 20 years old, his performance of it on JR’s show, makes it sound fresh, his songs just don’t age.

I can't get over how good the piano sounds here, I was sent to a magical realm, a beautiful meadow with fairies. Gorgeous.

I owe this man my entire life. What a KING

Can’t describe using words on how classic is this song... doesn’t age at old.

What a beautiful version.... of a Fantastic track...deff one of my all time fav's

DAMON ALBARN YOU LEGEND I LOVE YOU

Saw him live on the 7th of Dec in Coventry, he was absolutely amazing ✨

Canzone stellare,capolavoro assoluto, da brividi .. Una dei pezzi più belli di sempre, genio Damon Albarn...

Gave me goosebumps - what a performance. Simple but elegant.

Poetic and amazing. That is all that needs to be said

I feel like the 90s was the last good era, I've had good times from 2000 onwards but still didn't compare to the 90s everyone just seemed happier..

Legendary Damon with Legendary song ❤️

I have happy memories of this time in my life. Late 20's and BritPop came along. Oasis, yeah ok, but Blur then and now are strong in my now ageing memory. About the same age as me now, Damon your music reminds me of better times yet is somehow timeless, now realising more what a gifted talent you are. So glad you are back together, still producing quality material.

When this píano version starts, it reminds me to Franz Ferdinand's "Eleanor put your boots on". It's in the same key and it sounds similar. Anyway, "The Universal" a masterpiece song.

Absolutely brilliant 👏 takes me back to my youth big into my 90s brit pop and indie 😎 Damon's voice sounds great

Damon is a fantastic musician, and he keeps getting better imo.

Love this song too. It's not too often I find people that like it as much as I do!!

fucking beautiful

Used to go in my local and it was only Blur and Oasis being played on the video jukebox. Occasionally Pulp and at the end of the night Prodigy. 90s were top

I miss the '90s, I know it's just nostalgia but it really did seem a better time to be young. Even though I was only born in February 1990 I spent most of my childhood hanging around with my teenage sister and her mates listening to all of this music and experiencing everything that was going on from a pop culture point of view back then (even if I was probably a little underaged to 'experience' some of it haha). I have such vivid memories of that time which is amazing considering how young I was, though you are more likely to remember things that were exciting/amazing experiences, which a lot of British pop culture back then was.

Ufff nostalgic...the past of the years... Damon and the Blur Songs...🙌☝ forever!!

I love this song for so many reasons, but mostly because it got me through rough times.

Love this, I was lucky enough to see Blur in 2009. They were one of the first bands I loved growing up and The Universal is amazing 😊

Me hace llorar esto. El domingo voy a ver a Blur por 1ra vez en BsAs, no voy a poder parar de llorar.

Blur were my favourites as a teen and now my daughter loves them ❤️ I love this 🥺

This song when released peaked at #5 in the charts, I remember playing this for months afterwards. An absolute belter! Some songs age like a fine wine, this was just before it’s time and the public was ready for it

Stunning, mesmerising and emotional… Damon really is one of a kind. A really beautiful rendition, my eyes are wet.

Last time i saw Damon was like 5 years ago at a Gorillaz concert, hopefully i'll see him again next year if the pandemic allows it. Glad to see he still looks and sounds amazing!

this is so beautiful

A versão mais bela que ja ouvi. Que coisa linda. Que interpretação perfeita!

This version is ace. ❤️ one of my favorite Blur tunes.

Amazing. Breathless. My man!

beautiful

Omg! I’m crying. This is such a beautiful song. Wow!

After over 20yrs I still love him and his music

Listening to this in 2023 and thinking how much this is a beautiful song 💙

I remember first hearing Blur in the late 80s ..I know I’m showing my age lol ..this is a beautify version of Universal ..always gets me emotional ❤️

Un tema precioso. Añoro la década de los 90 y los temas de BLUR. Los británicos siempre han sido el referente del pop mundial...un saludo desde España

No words can put into perspective how good this is. Genius.

Elton John covering Blur! Day made!

Brilliant song

I remember listening to this song shortly before going to discuss my university thesis. It was emotional.

Beautiful song X seems apt for last 18 months! Optimism needed!🙏💚🌏🌈🌠

I tear up singing along with these

Love his music, songs and Blur forever!!!

Que versión tan hermosa! lo vi en Argentina el año pasado. Genio total!!!

Just lovely.

Beautiful...❤❤❤❤❤❤

This was so beautiful. I enjoyed every minute of it.❤️

Beautiful arrangement

Blimey everything I see Damon in he is just killing it👌

Perfect!

great version of a brilliant track

This dude never ages!!

Wonderful

i’m so tired of hearing oasis vs blur stuff can we just agree they are both great

Loved the music video and the nod to genius Anthony burgess’s a“clockwork orange” sublime

Such a beautiful song.

Thank you ❤️

Just discovered this song. I was so dedicated to playing golf against the best in the world at that time I simply missed hearing it in 1995. So happy to have found it now, what a beautiful song. I am learning the guitar and will post my cover version of this song on Ayr Real on youtube. Peace and love to everyone. 🎸⛳️👌

Feel like I've grown up with this young man lol thank you for over 20 odd years from Blur, Gorrillaz and then you so so beautiful ♥️♥️

Timeless song. Period.

I think we’ve sparked a new appreciation for these songs ❤️

Absolute genius of a song!

Thanks for posting ! Fantastic version !

Magic version ❤

Paternal line from Leicestershire. All these years I never knew that, but now it's the main thing I think of.

Timeless

I remember the 90s and everyone was saying how vapid, boring, and uninspiring life was. Nostalgia is so powerful that it can paint even the greyest of decades bright orange and lime.

STUNNING

One word... amazing. Fave song ever which just takes me to a place far far away from here.

it was beautiful ...

Quality pure quality

What a beautiful song

Epic version of this all time classic song. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Incredible

Excellent.

Tears when the violins kick in...