A snapshot of a man holding up an “I want genuine universal suffrage” signboard in a trailer for legendary Britpop band Blur’s new documentary has caught the attention of Hongkongers, who expressed gratitude towards the band.
Blur’s new album, The Magic Whip, came to be recorded as a result of the band being stranded in Hong Kong in 2013, due to the sudden cancellation of a festival in Japan at which they were due to play. The band spent the time recording new material, which laid the groundwork for their first album in 12 years.
The album cover artwork features traditional Chinese characters and an ice-cream cone in neon-light style. Many of the new songs’ lyrics also contain references to places in Hong Kong, such as “I remember flashbacks lighting up magic waves / Eight o’clock Kowloon emptiness, handle it” in Ghost Ship, and “On the slow boat to Lantau through misty seas / I wanna be with you” in Ong Ong.
Its upcoming concert documentary, New World Towers, will feature snapshots of the band in Hong Kong and scenes from their show at the Wan Chai Convention Centre this July. Apple Daily wrote a piece about the trailer, drawing particular attention to a still at 0:53, which showed a man holding up an “I want genuine universal suffrage” signboard. Thousands of netizens liked the post on Facebook and many thanked the band.
New World Towers will be showing for just one day on December 2 in cinemas in the United Kingdom. The film will also be released internationally, with details to be confirmed shortly.
The large yellow pro-democracy “I want genuine universal suffrage banner” was first seen hanging from the highest point of Lion Rock during the Occupy movement last year. Other activists soon began hanging similar banners across bridges and at other locations.
