Muse, Blur songs for Olympics

LONDON CALLING: Muse, chosen to write the official song for the London Olympics, has come up with the suitably grand, string-laden “Survival,” which we expect to hear a lot of in late July through early August—bits and pieces of it, at least. Meanwhile, reunited Britpop mainstays Blur, who were selected to close the Olympics,  have digitally released the new songs “Under the Westway” and “The Puritan” in honor of the occasion. The former is a poignant ballad in which Damon Albarn seems to consciously reference the Kinks’ Ray Davies circa “Waterloo Sunset.” No word on whether Paul McCartney, who’s set to culminate the opening ceremony, has a new song for the occasion, but he’s got plenty of old ones to choose from. (7/3a)