The roots of Gorillaz can be traced back to 1990, when guitarist Graham Coxon asked cartoonist Jamie Hewlett to interview his newly formed band, Blur. Coxon knew of Hewlett's work drawing the Tank Girl comic strip in Deadline magazine. When Jamie first met the band's lead singer Damon Albarn, the two did not hit it off well. Hewlett initially thought Albarn was "arsey" and "a wanker," but the two remained acquainted and would eventually become roommates in 1997, living in London.
Both Jamie and Damon tell the story of Gorillaz came to be about the same way. They were in their flat watching TV, specifically MTV, and came up with the idea of a "virtual band" as commentary on the vapidity of popular music at the turn of the millennium. Previously the best-known '"cartoon bands" were animated versions of The Monkees and The Beatles that kids could watch on Saturday mornings. But Gorillaz (initially called just "Gorilla") was to be an ambitious musical project with eclectic, genre-bending tunes, unique visuals, and a detailed backstory for how the virtual band came to be.
With Gorillaz, Albarn departed from the distinct Britpop of Blur and explored influences including hip hop, electronic music, and world music through an "eccentrically postmodern" approach. The band's 2001 debut album Gorillaz sold over seven million copies worldwide. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, but the nomination was withdrawn at the band's request. Their second studio album, Demon Days (2005), went six times platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US, and has sold over eight million copies worldwide. The band has won other awards, including one Grammy Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, an NME Award and three MTV Europe Music Awards.
The third Gorillaz studio album, Plastic Beach, was released in March 2010. The fourth, The Fall, was released in December 2010 as a free download for fan club members, then in April 2011 as a physical release. In 2017, after a five-year hiatus, Gorillaz announced their fifth studio album Humanz. Their sixth studio album, The Now Now, was released on 29 June 2018. Their seventh album, Song Machine, Season 1: Strange Timez, was released in 2020 through a series of episodical music videos. Cracker Island, the band's eighth album, was released on February 24, 2023. Gorillaz have been nominated for ten Brit Awards and won Best British Group at the 2018 Brit Awards.
The Gorillaz characters only appear in animated form and are not alter-egos of real people, as is often mistakenly assumed. There is an extensive fictional back-story behind these band members, written by Albarn and Hewlett. Their albums, several of their music videos, and their autobiographical book Rise Of The Ogre all tell the saga. Damon Albarn is the only permanent musical contributor to the band, which is also a collaboration between various musicians. Their style is broad with a large number of alternative influences including rock, hip-hop, and electronica.
They have released eight studio albums: Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (Also in 2010), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018), Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (2020), and Cracker Island (2023). Additionally, they have put out two B-side collections, G-Sides (2001) and D-Sides (2007), and a reggae remix of the Gorillaz album entitled Laika Come Home (2002). The band has also released three DVDs: Phase One: Celebrity Takedown, Demon Days: Live at Manchester Opera House, and Phase Two: Slow Boat To Hades. At the end of 2010, Gorillaz released their next album, The Fall, which was recorded during their US 'Escape to Plastic Beach' tour. It is promoted as being the first album made entirely on iPad. The album is streamed on the Gorillaz website.
The band's first single, Clint Eastwood, was released on 5 March 2001. This single was the first of four from Gorillaz, which was released on 26 March 2001. The other three singles were released over the next year. These were: 19-2000, Rock the House, and Tomorrow Comes Today. The album sold over 7 million copies worldwide and has gone platinum twice in the United Kingdom earning them an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the Most Successful Virtual Band. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, but the nomination was later withdrawn at the band's request. Collaborators on the first album included Del tha Funkee Homosapien (often mistaken for a full-time band member), Miho Hatori (formerly of Cibo Matto), Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads.and Ibrahim Ferrer. The album was produced by Dan the Automator of Deltron 3030.
At the end of 2001 the band released another single, 911, which was a collaboration between Gorillaz and rap artists D12, Eminem and Terry Hall. The single would find its way onto the soundtrack to the 2002 action comedy Bad Company.
Their second studio album, Demon Days, was released on 11 May 2005 and included the hit singles Feel Good Inc., DARE, Dirty Harry and Kids With Guns / El Mañana. Demon Days went five times platinum in the UK, double platinum in the United States, and earned five Grammy award nominations for 2006 and won one of them (Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals). Collaborators on this album – produced by Dj Danger Mouse – include De La Soul, Bootie Brown of The Pharcyde, Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays, Neneh Cherry, Ike Turner, MF Doom, Roots Manuva, and Martina Topley-Bird, among others. DARE – the first Gorillaz track featuring lead vocals by Noodle – reached #1 in the UK charts.
In late 2007, Albarn and Hewlett began working on Carousel, a new Gorillaz project which eventually evolved into the band's third studio album, Plastic Beach, which was released 9 March 2010. Albarn said, "I'm making this one the most pop record I've ever made in many ways, but with all my experience to try and at least present something that has got depth.” The album features guest performances by Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Gruff Rhys, Mark E. Smith, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Bashy, Kano, De La Soul, Little Dragon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, sinfonia ViVA, and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music.
A 3D projection of the group was shown at the 2005 MTV Music Awards and the 2006 Grammys. They also performed at the Brits, in a different format, using screens rather than projections. Gorillaz have performed live in other occasions as well: in 2001 & 2002 they did tours where the musicians played behind screens, and in 2005 & 2006, Gorillaz had five nights in Manchester and New York respectively. This time the screens were behind the musicians, who were visible to the audience only as silhouettes (except for the guest-stars).
Since the band began to achieve mainstream success, there have been rumours of them working on a full-length movie. Some of these have been confirmed, but nothing has gotten beyond planning stages, mainly due to conflicts between the band and studios involved. In 2008, Hewlett said "Ultimately we didn't think that feel we're in a position to make the kind of movie we want to make with Gorillaz at the moment. [...] But I'd still like to make a full, lavishly-animated Gorillaz movie someday."
Albarn and Hewlett created a Pop Opera called Monkey: Journey to the West, which premiered in the summer of 2007 at the Manchester International Festival. A soundtrack album was recorded in the summer as well (initially only digitally available though a CD version was released in 2008). The production went on to show at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in September-October 2007, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, USA in May 2008, and the Royal Opera House in London in July 2008.
The duo behind the Pop Opera built on ideas from Monkey: Journey to the West to release a short film in the Summer of 2008 which accompanied the United Kingdom's coverage of the BBC Olympic Coverage in Beijing. It featured a basic outline of the main plot elements of the Opera, reworked into a "Journey to the East", with the characters finishing in the Beijing Olympic Stadium.
Gorillaz headlined the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2010, as an immediate replacement for U2, who dropped out of performing at the festival.
At the end of 2010 Gorillaz released their next album The Fall made in the hotel rooms during their US tour. It was, when released, the first album to be recorded entirely on an iPad. The album was made available for free to Gorillaz fan club members for a limited time as a digital download – and hard copies were released to worldwide markets in the following year.
In April 2012, Albarn told The Guardian that he and Hewlett had fallen out and that future Gorillaz projects were "unlikely". However, it was later announced by the duo that they had reconciled their difference – and that Noodle, Russel, Murdoc and 2-D would return with a new album in 2017. Featuring collaborations by artists such as album Grace Jones, Kali Uchis, Popcaan, Vince Staples, Mavis Staples, Peven Everett, Pusha T, Kelela, Jamie Principle, D.R.A.M. and Graham Coxon, Humanz was released to critical acclaim; the album would go on to win Gorillaz the 2018 Brit Award for Best British Group. Gorillaz would also collaborate with Carly Simon, Kilo Kish and Rag'n'Bone Man on the Deluxe edition of Humanz, while Little Simz would feature on the single Garage Palace. Another 2017 release was the single Sleeping Powder – supposedly written and recorded in a day. Meanwhile, a solar energy-themed collaboration with E.ON, released in 2017, would later win Gorillaz a Webby Award.
A new album, The Now Now, would follow in 2018. Written by Albarn whilst touring Humanz – and featuring two collaborations, including the return of Snoop Dogg and Jamie Principle as well as George Benson and Graham Coxon – The Now Now spawned six singles, including Humility, Tranz, and Lake Zürich. Murdoc was unable to enjoy the band's success for the time being as he was undergoing a stint in jail for an undisclosed malefaction; he was replaced on bass for Ace Copular – who most famously played Ace of the Gangreen Gang in the Powerpuff Girls TV series – for the recording of The Now Now; however, Murdoc would later break his way out of prison. Gorillaz saw the year out by securing another Brits nomination for Best British Group as well as winning a second consecutive Webby Award; this time, for the FreeMurdoc chatbot, which provided a way for Gorillaz fans to interact with Murdoc Niccals during his incarceration.
99-2000
Gorillaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of clueless blues,
Pays the views,
And no-mans news.
Blades will fade from blood to sport,
The heroin's cut these fuses short,
Smokers rode a colonial pig, [Smoke is rolling colonial pink,]
Drink and frame this pain i think.
You bleed your wings and then disappear.
The moving scenes and pilot lights, [...pyre lights]
Smithereens have got 'em scaling heights.
Modern times come talk me down,
And battle lines are drawn across this town.
Parisian boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Talk 'em down cause it's up in flames, [Talk me down...]
And nothing's changed.
Parisian boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Riot like 1968 again.
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
Well pretty flames.
In school I would just bite my tongue,
And now your words they strike me down. [But now your words have struck me dumb.]
The flags are false and they contradict,
They point and click which wounds to lick,
On avenues this christian breeze,
Turns it's heart to more needles please.
Our eyes roll back and we beg for more,
It frays this skin and then underscore.
The case for war you spin and bleed,
The sales you feel screensavers feed,
The girls you breed the soaps that you write,
The graceless charm of your gutter snipes.
The moving scenes and suburbanites,
And smithereens got 'em scaling heights.
Modern times come talk me down,
The battle lines are drawn across this town.
English boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Hearts and minds and US Planes,
Nothing's changed...
And english boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Riot like the 1980's again,
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
More pretty flames.
The lyrics to Gorillaz's song "99-2000" seem to be a commentary on the state of the world at the turn of the millennium. The opening lines describe someone wearing "city shoes" and feeling "clueless blues," perhaps suggesting a sense of disconnection or alienation from the urban environment. The next lines mention blades and heroin, suggesting violence and addiction as prevalent issues.
The chorus brings in a reference to Parisian boys rioting, with the phrase "riot like 1968 again" suggesting a historical precedent for social upheaval. The English boys in the next verse echo this sentiment, rioting like the 1980s. The repeated refrain of "nothing's changed" suggests a sense of frustration at society's ongoing problems and a lack of progress towards solutions.
Throughout the song, there are references to false flags, contradictions, and manipulation by those in power. The singer seems to be calling out these issues and urging listeners to resist them. The lines "our eyes roll back and we beg for more" and "the graceless charm of your gutter snipes" suggest a sense of helplessness or resignation in the face of such pervasive societal problems.
Overall, "99-2000" can be seen as a critique of modern society's failings, with a call to action and a hope for change.
Line by Line Meaning
In city shoes,
I am in the midst of a busy city.
Of clueless blues,
I feel lost and alone in this city.
Pays the views,
Everything is superficial and fake.
And no-mans news.
There is no genuine information, just rumors and gossip.
Blades will fade from blood to sport,
Violence is becoming normalized and seen as entertainment.
The heroin's cut these fuses short,
Drug addiction is ruining people's lives and causing them to self-destruct.
Smokers rode a colonial pig,
People are wasting their lives on pointless things, like smoking.
Drink and frame this pain i think.
Alcohol is used as a coping mechanism to deal with emotional pain.
I'm melting silver poles my dear,
I feel like I am slowly losing my grasp on reality.
You bleed your wings and then disappear.
You put all your effort into something, but ultimately fail and disappear into obscurity.
The moving scenes and pilot lights,
The world is constantly moving and changing, with bright lights and new experiences.
Smithereens have got 'em scaling heights.
People are becoming successful and achieving their dreams, but at a cost.
Modern times come talk me down,
The current state of the world is overwhelming me.
And battle lines are drawn across this town.
There are conflicts and disagreements happening all around me.
Parisian boys without your names,
People are trying to stand out and be recognized, but are ultimately just faceless.
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
People are struggling and fighting to better their situation, but they are still restrained by their environment.
Talk 'em down cause it's up in flames,
People are becoming angry and violent, and someone needs to calm them down.
And nothing's changed.
Despite all the turmoil, nothing has truly changed.
Riot like 1968 again.
People are protesting and standing up for what they believe in, reminiscent of the 1968 riots.
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
Even with all the anger and discontent, things still remain the same.
Well pretty flames.
The spectacle of chaos and destruction is enticing and captivating.
In school I would just bite my tongue,
I used to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself to avoid conflict.
And now your words they strike me down.
I am now more vulnerable and easily hurt by people's words.
The flags are false and they contradict,
Nationalistic symbols are being misused and manipulated for personal gain.
They point and click which wounds to lick,
The media selectively decides which issues to focus on and exploit for attention.
On avenues this christian breeze,
Religious influence is present in every aspect of life, even on the streets.
Turns it's heart to more needles please.
People turn to drugs as a means of escape from their problems.
Our eyes roll back and we beg for more,
We are addicted to constant stimulation and excitement.
It frays this skin and then underscore.
This addiction is causing us to deteriorate both physically and mentally.
The case for war you spin and bleed,
People in power use propaganda and fabrication to justify war and violence.
The sales you feel screensavers feed,
Consumerism and materialism are being marketed to people through technology.
The girls you breed the soaps that you write,
Women are objectified and exploited in the media and entertainment industry.
The graceless charm of your gutter snipes.
People with no morals or class are being celebrated and rewarded in society.
The moving scenes and suburbanites,
People are living mundane and unfulfilling lives in the suburbs.
And smithereens got 'em scaling heights.
Despite the emptiness of their lives, people are still achieving success and fame.
Modern times come talk me down,
The fast-paced and overwhelming nature of the world is causing me to feel anxious.
The battle lines are drawn across this town.
There are conflicts and divisions between people that disrupt the peace of the town.
English boys without your names,
People in Britain are becoming faceless and meaningless in the eyes of society.
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Even with freedom, people are still trapped by poverty and hardship.
Hearts and minds and US Planes,
The US government is using violence and military power to impose its will on other countries.
And english boys without your names,
People in Britain are struggling to stand out and make a name for themselves in a crowded and chaotic world.
Riot like the 1980's again,
People are rebelling and protesting against the status quo, similar to the riots of the 1980s.
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
Despite all the chaos and destruction, nothing has really changed in the world.
More pretty flames.
The spectacle of destruction and violence is still alluring and captivating to people.
Contributed by Levi C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Anniebtw
lyrics:
The world is spinning too fast
I'm buying lead Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
To the days I've tried to lose
My mama said to slow down
You must make your own shoes
Stop dancing to the music
Of Gorillaz in a happy mood
Keeping my groove on
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
There's a monkey in the jungle
Watching a vapor trail
Caught up in the conflict
Between his brain and his tail
And if time's elimination
Then we got nothing to lose
Please repeat the message
It's the music that we choose
Keeping my groove on
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
@jokotechnotube
LYRIC:
The world is spinning too fast
I'm buying lead Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
To the days I've tried to lose
My mama said to slow down
You must make your own shoes
Stop dancing to the music
Of Gorillaz in a happy mood
Keeping my groove on
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
There's a monkey in the jungle
Watching a vapor trail
Caught up in the conflict
Between his brain and his tail
And if time's elimination
Then we got nothing to lose
Please repeat the message
It's the music that we choose
Keeping my groove on
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
@Dan_prizek
Lyrics:
The world is spinning too fast
I'm buying Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
Trough the days I tried to loose
My mama said to slow down
You must make your own shoes
And stop dancing to the music of Gorillaz
In a happy mood
(Keepin my groove on)
Get the coool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cooool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cooool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cooool
Get the cool shoeshine
There's a monkey in a jungle
Watchin' a vapor trail
Caught up in the conflict
Between his brain and his tail
And if the times elimination
Then we've got nothing to loose
Please repeat the message
"It's the music that we choose"
(Keepin my groove on)
Get the cooool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cooool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the coooool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cooool
Get the cool shoeshine
Edited:
THANK YOU FOR 470 LIKES, GUYS!
@Mehithose
Lyrics
The world is spinning too fast
I'm buying lead Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
To the days I've tried to lose
My mama said to slow down
You must make your own shoes
Stop dancing to the music
Of Gorillaz in a happy mood
Keeping my groove on
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
There's a monkey in the jungle
Watching a vapor trail
Caught up in the conflict
Between his brain and his tail
And if time's elimination
Then we got nothing to lose
Please repeat the message
It's the music that we choose
Keeping my groove on
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Get the cool
Get the cool shoeshine
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
Day doo de bop
@threemad
GET THE COOL
@poxia1622
Boomers be like
@minniekaboom1075
GET THE COOL SHOESHINE
@scoonie6186
Holy shit, it's that one YouTuber. What is his name? I forget.
@scoonie6186
Shoeshine btw
@halo7372
man wtf
@Nooctae
I was always fascinated by the mix of 2D cartoon and the 3D elements of those Gorillaz clips. It's so unique looking.
@spaceman4390
Yeah I agree, which is why gumball is one of my favourite shows
@ray_tbhmylifeisafeverdream
haha 2D.
@user-gv7fh3vx3h
Very good somg get the cool