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 It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, but the nomination was withdrawn at the band's request.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.
Doncamatic
Gorillaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down lowly
Make up for the time you've wasted
Come slowly
And claim back the boy you left behind
Close the white book
'Cause it's time to wipe out
To the stars
Get on the fame
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
They said the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
Tell me did you feel that?
Don't slow down
Even if it's only to escape
Just down, low down
Before somebody steals your place man
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
'Cause it's time to wipe out
To the stars
Get on the fame
And the conversation's over
We're all played out, played out, all played out
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
You see the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Tell me did you feel that?
Doncamatic
Down lowly
Make up for the time you wasted
Come slowly
Claim back the boy you left behind and
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
It's time to wipe out to the bar get on the fame
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
You see the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all auto tuned
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, played out, played out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Tell me did you feel that?
"Doncamatic" by Gorillaz feat. Daley is a song about reclaiming lost time and memories. The first verse encourages the listener to make up for the time they've wasted and to come back and claim what they've left behind. The song advises the listener to unplug themselves from the distractions of everyday life and reach for the stars to achieve fame. The song suggests that we need to make the most of the time we have and not let our memories fade away. The lyrics tell us that this is more important than anything else we may be doing.
The chorus reinforces the idea that time is running out and we need to make the most of it. The listener is advised not to slow down or let someone else take their place. The next verse encourages the listener to unplug from the game of life and wipe out to the stars. The song suggests that we need to have a conversation with ourselves and determine what is truly important to us. The chorus repeats the message that we need to make the most of our time before it's too late.
Overall, the song is a call to action for listeners to take control of their lives and not let distractions and wasted time hold them back. It encourages us to claim back what we've lost and embrace the memories that make us who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Down lowly
Take a humble approach to move forward
Make up for the time you've wasted
Redeem the lost opportunities and utilize the present
Come slowly
Take your time to recover and move forward
And claim back the boy you left behind
Regain the lost confidence and self-esteem
Close the white book
End a chapter of life for a fresh start
Unplug the brain from the game
Stop overthinking and obsessing over past events
'Cause it's time to wipe out to the stars
Time to leave behind what's holding you back and aim for the stars
Get on the fame
Achieve success or recognition
The song is not the same when we're
The experience is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
Tired or exhausted from a particular experience
They said the memories
Reflecting on memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
All memories fade away over time
Tell me did you feel that?
Asking if the listener experienced the same thing
Don't slow down
Do not lose momentum
Even if it's only to escape
Even if it's only for a temporary escape from reality
Just down, low down
Take a deep breath and calm down
Before somebody steals your place man
Before someone takes away your opportunity
And the conversation's over
The exchange of words is done
The song is not the same when we're
The experience is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
Exhausted or drained from a particular experience
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Requesting communication or connection
You see the memories
Reflecting on memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
All memories fade away over time
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Requesting communication or connection
The song is not the same when we're
The experience is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all auto tuned
Exhausted or drained and relying on technology to maintain performance
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Requesting communication or connection
The song is not the same when we're
The experience is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, played out, played out
Completely exhausted and incapable of continuing
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Requesting communication or connection
Tell me did you feel that?
Asking if the listener experienced the same thing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Daley, Damon Albarn, Jamie Christopher Hewlett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FairyWitch777
Down lowly
Make up for the time you've wasted
Come slowly
And claim back the boy you left behind
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
'Cause it's time to wipe out
To the stars
Get on the fame
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
They said the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
Tell me did you feel that?
Don't slow down
Even if it's only to escape
Just down, low down
Before somebody steals your place man
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
'Cause it's time to wipe out
To the stars
Get on the fame
And the conversation's over
We're all played out, played out, all played out
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
You see the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Tell me did you feel that?
Doncamatic
Down lowly
Make up for the time you wasted
Come slowly
Claim back the boy you left behind and
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
It's time to wipe out to the bar get on the fame
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
You see the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all auto tuned
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, played out, played out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Tell me did you feel that?
@ZerhBeatz
Lyrics:
Doncamatic
Down lowly
Make up for the time you've wasted
Come slowly
And claim back the boy you left behind
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
'Cause it's time to wipe out
To the stars
Get on the fame
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
They said the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
Tell me did you feel that?
Don't slow down
Even if it's only to escape
Just down, low down
Before somebody steals your place man
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
'Cause it's time to wipe out
To the stars
Get on the fame
And the conversation's over
We're all played out, played out, all played out
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
You see the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
(talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Tell me did you feel that?
Doncamatic
Down lowly
Make up for the time you wasted
Come slowly
Claim back the boy you left behind and
Close the white book
Unplug the brain from the game
It's time to wipe out to the bar get on the fame
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all played out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
You see the memories
All fade out, fade out, all fade out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, all auto tuned
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
The song is not the same when we're
All played out, played out, played out, played out
(Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
Tell me did you feel that?
@elinator5
I swear 2D's ''talk to me'' animation is the best thing I've ever seen! So fluid and the whole body language is perfect! Could watch a 2 hour version tbh
@bizel1447
True
@A1KA1IN3
Same..like it’s so smooth..the mouth sync...the movements...it’s perfection.
@elinator5
@haha funni name haha. yup!
@Lil_Ducky43
Well I mean he’s the only animated part so I guess they were like fuck it he’s the only animated part so let’s make it the smoothest shit you look ever seen
@akitoo0
also... when he blinks... the kind of sadness or worry that he shows, very touching! that "talk to me talk to me talk to me!" makes you feel all alone trying to get in touch with anyone out there and theres no more than interference...
@arduousPopsicle
For some reason I’m obsessed with the little animation of 2D. Something about the care and worry in his eyes as he pleads, “talk to me” gets to me.
@skellieswag3750
The animation is just so smooth too
@gav7517
Bro he came out for like half a second and he was on a glitch in a TV screen there’s no way you could even see the animation
@arduousPopsicle
@Glow CHIPS_901 bro I watched it over and over like fifty times. Yes. I could.