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 It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, but the nomination was withdrawn at the band's request.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.
Out of Body
Gorillaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're here tonight for a very special offering
An offering of our spirits this evening in unison (in unison)
But first a word of instruction
Hello, hello
Please leave all your belongings at the door
You can sit or stand, we can take a vote
While we unveil the ropes
Still a little room left to hang your clothes
Some of us are new here, we'll take it slow
Ready, set, go
I lock hands with yours
We dive into the floor (drop, drop)
When we reach the core
Then we stomp some more (drop, drop)
I lock hands with yours
And then we dive down into the floor
Seven thousand miles 'til we reach the core (drop, drop)
And then we circle back and we stomp some more (drop)
Got it?
It's just like that
You promise all your life, then you turn your back (drop, drop)
You glide across the space, and diagonal past
Then you kick, and you jump, and you arch your back (drop, drop)
You move your hips and your arms like a cat
Spin three times, and you're back where you're at (drop, drop)
Starting to catch what any of this is about?
No? Well, work it out
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
Okay
Slide like a lizard, walk like a crab
Eyes dilated, dark to the grass (drop, drop)
Then when you find you're invisible
You melt into a puzzle
Keep it flowing like the rivers do (drop, drop)
You gotta pay attention to the motion of the fish
Stay within the school or you're surely gonna miss (drop, drop)
And if you lose your way, it's a cold black abyss
Don't take the chance, not worth the risk
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
Out of body from morning to night
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
Who knows?
There's always stains on what's real and true?
Tonight is a special, special occasion
And all that's left for us to do, is move
Ooh, ahh, ahh
Where am I going? (Drop, drop)
What am I doing? (Drop)
I, I'm alive (drop, drop, drop, drop)
Alive (drop, drop)
I cannot fly (drop)
(Drop, drop)
(Drop, drop)
I'm, I'm so alive (drop, drop, drop)
(Everybody)
(Drop, drop)
(Drop, drop, everybody)
I'm so, I'm so high (drop)
(Everybody)
Everybody says I'm busted and blue
I feel better when I don't need that
Everybody got the balls to fight with that
(There's no thing, thing, thing)
Everybody says that I'm off
Feelin' out of body, I'm drinkin' it up, but uh
Can I tell you what the dream's about tonight?
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (yeah)
The lyrics of Gorillaz's "Out Of Body" suggest a hypnotic ritual where the participants leave their physical bodies and dance together in unity. The first part of the lyrics describes the setup for the dance ceremony, with instructions to leave all belongings and gather in the center of a circle where ropes are being unveiled. The participants then join hands and dive into the floor, stomping and circling around until they reach the core. The second part of the song is about the dance itself, where the dancers move like lizards and crabs, dilate their eyes, and melt into a puzzle. The lyrics encourage the dancers to pay attention to the motion of the fish and stay within the school or risk getting lost in the abyss.
The song seems to be about the power of dance to transcend the limitations of the physical body and connect with a higher consciousness. The repetition of "out of body from morning to night, dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright" suggests that the dancers are experiencing a state of euphoria and transcendence that lasts beyond the dance ritual. The lyrics also touch on the theme of identity and the struggle to stay grounded in reality. The line "everybody says I'm off, feeling out of body, I'm drinking it up" suggests that the singer is aware of the disconnection between their inner experience and the perception of others, but chooses to embrace it anyway.
Line by Line Meaning
Pipe down, pipe down, pipe down, pipe down, pipe down
Everyone, please be quiet and calm
We're here tonight for a very special offering
We are gathered here today for a unique experience
An offering of our spirits this evening in unison (in unison)
Together, we will be giving our spirits to this special occasion
But first a word of instruction
Before we begin, let us give some directions
Hello, hello
Greetings, greetings
Please leave all your belongings at the door
We ask that you leave all of your personal items at the entrance
You can sit or stand, we can take a vote
Feel free to choose whether to sit or stand, or we can have a vote to decide
And just tiptoe to the center of the circle
Quietly walk to the center of the circle on your toes
While we unveil the ropes
As we uncover the ropes
Still a little room left to hang your clothes
There's still some space to hang your clothes
Some of us are new here, we'll take it slow
Some of us are new to this experience, so we'll take things at a slower pace
Ready, set, go
We're ready to begin
I lock hands with yours
We hold hands together
We dive into the floor (drop, drop)
We suddenly drop into the ground
When we reach the core
Once we reach the center
Then we stomp some more (drop, drop)
We continue to stomp on the ground
Seven thousand miles 'til we reach the core (drop, drop)
We're stomping for a long distance until we reach the center
And then we circle back and we stomp some more (drop)
We turn around and continue stomping as we go back the way we came
Got it?
Do you understand?
It's just like that
It's exactly how it sounds
You promise all your life, then you turn your back (drop, drop)
You make a vow your whole life, but then you betray it
You glide across the space, and diagonal past
You move smoothly through the air in a diagonal direction
Then you kick, and you jump, and you arch your back (drop, drop)
You perform various acrobatic moves, including kicking, jumping, and arching your back
You move your hips and your arms like a cat
You move your body like a feline, with fluid hip and arm movements
Spin three times, and you're back where you're at (drop, drop)
Spin around in a circle three times, and you'll be back where you started
Starting to catch what any of this is about?
Are you beginning to understand the meaning behind these movements?
No? Well, work it out
If you don't understand, keep trying to figure it out
Out of body from morning to night
Feeling disconnected from your physical self all day long
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (drop, drop)
But despite that, you feel good when you're surrounded by others dancing
Okay
Alright
Slide like a lizard, walk like a crab
Move across the floor like a nimble lizard and sideways like a crab
Eyes dilated, dark to the grass (drop, drop)
Your pupils are dilated, and the world appears darker than normal
Then when you find you're invisible
And when you suddenly realize you can no longer be seen
You melt into a puzzle
You blend in seamlessly with your surroundings
Keep it flowing like the rivers do (drop, drop)
Keep your movements fluid and natural, like the flow of a river
You gotta pay attention to the motion of the fish
You need to be aware of the movement of others around you
Stay within the school or you're surely gonna miss (drop, drop)
Stay with the group, or you'll miss out on the experience
And if you lose your way, it's a cold black abyss
If you get lost, it can feel like you're alone in a dark, empty void
Don't take the chance, not worth the risk
It's not worth taking the risk of getting lost
Who knows?
Who can say for sure?
There's always stains on what's real and true?
Is it possible for even the real and true things to be flawed?
Tonight is a special, special occasion
This is a unique and extraordinary event
And all that's left for us to do, is move
All that remains is for us to dance and enjoy ourselves
Ooh, ahh, ahh
Sounds of excitement and pleasure
Where am I going? (drop, drop)
Where am I headed in life?
What am I doing? (drop)
What is my purpose in life?
I, I'm alive (drop, drop, drop, drop)
I am alive and thriving
Alive (drop, drop)
Full and vibrant with life
I cannot fly (drop)
But I cannot fly like a bird
(Drop, drop)
Sounds of movement and dropped beats
I'm, I'm so alive (drop, drop, drop)
I am feeling so fully alive
(Everybody)
Everyone together
(Drop, drop)
Sounds of movement and dropped beats
(Drop, drop, everybody)
Sounds of movement and dropped beats, everyone together
I'm so, I'm so high (drop)
I am feeling so elevated and joyful
(Everybody)
Everyone together
Everybody says I'm busted and blue
Everyone says I am struggling and feeling down
I feel better when I don't need that
I feel better when I no longer require that negative influence in my life
Everybody got the balls to fight with that
Everyone is brave enough to fight against those negative feelings with me
(There's no thing, thing, thing)
Nothing to worry about
Everybody says that I'm off
Everyone says I am not fitting in or conforming
Feelin' out of body, I'm drinkin' it up, but uh
Feeling disconnected from my physical self, but coping through drinking
Can I tell you what the dream's about tonight?
Can I share with you what my dream is for tonight?
Dancefloor packed and I'm feeling alright (yeah)
The crowded dancefloor has me feeling good
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMON ALBARN, IMANI VOSHANA, LAKISHA K ROBINSON, OJAY MORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GGG slat
on Feel Good Inc.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
(Change) sha, sha (change) ba-da (change), sha-ba-da-ca, (change) feel good ty
(Change) sha, sha (change) ba-da (change), sha-ba-da-ca, (change) feel good
City's breaking down on a camel's back
They just have to go 'cause they don't know whack
So while you fill the streets, it's appealing to see
You won't get undercounted 'cause you're damned and free
You got a new horizon, it's ephemeral style
A melancholy town where we never smile
And all I wanna hear is the message beep
My dreams, they got her kissing, 'cause I don't get sleep, no
Windmill, windmill for the land
Turn forever hand in hand
Take it all in on your stride
It is ticking, falling down
Love forever, love is free
Let's turn forever you and me
Windmill, windmill for the land
Is everybody in?
Laughin' gas these hazmats, fast cats
Linin' 'em up like ass cracks
Play these ponies at the track
It's my chocolate attack
Shit, I'm steppin' in the heart of this here (yeah)
Care Bear rappin' in harder this year (yeah)
Watch me as I gravitate, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Yo, we gon' ghost town this Motown
With yo' sound, you in the blink
Gon' bite the dust, can't fight with us
With yo' sound, you kill the Inc.
So don't stop, get it, get it (get it)
Until you're cheddar headed
And watch the way I navigate, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha (ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Windmill, windmill for the land
Turn forever hand in hand
Take it all in on your stride
It is ticking, falling down
Love forever, love is free
Let's turn forever you and me
Windmill, windmill for the land
Is everybody in?
Don't stop, get it, get it
Peep how your captain's in it (feel good)
Steady, watch me navigate, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! (Feel good)
Don't stop, get it, get it
Peep how your captain's in it (feel good)
Steady, watch me navigate, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! (Feel good)
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good
Sha, sha-ba-da, sha-ba-da-ca, feel good