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 It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, but the nomination was withdrawn at the band's request.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.
Strobelite
Gorillaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can be pleasure lain
Millisecond change
Magic lantern strange
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it is?
Girl, your life will turn
'Cause you're daddy's pain
And your mother won't
And your heart engages into heartless throes
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it goes?
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
Slide the light off you
You may find some peace
All will come to you
If you come with me
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it ends?
(Yeah!)
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
And when you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
And when you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
And when you got it
And think you're dreaming
You hit the light
You've got to find it, we all need it
We hit the light
And when you got it
And think you're dreaming
You hit the light
You've got to find it, we all need it
We hit the light
The lyrics of "Strobelite" by Gorillaz seem to be about the transience of relationships and the pursuit of happiness. The song talks about how even though moments of pain can lead to pleasure, they are short-lived and might not be worth it in the long run. The chorus asks if the two people are too far apart to be together again, using the metaphor of obsidian, which is a dark and shiny volcanic rock that is often used in jewelry. The strobe light mentioned in the song seems to represent a momentary escape from reality, a chance to let go of worries and live in the moment.
The second verse of the song suggests that the girl described in the song is caught between her conflicting feelings towards her parents. Her father is a source of pain for her, and her mother seems to be distant or uninvolved. As a result, the girl's heart is "heartless," unable to connect with others in a meaningful way. The lyrics then pose the question again: are they obsidian, and is this how it is?
The final verse of the song offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that if they let go of their pain and slide the light off them, peace can be found. The repetition of the phrase "when you're driving, night is dreaming" seems to emphasize the fleeting nature of our experiences and how important it is to take hold of the positive moments. The song ends with a call to action, stating that we need to find the light and hit it.
Line by Line Meaning
Momentary pain
Brief suffering
Can be pleasure lain
May lead to enjoyment
Millisecond change
A sudden shift
Magic lantern strange
Mysterious and puzzling
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Have we drifted too far apart to reconcile?
Are we obsidian?
Are we unyielding and unchanging?
Is this how it is?
Is this our reality?
Girl, your life will turn
You will experience a transformation
Just like a strobe
As rapidly flashing light
'Cause you're daddy's pain
You are a source of anguish for your father
And your mother won't
Your mother is unable to help
And your heart engages into heartless throes
You are caught in a cycle of unfeeling misery
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
While you're driving, the night seems unreal
(Livin' the strobe light)
Experiencing the flashing lights of the strobe
And you will find the life you needed
You will discover fulfillment
Slide the light off you
Let go of stress and negativity
You may find some peace
You could discover tranquility
All will come to you
Everything will fall into place
If you come with me
Follow me to find happiness
Is this how it ends?
Is this our conclusion?
And when you got it
When you understand
And think you're dreaming
And believe it's too good to be true
You hit the light
You realize the truth
You've got to find it, we all need it
You must pursue fulfillment because it's vital for everyone
We hit the light
We all discover the truth
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY KHAN, DAMON ALBARN, PEVEN EVERETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matheusalmeida2779
[Lyrics]
Momentary pain
Can be pleasure lain
Millisecond change
Magic lantern strange
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it is?
Girl, your life will turn
Just like a strobe
'Cause you're daddy's pain
And your mother won't
And your heart engages into heartless throes
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it goes?
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
Slide the light off you
You may find some peace
All will come to you
If you come with me
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it ends?
(Yeah!)
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
And when you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
And when you're drivin' night is dreamin'
(Livin' the strobe light)
And you will find the life you needed
(Livin' the strobe light)
And when you got it
And think you're dreaming
You hit the light
You've got to find it, we all need it
We hit the light
And when you got it
And think you're dreaming
You hit the light
You've got to find it, we all need it
We hit the light
@marulindainfinita3032
dolor momentáneo
Puede ser placer mentir
Cambio de milisegundos
Linterna mágica extraña
¿Estamos demasiado lejos para volver a ser uno?
¿Somos obsidiana?
¿Es así?
Chica, tu vida cambiará
Al igual que una luz estroboscópica
Porque eres el dolor de papá
Y tu madre no lo hará
Y tu corazón se involucra en angustias sin corazón
¿Somos obsidiana?
¿Es así como va?
Cuando estás conduciendo, la noche está soñando
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y encontrarás la vida que necesitabas
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Desliza la luz de ti
Puedes encontrar algo de paz
Todo vendrá a ti
si vienes conmigo
¿Estamos demasiado lejos para volver a ser uno?
¿Somos obsidiana?
¿Es así como termina?
(¡Sí!)
Cuando estás conduciendo, la noche está soñando
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y encontrarás la vida que necesitabas
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y cuando estás conduciendo, la noche está soñando
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y encontrarás la vida que necesitabas
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y cuando estás conduciendo, la noche está soñando
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y encontrarás la vida que necesitabas
(Viviendo la luz estroboscópica)
Y cuando lo conseguiste
Y piensa que estás soñando
Golpeaste la luz
Tienes que encontrarlo, todos lo necesitamos
golpeamos la luz
Y cuando lo conseguiste
Y piensa que estás soñando
Golpeaste la luz
Tienes que encontrarlo, todos lo necesitamos
golpeamos la luz
@milthonolivos9977
[Verse 1: Peven Everett]
Momentary pain can be pleasure lain
Millisecond change; magic lantern strange
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian? Is this how it ends?
[Verse 2: Peven Everett]
Girl, your life will turn, just like a strobe
'Cause your daddy's vain, and your mother won't
And your heart engages into heartless throes
Are we obsidian? Is this how it goes?
[Chorus: Peven Everett & the Humanz Choir]
If when your private life is dreaming
You're living the strobe light
And you will find the life you're needing
You're living the strobe light
[Verse 3: Peven Everett]
Slide the light off you, you may find some peace
All will come to you, if you come with me
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian? Is this how it is? Yeah
[Chorus: Peven Everett & the Humanz Choir]
If when your private life is dreaming (When your pri-)
You're living the strobe light (Oh, living the strobe light)
And you will find the life you're needing
You're living the strobe light
{unintelligible vocals}
[Bridge: Peven Everett]
[Chorus: Peven Everett & the Humanz Choir]
And when your private life is dreaming
You're living the strobe light
(You're living the strobe, when your private life is dreaming)
And you will find the life you're needing
(You'll find the life you're needing)
You're living the strobe light
And when your private life is dreaming
(When your private life is dreaming)
You're living the strobe light
(Living the strobe, you're living the strobe)
And you will find the life you're needing
(You will find the life you're needing, yeah yeah yeah)
You're living the strobe light
[Outro: Peven Everett & the Humanz Choir]
Ba-ba-ba-ba-da
And when you're private
And then you're dreaming
(You're living the strobe light)
You hit the light
When your private life is dreaming
Ba-ba-ba-ba-da
You've got to find it
You know you need it
(Like you need it)
(You're living the strobe light)
You're living the strobe light
You hit the light
Ba-ba-ba-ba-da
When your private life is
And when you're private
Dreaming
And then you're dreaming
(You living the strobe light)
You hit the light
You're living the, living the
Ba-ba-ba-ba-da
You've got to find it
You know you need it
(You're living the strobe light)
You hit the light
You're living the strobe light
@Hihseu
The lyrics:
Momentary pain
Can be pleasure lain
Will a second change?
Magic lantern strange
Are we just too far, to be as one again?
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it is?
Girl, your life will turn
Just like a strobe
Because you're daddy's pain
And your mother won't
And your heart engages into heartless throes
Are we obsidian?
Is it how it goes?
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
Livin' the strobe light
And you will find the life you needed
Livin' the strobe light
Slide the light off you
You may find some peace
All will come to you
If you come with me
Are we just too far to be as one again?
Are we obsidian?
Is this how it ends?
(Yeah!)
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
Livin' the strobe light
And you will find the life you needed
Livin' the strobe light
Oh yeah!
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
Livin' the strobe light
And you will find the life you needed
Livin' the strobe light
When you're drivin' night is dreamin'
Livin' the strobe light
And you will find the life you needed
Livin' the strobe light
And when you got it
See it in your dreams
You get hit by the strobe light
You've got to find it, we all need it
We get hit by the strobe light
And when you got it
See it in your dreams
You get hit by the strobe light
You've got to find it, we all need it
We get hit by the strobe light
@synthwhore
2-D's pants are higher than my grades
@lalecaro6119
Anonymous Fangirl xD
@pauline9970
Anonymous Fangirl Oof
@beverage7335
Saaaaame tbh
@Patches_Gaming
Anonymous Fangirl: And now you get a subscriber.
@rriddle0frevenge
No kiding his pants are higher then mount Everest
@RedstoneMiner18
Therapist: ''2-D in 3D isn't real, he can't hurt you''
2-D in 3D:
@aryrush143
this is too accurate-
@juliettegibson9845
I guess he’s… 3D
@_nightdescends
2D IN 3D