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 It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, but the nomination was withdrawn at the band's request.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.
Welcome To The World of The Plastic Beach
Gorillaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The revolution will be televised
And the pollution from the ocean
Now with devotion
Push peace and keep it in motion
Kids, gather around
Yeah, I need your focus
It's like wonderland
Now fascinate me
Picture and animate me
'Cause I'm rollin'
Keep holdin'
Click clacking
Crack-a-lacking
Full packing
Fo packin'
Acting a fool when I teach
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
Mirror mirror on the wall
Boss Dawg
Give it to 'em
Get involved
Turn it up
Speed it up
Slow it up
Underground where the under us undercut
Shipped up
Shipped out
Swimmin' with the sharks
Put my gills up
Turn the wheels up
Real tough
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Getting blade with a gang of pilgrims
Yeah, just like that
Belly floppin' lockin' while I'm rockin' in the bubble bath
And I'm just like math
Fozo's added up that get you more cash, yeah
So quick, so fast
All the kids say they love it when I make 'em laugh
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah uh
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah uh
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
The song "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach" by Gorillaz featuring Snoop Dogg and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble speaks about the environmental pollution and the need for peace in the world. The lyrics address the apocalyptic reality that the world is facing, the burden of pollution, and the need for a revolution to ensure a better future for the upcoming generations. The verse "And the pollution from the ocean, Now with devotion, Push peace and keep it in motion," emphasizes that it is essential to act collectively to reduce pollution and advocate for peace.
The subsequent verses are a call for attention and focus, encouraging children to pay attention to the issues that the world is currently facing. The lyrics mention "plastic beach," which symbolizes the vast amounts of plastic debris that are threatening the environment and marine life.
The song's tone is melancholy yet uplifting, and the pervasive message is that despite the harsh realities that we face, it is not too late to make a difference. The song ends on a hopeful note, welcoming listeners to the world of the Plastic Beach, where change and transformation are possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Gorillaz and the boss Dogg Planet of the apes
Gorillaz and Snoop Dogg are rulers of the music industry
The revolution will be televised
Positive change is coming, and it will be broadcast to the world
And the pollution from the ocean
The negative impacts of human activity on the environment
Now with devotion
With passionate commitment to making things right
Push peace and keep it in motion
Advocate for peace and actively work towards it
Kids, gather around
Attention young people, listen up
Yeah, I need your focus
Pay attention and engage
I know it seems like the world is so hopeless
Acknowledging that the state of the world can be disheartening
It's like wonderland
The world can seem magical and surreal
Now fascinate me
Captivate and impress me
Picture and animate me
Portray me in a creative and imaginative way
'Cause I'm rollin'
Feeling confident and successful
Keep holdin'
Continue to maintain control and stability
Click clacking
Moving forward with determination and purpose
Crack-a-lacking
Taking action and making progress
Full packing
Fully prepared and ready for anything
Fo packin'
Extra prepared and ready for anything
Acting a fool when I teach
Using humor and creativity to engage and educate
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah
Welcome to the manufactured and artificial world of the music industry
Mirror mirror on the wall
An allusion to Snow White, questioning and reflecting on oneself
Boss Dawg
Snoop Dogg is a powerful figure in the industry
Give it to 'em
Deliver the goods and impress the audience
Get involved
Engage and participate in the industry and its culture
Turn it up
Increase the energy and excitement
Speed it up
Increase the tempo and intensity
Slow it up
Intentionally slow down and take it easy
Underground where the under us undercut
Operating outside of the mainstream, where the less fortunate are at a disadvantage
Shipped up
Prepared and ready to move forward
Shipped out
Leaving and moving on to the next thing
Swimmin' with the sharks
Navigating the dangerous waters of the industry
Put my gills up
Preparing to defend oneself and be resilient
Turn the wheels up
Increase the momentum and make things happen
Real tough
Resilient, strong and prepared for anything
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Relaxing and enjoying the good life
Getting blade with a gang of pilgrims
Having fun and being adventurous with a group of likeminded people
Yeah, just like that
Affirming that things are going well and as planned
Belly floppin' lockin' while I'm rockin' in the bubble bath
Being carefree and having fun while enjoying life's simple pleasures
And I'm just like math
Calculating and strategic, using formulas to succeed
Fozo's added up that get you more cash, yeah
Using creative tactics to make more money
So quick, so fast
Acting with urgency and speed
All the kids say they love it when I make 'em laugh
Using humor to connect with young people and entertain them
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah uh
Welcome to the artificial and inauthentic world of the music industry
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
Welcome to the manmade and manufactured culture of the industry
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah uh
Welcome to the plastic world of the music industry
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
Welcome to the world of showmanship and artifice
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CALVIN BROADUS, DAMON ALBARN, JAMIE HEWLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@betzaromay1388
[Intro: Snoop Dogg]
Gorillaz and the Boss Dogg
Planet of the apes
[Verse: Snoop Dogg & 2D]
(Just like that) The revolution will be televised
(Just like that) An' the pollution from the ocean, now with devotion
(Just like that) Push peace and keep it in motion
(Just like that, just like that)
(Just like that) Kids, gather 'round, yeah, I need your focus
(Just like that) I know it seems like the world is so hopeless
(Just like that) It's like Wonderland
(Just like that, just like that)
(Just like that) Now fascinate me, picture and animate me, 'cause I'm rollin'
(Just like that) Deep holin', click clackin', crack-a-lackin', full packin' (Hey!), mo' stackin'
(Just like that) Actin' a fool when I teach
(Just like that) Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah
(Just like that) Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
(Just like that) Mirror mirror on the wall, Boss Dogg, give it to 'em
(Just like that) Get involved, turn it up, speed it up
Slow it up, underground where (Just like that) the under us undercut
Shipped up, shipped out, swimmin' with the sharks put my gills up
(Just like that) Turn the wheels up real tough
(Just like that) Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Getting blazed with a gang of pilgrims
(Just like that) Yeah, this my path
Belly floppin' lockin' while I'm rockin' in the bubble bath
(Just like that) And I'm just like math
Fozo's added up that get you more cash
(Just like that) So quick, so fast
All the kids say they love it when I make 'em laugh
[Outro: Snoop Dogg & 2D]
(Just like that, yeah) Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah
(Just like that) Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
(Just like that) Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach, yeah
(Just like that) Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
Welcome to the world of the Plastic Beach
@probablytonikensa4744
The director really said “Okay Snoop, I just need you to vibe for a few minutes.”
@user-uk6hs7nq5v
He does so well lmao
@sezar2920
@@user-uk6hs7nq5v lo
@KoolKidsIncorporatedKKI
@@sezar2920 Oh my l-
@link78686
Lol
@defective7340
"Vibing" wasn't a thing back then. They probably would've said "groove" or "chill", or perhaps a variant of "hang out".
@calebkendrick5571
I love how in the actual story its implied that snoop along with all the other collaborating artists where kidnapped by Murdoch and taken to the plastic beach
@bartekgwarek1317
Yup they were
@iforgotmyusername11
Caleb Kendrick blackmail?
@josephbailey2647
Caleb Kendrick murdoc