Gorillaz - Band - Who are they?

Gorillaz are a fictional animated band of the alternative Pop rock genre. The band only has four members yet in actuality it takes 9 musicians or more to bring the Gorillaz to life, including the lead singer of Blur, Damon Albarn. Created in 1998, the Gorillaz created their own unique alternative genre in the 14 years of the group’s existence; elements of rock, hip hop and pop converge in the music of the Gorillaz.

- 2D

Date of Birth: 23/5/78

Birth Name: Stuart Pot

Place of Birth: Unknown

- Murdoc

Date of Birth: 06/6/66

Place of Birth: Stoke-on-Trent, Britain

Band Role:  Bassist

- Noodle

Date of Birth: 31/10/90.

Place of Birth: Okinawa, Japan

Band Role:  Lead Guitarist

- Russel

Date of Birth: 3/6/75.

Place of Birth: Unknown – Current residence in Brooklyn, New York.

Band Role:  Drummer and rapper

'Feel Good Inc.' - Gorillaz Lyrics response

The lyrical themes of ‘Feel Good Inc.’ revolve around isolation and escapism. The lyrics commentate on the problems of fame and becoming complacent. The ‘Feel good’ in the chorus is repeated by the lead singer, called 2D, to attempt to regress back into the bliss of ignorance through convincing themselves that everything is okay in a world of violence and injustice.

"We were passing the wind turbines out near Palm Springs. He believed he was going to the Coachella festival or something, and he passed a huge field full of those wind turbines farming the land ... so he started really with the chorus section and then built it up from there." Murdoc - (Gorillaz, bassist)

At the end of the ‘Feel Good’ music video, 2D appears beaten by his surroundings, and returns to the state he was in when the video began, repeating the words "Feel good" until the video finally ends, in an exact reversal of the intro. Linking to the lyrics and further connoting the endless cycle of the modern condition.

Hahahahahahahahaha,
Feel good,
Feel good,
Feel good...
City's breaking down on a camel's back.
They just have to go 'cause they don't know wack
So all you fill the streets it's appealing to see
You won't get out the county, 'cause you're bad and free
You've 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've got to kiss me 'cause I don't get sleep, no
[Chorus:]
Windmill, windmill for the land.
Turned 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?
Laughing gas these hazmats, fast cats,
Lining them up like ass cracks,
Lay these ponies at the track
It's my chocolate attack.
Shit, I'm stepping in the heart of this here
Care bear reppin' it harder this year
Watch me as I gravitate
Hahahahahahaa.
Yo, we gonna go ghost town,
This motown,
With your sound
You're in the blink
Gonna bite the dust
Can't fight with us
With your sound
You kill the INC.
So don't stop, get it, get it
Until you jet ahead.
Yo, watch the way I navigate
Hahahahahhaa
Feel good, ahhhhahahahah [x4]
[Chorus]
Don't stop, shit it, get it
We are your captains in it
Steady,
Watch me navigate,
Ahahahahahhaa.
Don't stop, shit it, get it
We are your captains in it
Steady,
Watch me navigate
Ahahahahahhaa.
Feel good, ahhhhahahahaha
Feel good,
Feel good, ahhhhahahahaha
Feel good...

Director study - Spike Jonze

Spike Jonze was born on October 22, 1969, in Rockville, Maryland. Throughout the nineties, he directed many music videos and commercials. In 1999, he acted in and directed Three Kings. Jonze's first full-length directorial effort, Being John Malkovich, earned him an Academy Award nomination. He went on to produce Her in 2013, which earned him the 2014 Oscar for best original screenplay as well as working closely with the producing teams and the opening sequences of the ‘Jackass’ films. His most famous music videos include: ‘Sabotage’ by the Beastie Boys, which won 4 MTV music awards, ‘Weapon of choice’ by Fatboy Slim and Wonderboy by Tenacious D.

After inheriting a large family fortune he was heir to. He entered high school and adopted the name "Spike Jonze", He participated in competitive skateboarding and BMX bicycling throughout is younger years.

After moving to Los Angeles, for his first job, 17 year old Jonze began working as an editorial assistant at Freestylin', a biker magazine. In 1991, he helped found Dirt, a teenage male magazine that was not that successful. However, his first music-video job came in 1992, when he was hired to shoot video footage of skateboarding for Sonic Youth's "100%" and he continued with his pursuit of music videos from there in.

Jonze cemented his reputation for innovation and creativity with his eye-catching video for Weezer's ‘Buddy Holly,’ and ‘Sabotage’ by the Beastie Boys, both of which were set in the 70s. ‘Sabotage’ involved a old-style police chase and ‘Buddy Holly’ was set in the middle of what appeared to be an episode of the 1970s sitcom Happy Days. Furthermore, his diversity as an actor and director was seen through his acting roles in the 1999, black comedy ‘Three Kings’ and his music video for Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’.

Spike Jonze has been described as “wildly creative and eccentric” as well as having his productions described as being “quirky with an offbeat visual style”. Renowned for being incredibly well connected, determined and perfectionist, everything about the character and style of Jonze speaks to me as a student in an unprecedented manner. I will take his successful past productions and directorial into analysis to help me produce a better quality media product, but more importantly, create a unique and stylish music video that can be related to by everyday people.

   

 “If you compromise what you're trying to do just a little bit, you'll end up compromising a little more the next day or the next week, and when you lift your head you're suddenly really far away from where you're trying to go.” - Spike Jonze