Feel Good Inc.Gorillaz1rank/position

Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc. (Official Video)

In hindsight, you could say they were pioneers of what we now call VTubers.

Gorillaz is a project that began in 1998, a collaboration between Damon Albarn, frontman of the quintessential British rock band Blur, and comic artist Jamie Hewlett.

Their song “Feel Good Inc.

,” famous as a 2005 iPod commercial track, is one of Gorillaz’s signature tunes—a standout from a virtual band that’s among the most widely known in the world and an exemplar of remarkable commercial success.

Featuring the veteran American hip-hop group De La Soul, it’s an exceptional, cutting-edge pop song built around a hip-hop groove—truly a classic born of the 2000s.

The track is thoroughly enjoyable on its own, but because Gorillaz is a conceptual project, your enjoyment will only multiply if you also check out the brilliant music video—said to be influenced by Castle in the Sky—and the richly detailed backstories of the characters.

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Gorillaz – Doncamatic (Official Video)

Released worldwide as the kickoff track for Gorillaz’s third phase, it introduced a new worldview that evolved the band’s signature laid-back, edgy vibe.

The voice saying “Doncamatic” that pops up throughout is actually that of the president of the Japanese company that invented the DoncaMatic, recorded by the man himself.

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Gorillaz-Dracula

This is a Dracula-themed track by Gorillaz, the music project led by Damon Albarn.

It’s a pure dub song, with effects-laden sounds whizzing around! The lyrics talk about going to a party without sleeping.

November Has ComeGorillaz4rank/position

Gorillaz – November Has Come – Demon Days

Damon Albarn, who rose to fame as the frontman of Blur, one of the UK’s most iconic bands.

His other project, Gorillaz, could now be said to have surpassed Blur in popularity.

The group’s uniquely languid vibe is perfect for the season when the weather starts to turn a bit chilly.

Among their tracks, the one I especially want to highlight is November Has Come, from the classic album Demon Days.

Over a heavy beat, the masked rapper MF DOOM delivers an explosive verse.

As for why November: interpretations of the lyrics vary, but within this song, November seems to signify a “new era of hip-hop.” November may be close to the end of the year, but for hip-hop, it’s surely only just beginning.

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5/4

An experimental track from Gorillaz’s self-titled debut album, now remembered as a pioneering work by a virtual artist.

Released in March 2001, the piece—true to its title—centers on a 5/4 guitar riff while the drums proceed in 4/4, creating a hallmark polyrhythmic structure.

The unique tension and thrill produced by the guitar and drums pulsing on different cycles make it a prime showcase of the appeal of odd meters.

Although it was initially considered as a single, its bold approach led to the commercial release being shelved; nonetheless, it has earned high praise among fans as an early classic.

Aspiring musicians interested in arranging with irregular time signatures should definitely give it a listen!

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Gorillaz – Friday 13th ft. Octavian (Episode Four)

This is a trip-hop tune inspired by Friday the 13th, exuding an ennui-laden, slightly dangerous vibe.

It’s crafted by Gorillaz, the world’s first fully fledged virtual band born in the UK.

The track comes from their episodic project Song Machine, launched in June 2020, and is included on the acclaimed album Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez.

Featuring Franco-British rapper Octavian, it’s striking for its psychedelic atmosphere that unfolds over a languid beat.

Rather than riding the buoyant mood before the weekend, it paints a melancholic, introspective Friday night.

If you’re tired of generic party anthems, sinking into a cool, downer track like this can be a real treat.

The Manifesto (ft. Trueno & Proof)Gorillaz7rank/position

Gorillaz – The Manifesto ft. Trueno & Proof (Official Visualiser)

As pioneers of the virtual band format, Gorillaz have been reshaping the music scene with innovation for over two decades.

Created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, they are known for their experimental approach that freely blends hip-hop, electronica, and world music.

Released in October 2025, this track is the second single from the album The Mountain, slated for release in March 2026.

Featuring Argentina’s new-generation rapper Trueno and previously unreleased vocals by the late Proof, the song unfolds over more than seven minutes in an epic structure.

Its sound—where the Indian traditional instruments sarod and bansuri intersect with choral arrangements and electronic beats—is truly a “musical meditation suffused with light.” Interweaving Spanish and English rap with folk-inspired elements, the piece offers a spiritual journey that transcends cultures and generations.

It’s a track of overwhelming scale that distills Gorillaz’s cross-genre ambitions into a single, audacious statement.