Orchestral Intro

Album: Plastic Beach (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from Plastic Beach, the third studio album by the virtual band Gorillaz. The band is a creation of Blur frontman Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl. Gorillaz is composed of four animated band members: lead vocalist and keyboardist 2D, bass guitarist Murdoc Niccals, lead guitarist Noodle and drummer Russel Hobbs.
  • Murdoc discussed this orchestral piece on the Gorillaz website: "I needed something other-worldly to open the record. This album's been a while in the making and this needed to be The Big Reveal. It needed to be portentous, vast and… oceanic. But graceful. Like the morphine's just gently kicking in as the listener glides into the Plastic Bay. Mmmm."
  • Murdoc added: "This little symphony was recorded with the Sinfonia Viva orchestra, in Derby, around April 2009. I recorded with them in the old Rolls Royce engine factory, where they built the engines for the World War II spitfires. Which fits the soul of all this - a bygone era, the remnants of war and planes and decay."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.