Ticker Tape

Album: Humanz (2017)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a deluxe edition track from Humanz, Goriilaz's fifth album. The album's overarching theme is the emotional aftermath of an unexpected event in an Americn city, which is turning the world on its head. Goriilaz founder Damon Albarn explained to Stereogum: "I was trying to imagine the spirit that might be present in a big city in the United States [on that night]." Some of the songs reflect an atmosphere, some of them have a very specific image or story in mind."

    This song is about a ticker tape parade where nobody comes out. "It's in moonlight, it's in black and white, it's in monochrome," Albarn described. "I was having a lot of fun imagining some pretty dark, fantastical things, which in a way have…that spirit has manifested itself."
  • The song features American singer-songwriter Carly Simon. Albarn produced Carly Simon's contribution by phone and Internet. He and Simon have never met.
  • Latin hip-hop singer Kali Uchis also makes a vocal contribution. She also appears on another Humanz track, "She's My Collar."
  • Fun fact The first ticker-tape parade took place in New York City in 1886 when office workers spontaneously throw ticker tape into the streets as the Statue of Liberty was dedicated.

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