Top 10 Gorillaz Music Videos
#10: “Clint Eastwood” (2001)
From westerns to George Romero movies, the Gorillaz’ debut sets the stage for their unusual style. “Clint Eastwood” sees the group rocking out in a graveyard, with the ghost of Del the Funky Homosapien adding in his own rap verse. Silhouetted shots of 2-D add a moody atmosphere to the animation, and help ramp up the horror aesthetic. Each member of the band gets their own instrument and a moment to shine, so the video serves as a great intro to their story. The additional “Thriller”-inspired zombie dance moves highlight the way Gorillaz remix so many influences into something original. “Clint Eastwood” is a distinct and lively first look at the band that gets you excited to see more.
#9: “Rock the House” (2001)
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The band fights a giant 3D-animated Del in “Rock The House,” for a video filled with dancing and trippy camera work. The visual flair is off the charts here thanks to the beautiful blend of 2D and 3D animation, along with its red, white, and blue color palette. Despite the complex animation, all the silly dancing and kung fu moves give the video an excessive amount of personality. Murdoc’s revealing outfit and rather lewd dance moves accentuate this quirky style enough to make you laugh at times. There’s smaller connecting details to establish the story between their videos, as well as a sneaky tricycle shot pulled from “The Shining.” “Rock the House” is a wacky but impressive showcase of Gorillaz’ translation from song to video.
#8: “Saturnz Barz (Spirit House)” (2017)
As we follow our heroes shoe-first into a house, we’re treated to a haunted spectacular in “Saturnz Barz.” The video eerily edits the band between surreal space-travelling shots and individual moments in the house to keep you uneasy. And the multicolored asteroids and lights around Murdoc have a psychedelic effect worthy of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” “Saturnz Barz” gives us a spooky visual update to the “Demon Days” cover, as well as snazzy new outfits for the band. Murdoc’s naked body aside, that is. The video can also be viewed as a 360 video, which lends an extra warped feeling to the video. With so many angles on this cerebral experience, you could rewatch it all your life.
#7: “El Mañana” (2006)
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Right after the events of “Feel Good Inc.,” “El Mañana” sees Noodle’s quiet floating island under siege. The rich detail of the windmill and Noodle’s own design match the song’s majestic tone. All the destruction and fiery landscapes show the song’s own mix of beauty and sadness. Many random frames of “El Mañana” blend light and color sublimely enough to be framed on a wall. The mystery behind why Noodle’s flying paradise is being attacked provides its own intrigue to watch the video again, and again. The island presents a lot of cool ideas for world-building, down to the strange choice of an anchor. “El Mañana” moves its action perfectly in time to its music for a stirring, and mesmerizing watch.
#6: “Feel Good Inc.” (2005)
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Above a city clearly in shambles, we find 2-D and Murdoc revelling in the aftermath of an epic party. “Feel Good Inc.” grabs our attention however due to how disinterested and arguably gloomy they both appear. With the nostalgic chorus blasting, Noodle’s flying home is presented like a picturesque view of what could be. Plus Murdoc’s energy on the bass gives suave and cool energy to help the riff stand out. The massive screens turn De La Soul’s verses into moments so overpowering that their world shakes as much as the bass does. “Feel Good Inc.” shines thanks to its stylish cuts, and the unique look it gives to each section of the song.
#5: “Dirty Harry” (2005)
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2-D plays music for kids in the desert, while the gang drives around the sand because why not? This unusual sight sets “Dirty Harry” apart from other Gorillaz videos, especially given the custom fatigues each member rocks here. Their military appearance is a fun translation of Jamie Hewlett’s gritty “Tank Girl” comics, and their ride also cleverly evokes their Geep [note: this is the Gorillaz’s vehicle: https://gorillaz.fandom.com/wiki/Geep] from their first album cover. The joy 2-D takes in singing with the children is heartwarming to watch, and his dancing is a wonderfully funky touch. Bootie Brown’s rise out of the sand is both frightening and cool, and his whole section brings much more chaotic editing to the table. With extra meerkats and wacky kids, “Dirty Harry” is a euphoric spin on its source material.
#4: “Stylo” (2010)
On the run from the police, the band gets into high-speed action in the b-movie-like “Stylo.” The video is action packed, with gunshots and plenty of crashes to amp up the tension. Alternatively, the 3D look of the band is unsettling, particularly the unnatural breakdown of Cyborg Noodle. A surprising cameo by a gun-toting Bruce Willis steals the show here, as he gives cheesy yet bad-ass gazes right at the camera. Willis’ unhinged performance gives his character both a cool and homicidal tone that helps “Stylo” feel like a lost sequel to “Mad Max.” The sleek cars, and a menacing visit from the “Plastic Beach” Boogieman give “Stylo” both high-octane excitement and the narrative depth fans want.
#3: “19-2000” (2001)
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The Gorillaz’ first album cover comes to life in “19-2000” as they take their green Geep out for a spin on the highway. The video is as simple and lighthearted as the song itself, which lets you focus on the band and singing along. They even evoke a silly karaoke vibe on Noodle’s looping “Shoeshine” breakdown, with japanese lyrics on screen to follow. The singing while driving shots evoke a lot of hip hop videos, albeit with more stylish mirror shots. And the references to horror movies through exit signs pushes fans to pause and hit replay. So whether you’re into missile-shooting cars or giant moose, “19-2000” is zany, comic book fun.
#2: “DARE” (2005)
Noodle plays an evil doctor to the giant head of Shaun Ryder, in the bizarre video for “Dare.” Noodle’s animation is pure electricity, as she bounces around her room, and cross-fades into shots of herself. Though Ryder does hype up the song, his Frankenstein-ish cameo in the video is undoubtedly spooky. This juxtaposition of a dance party versus a deranged experiment are unforgettable, especially with the catchy song to back it up. “Dare” also bears the group’s best dancing shots, especially with the punchy blue and red lighting near its finale. It begs so many questions, and begs you to dance as well, what more could you ask for? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Humility” (2018) For Recreating a George Benson Video & Casting Jack Black “Sleeping Powder” (2017) Because Their Videos Never Felt This Wonderfully Lo-Fi “Tranz” (2018) Because It Visualizes a Bad Trip “Garage Palace” (2017) For Its Video Game Look, Complete with Zombies, Ninjas & Superheroes “The Lost Chord” (2020) Because It’s the Follow-up to Plastic Beach We’ve Been Waiting For
#1: “On Melancholy Hill” (2010)
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A weird slow-mo shot of Noodle firing at planes invites us into “Plastic Beach” and its cinematic approach to storytelling. Murdoc and 2-D’s trip in a submarine is memorable itself, thanks to a Cyborg Noodle who vomits an octopus. We’re treated to a stunning underwater buffet of imagery, with glowing jellyfish and cute caricatures of album guests like Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed and Mick Jones. All the nautical designs to the band’s wardrobe are inspiring fashion choices, particularly the mystifying masks on 2-D and Noodle. The Boogieman, a beached manatee, and a giant Russell can be viewed as environmental commentary or visions from a dream as well. Thanks to this endless ocean of visuals unique to Gorillaz and the album, “On Melancholy Hill” remains an iconic video.
