What else should we react to? 🤔 Comment below! Also if you like the song in the intro check out ‘Love is Blind’ now 🙌 ruclips.net/video/4YpIG60jyHY/видео.htmlsi=rGs3svMixQtqjt2k
The person on the windmill is actually Noodle their guitarist. 2-D and the rest of the band are stuck in Feel Good Inc while she is attacked by their helicopters. El Manana is the ending of this story. I recommend On Melancholy Hill as your next song.
That chorus, to Melancholy Hill, will always be stuck in my head. That and Pink Plastic Bag. They're just little pink plastic bags Blowing on a highway alone They don't know where they'll go They just gonna float out
@@SteveA308 it's every chill track of Gorillaz is like inverted banger of a track. Just leans you back. Like, 12D3 off of G-Gidez. Whole entire G-Sidez is full of my favorites.
El Manana is such a beautifully sung and arranged song & video, it makes me a bit teary eyed whenever I listen to it. Melancholy Hill is great with it's haunting undertones juxtaposed with the almost wistfully hopeful melody. I literally cannot watch it without watching Stylo first, I'm hard wired to watch/listen to them in the stories chronological order haha.
If anything, I find it more believable, honestly. If you weren't old enough to remember it on the radio, there's not a lot of reasons why you would have listened to it. It's like people being shocked I hadn't seen The Godfather when I was born, like, 17yrs after it came out
Nah bro, people be in their own lanes in life. there are millions of performers out there. We as individuals only listen to a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the music thats available and that availability is entirely shaped by our environments. For Example, did you know that the theme to Tetris has words?
@@raimarulightning you're right on the money too. Songs like "Shave 'em dry" by Lucille Bogan are praiseworthy, but 90 almost 100 years old now. It's too raunchy for you tube, the kids won't find it here. and being so old it's just not on anyone's radar. its beautiful, single take, no autotune, piano and vocals probably recorded by a single mic together. it's a gem ;)
Not only is their music really great, their videos are also so creative. Glad you’re getting into Gorillaz! One of my husband’s favorite bands of all time.
@@pudermcgavin4462I disagree, I feel like the newer the album, the more hit and miss it is, but the fact that Damon is still spitting out masterpieces is incredible. But I might be biased since Demon Days is still my favorite album by far
The first 2 Gorillaz albums back in 2001 and 2005 were so far out of left field compared to everything else that was coming out at that time. And nearly every track on their self titled first album and Demon Days their second were absolute bangers. There was such a depth and fervent passion for what Albarn & Hewlett were creating, and it shows in the lyrics, the melodies, and the videos. They were classics as soon as they released, and they hold up over time so so well. Even 20 years later, they still have that same energy and the same hook that gets into you. Glad you're digging into these songs. Others to listen to from that era: 5/4, 19-2000, Tomorrow Comes Today, Dirty Harry, Dare, and El Mañana.
At 6:55 - It's not a microwave beep. It's an answering machine beep. I think you missed the point of the last set of lyrics: "All I want to hear is the message beep..." It would mean that someone is calling him, so someone cares about him.
If I’m being honest, I always enjoyed Feel Good Inc. for the sound, and never truly paid attention to the lyrics. To see Knox pulling all of this information out from what he’s hearing? That’s extremely impressive and now I’m hearing this song in a completely different light. Thanks!
The music video ties into an other music video, for "El Mañana". Their discography is quite broad, but I think you might enjoy "Stylo", "Pac-Man", "Dare" or "Garage Palace" for very different reasons. The animation and music is of the highest quality in all of them. Also, the person on the edge of the windmill is not 2-D the singer, but Noodle, the guitarist ( who kicked the sh*it out of undead apes in "Clint Eastwood").
Damon albarn the British guy doing the singing parts is the lead singer of blur, legendary punk/indie band that burst onto the scene at the same time as oasis. Brit pop era you should check out blur you'd love it
Punk? lol. Don't get me wrong, I love Blur but they were hardly punk. They weren't even indie for most of their career, unless you consider Polydor, Warner and EMI as indie. :)
They were Britpop, not even remotely punk or indie. The only song they had that even approached a punk sound was "Song 2" and that song was meant to be a fucking _joke._
If you plan on diving deeper into the tracks in Demon Days, keep in mind that it came out in 2005, and the major thematic elements involve the political climate of the West post 9-11, especially the US’s war in Iraq. The album starts out very pessimistic about the state of the world but it ultimately ends on an optimistic note. If you haven’t listened to the entire album from beginning to end, you’re missing out. (Literally my favorite album if you can’t tell)
Damon is the Gorillaz. He brings in other artists if needed. The Gorillaz is a representation of Damon's alternative sides. Noodle being the feminine aspect
Funny enough Knox, you were asking why he was 2d in the video at times? His name is 2D, so he stays mostly in that style. Also the person on the windmill island is Noodle a little still alive ( not a robot girl at this time) girl who is the only one missing from the band on the inside of the Feel Good Inc. tower.
Love your thoughtful reactions, and it’s so refreshing to see a reactor watch this that not only knows who de la soul is, but recognized them immediately. Well done
I feel like you need to react to a video about the lore and story of the Gorillaz across all there albums! There is a really crazy story and world being built!
I'm not sure if it happened everywhere, but the speed at which this song took over my hometown was astounding. It was literally everywhere overnight. It's wild how nostalgic this song is for me lol.
The guitarist on the windmill island is the Gorillaz guitarist Noodle. She's Japanese. 2-D is the singer in the song chiming "Feel Good!" The bass player is Murdok and the drummer is Russell. You watched Clint Eastwood. If you pay attention, Russell's possessed spirit comes out of him... known as Del, the Funky Homosapien who raps in that song.
Gorillaz has so many great songs. My absolute favorite I could listen to every day is On Melancholy Hill. But their other songs are amazing as well. Stylo, Dirty Harry, Dare, 19-2000 and so many more. They are all so different but still have the recognizable Gorillaz tune.
What does the windmill represent in Feel Good Inc? 2D is reminiscing/dreaming about the windmill that's headed for real land - the land he belonged to before the Inc took over his autonomy. He sings about the love and freedom that turned forever on the windmill land and invites everyone at the Inc to join in.
Feel good inc. is where the band is going partying using drugs/sec to feel good. The windmill is outside of all that where noodle is happy without the drugs. The tower is even shaped almost like a needle. 2-D wants out that’s why he longs to be on the windmill with noodle. De La Soul represents when the partying starts again and 2-D is drawn back into partying and dancing. Then he goes back to longing for the windmill and getting away from the drugs. The second rap verse he doesn’t start dancing he just gets sad it’s starting again.
I was never a fan of blur but because i was 15 during the 99s brit pop war between them and oasis and i am a Mancunian through and through but when gorrillaz came out, i was all in 😊
Love your reactions! Very insightful and open minded to alternate meanings. Great job not only breaking down the lyrics but also the video. Keep it up!
One of the coolest things about their videos is that they largely connect and tell the story/history of the band. When/if you finish doing reactions to them, you should definitely see about watching them in order.
There are a number of playlists that not only have the music videos but band lore and interviews in chronological order. It's interesting to see how they portray the characters over the years, especially 2-D and Noodle. There's an entire book written about the history of the band that explains things like 2-D's eyes and why Russell's possessed.
I played Feel Good so many times it came out during that time & it is still in my playlist after all these years. The GenZ probably don't know them & how iconic the music video was, so I'm happy your doing a reaction video on this.
trust me Gen Z (me) definitely knows the impact of Gorilaz, there was not a lot of music that came out during our formative years to actually replace iconic artists like this.
I never really understand song lyrics but now after clint east-wood and feel good, the way you explained it made me like the song so much more man, thank you!
The person outside playing the guitar is a girl by the way, her name is Noodle. The one singing the song is named 2-D, he's not the only one on the island.
I would say the next line explains it further. "My dreams they gotta catch because I don't get sleep no" For me, this means the artist is restless as the rat-race of the mainstream music industry wouldnt allow rest.
Since you already jumped to feel good Inc you should do Dare and El mañana next. But I'd say do at least one more song from their 1st album, it can be tomorrow comes today, 19-2000 or rock the house with Del. There are even other non m/v tracks that rock Also, before leaving demon days you have to cover the MF DOOM Collab, maybe even the D12 one
I know I'm a year late of watching you react to this song but I have goosebumps after listening to you casually break down this song into what it represents. You're exceptional at breaking down the messages that rappers say in their songs.
Great breakdown of the song. I enjoy watching your videos, but please react to El Manana. That song follows Feel Good Inc. They almost all connect as one big story. I hope you will and can't wait to watch your reaction to it.
one of the best bands i've ever seen live, saw the plastic beach tour in the UK at the o2 arena, theres like 30 band members on stage including 2 drum kits, one had electric samples and a sub-bass sidechained to the kick it was immense. De la soul supported AND did their featured gorrilaz songs, Damon Albarn has this signature sound for those 2 albums where his mic is like a repurposed police radio receiver so the white noise distortion and feedback isn't post processing he can genuinely just sound like that its got this like ethereal quality to it
Pls tell me you know about the character commentary videos on these where one of the band members talks about "making" the mvs. They're so meta it's amazing
@stampycaunthe1950 oh i hope you enjoy them. They're murdoc being....well murdoc, but talking abt the band and the mvs. There are quite a few of these vids actually
"If youre damned and free" probably refers to "were damned to be free" by Sartre. No one will decide anything for you. Everything is your choice - not choosing is also a choice
I kept hearing the groove from 'Let it whip' from the Dazz Band 🤣 - So let it whip (let's whip it, baby) Child (let's whip it right) Get a grip (let's whip it baby) (Whip it all night)
Loved your reaction and breakdown (your super computer brain does amaze me 😊) Loved the whole concept of Gorillaz, rinsed this album, tis a banger. So i was bopping in my kitchen to this 😅 Thanks Knox 😁
Watching your reactions always makes me Feel Good!!! I was a senior in high school when Clint Eastwood came out and a stupid fool in college when this song came out 😂😂. Awesome song, awesome reaction. Nothing more to say.
"Why does he look 2D there?" Well, his name *is* 2-D, after all. Lol. Also, he wasn't seeing himself. That was Noodle on the windmill island. When I first saw the video I thought it was him, too. I didn't know Noodle had aged at the time (I was a casual-at-best listener of Gorillaz. Check out the Gorillaz lore on your off time. It's crazy deep). The video for "El Manana" (I don't know the alt+ code for the appropriate N and am currently too lazy to look it up) picks up immediately after this video, with the attack choppers chasing the windmill island.
alt+164. (part of being a Spanish speaker. It's muscle memory by now) I also thought it was 2D outside when I first saw this video. Even though it's Noodle outside, his analysis still kinda works; 2D is locked inside looking out while Noodle is sitting oustide with her legs dangling form the edge.
You had it almost right, you had mentioned it but yes this has to do with 1984. Really good breakdown on this. Always love hearing your thoughts on the lyrics. And for some reason RUclips unsubbed me to you. But fixed that.
I feel Howl's moving castle with this. Your analysis and breakdown as per usual is above and beyond and you've given me a good few new things to think about 😂 your observation with music is quite outstanding, I watch a lot of reaction but you do see/hear things that afterwards I'm like yeah i absolutely agree and need to hear it again(not listen) 😂
I had a feel that was the singer from blur. They just sounded to similar. Thanks for the confirmation. I've been wondering for over twenty years of that was him.
Melancholy Hill is a direct sequel to this. Also, the person on the Windmill is a different character, the little girl with the guitar from Clint Eastwood.
oh there seems to be some audio missing at the end! glad it got it's certification tho :D absolutely love your videos, you always manage to add so much to these songs with your rapid fire interpretations! Truly makes you appreciate these songs even more in a new light
Again I love how you break down the lyrics. For me, this song always felt like they were singing about the difference between artificial happiness provided by drugs/sex/etc vs the happiness that is actually real and fulfilling. Like how sex is empty without love, or how drugs only make you happy till the high wears off. And he himself is trapped in that artificial happiness, dreaming and longing for what's real.
There's actually another meaning in the song. The other meaning is about how recent companies only want a certain sound to make people feel happy or to get money out of it. Which is why one of the most ironic things is they use this song for a iPod commercial
The way I've always perceived the meaning of this song is slightly skewed by what i know about the Gorillaz. Damon Albarn, who is the musical founder of the Gorillaz was originally in the band Blur, and attained distain toward the music industry at that time. A lot of the songs from the Gorillaz is a jab at the modern music industry. So knowing this, this is what I've always seen as the meaning behind the song and video. Feel Good inc. is the mainstream music industry. Preaching fame and fortune to those they sign, but most artists have mental health issues such as depression. It's sadly a lot of the inspiration of their music. So while Feel Good Inc. (Mainstream Music Industry) has everything that people think will bring them happiness (Sex, Fancy Ornate Rooms, etc) its portrayed as dark and dreary, and the singer is longing to find what actually makes him happy. The Windmill island could be a lot of things depending on how you see it. For instance, you could see it as being smaller record labels, and the helicopters are being sent to destroy the smaller labels (a take on capitalism), but i see it a different way. Again going back to depression being a major source of creativity for artists, and the singer longing for the island, I see the island as being his happiness. Its bright, its green, its flying through the sky and peaceful, even with it being more simple and less of the extravagance of Feel Good Inc. The helicopters are being sent by Feel Good Inc to take out the happiness of the artists, because the depression of the artists is what fuels the songs that make the Music Industry money. Now the cameo from De La Sol. Its placed on the screens consistently, and they are the ones doing the maniacal laughing. I believe they represent the heads of "Feel Good Inc." Let's look at the lyrics. "Laughing Gas" can be seen as portraying false happiness. Forcing the artists to be seen as happy by any means, even drugging them. "Lining them up like ass cracks" getting them in line as if doing what they are saying. "Play these ponies at the track" is betting on the artists success. Going forward a bit "With yo sound, you in the blink. Gon' bite the dust, can't fight with us, with yo sound, you kill the inc." Basically saying, if you make it big and make us money, your success in this is guarantied, but if you fail, you're a liability to our company, and we'll drop you. I could keep going, but i think the point is made. I very obviously could be wrong, but this is the way I've always understood the song. It's sad, but a truth that, while I'm not in the music industry, I could see happening.
5:43 "...and why is the....why is he 2D?" Ironically, his name is 2-D. And I take it more like "and all I wanna hear is the message beep".... because you're out living your life, not at home answering my call. "And i just heard a beep like a microwave beep"... or like a message beep... yeah you're not old enough to remember hearing those on the daily. 😂
At 11:22 - I just realized something. They mentioned Motown, which is in Detroit, Michigan. But at this point, they mentioned Cheddar-Headed... Cheeseheads are fans of the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, the state next door to Michigan. They might be talking about "cheddar" as money, but I think it is another interesting layer.
This is probably the closest I've seen any reaction channel get to the true meaning of the song. You are right about it taking shots at the music industry and the idea that they're selling good feels in an Orwellian Utopia kind of way. The only mistake you made is that it wasn't 2-D, the singer, on the floating island with the windmill it was noodle, the bassist.
2-D singing through the megaphone is a nice Easter egg for Blur fans. Damon (of Blur and Gorillaz) always sings the Blur song “Oily Water” through a megaphone.
Twice you said "Drug alliteration" when you meant "allusions". Alliteration is using the same letter or sound at the start of words while allusions are indirect references.
Oh you sweet summer child, 2d is singing, noodle is on the floating windmill island, noodle is the one dancing in dare. Murdock, the one on guitar here (green) is the one that woke up at the end of dare Also consider, if you haven't already, checking out Clint Eastwood
Im like a snail when it comes to "getting it" so I really enjoy these breakdowns. I also have some kinda sensory thing, Listening to new music can be really overwhelming and it's turns into just "noise", so breakdowns like this help me to digest new music a lot easier
Gorillaz has it's ups and downs for me but what i abolutely love is the plot that flows from each album, with "Plastic Beach" being my absolute favorite
What else should we react to? 🤔 Comment below! Also if you like the song in the intro check out ‘Love is Blind’ now 🙌 ruclips.net/video/4YpIG60jyHY/видео.htmlsi=rGs3svMixQtqjt2k
Check out Leo’s version of this song. Frog leap studios. You won’t be disappointed.
You should react the cracker Island by The Gorillaz
ruclips.net/video/eS7rMAfqNUg/видео.html in conjunction with gorillaz
ruclips.net/video/Jl-SRI6XtE0/видео.html Romain from Rens old band the big push
Gorillaz - El Mañana is kind of a sequel to the video of Feel good Inc.
ruclips.net/video/hji4gBuOvIQ/видео.html
"Why is he 2D" was so funny to me because...he is 2D. That's his name.
He was talking about Murdoc in the back.. I think?
i thought the same haha, but then i got it he was talking about Murdoc in the back, but it stills funny
i giggle a little too
Yes!!!!
Cracked me up too
The person on the windmill is actually Noodle their guitarist. 2-D and the rest of the band are stuck in Feel Good Inc while she is attacked by their helicopters. El Manana is the ending of this story.
I recommend On Melancholy Hill as your next song.
That chorus, to Melancholy Hill, will always be stuck in my head. That and Pink Plastic Bag.
They're just little pink plastic bags
Blowing on a highway alone
They don't know where they'll go
They just gonna float out
Melancholy Hill is such a jam
@@SteveA308 it's every chill track of Gorillaz is like inverted banger of a track. Just leans you back. Like, 12D3 off of G-Gidez. Whole entire G-Sidez is full of my favorites.
need el manana
El Manana is such a beautifully sung and arranged song & video, it makes me a bit teary eyed whenever I listen to it.
Melancholy Hill is great with it's haunting undertones juxtaposed with the almost wistfully hopeful melody. I literally cannot watch it without watching Stylo first, I'm hard wired to watch/listen to them in the stories chronological order haha.
Does anybody else find it hard to believe that in 2023, people are still 'only iust' listening to this for the first time?
Yes
If anything, I find it more believable, honestly. If you weren't old enough to remember it on the radio, there's not a lot of reasons why you would have listened to it.
It's like people being shocked I hadn't seen The Godfather when I was born, like, 17yrs after it came out
Nah bro, people be in their own lanes in life. there are millions of performers out there. We as individuals only listen to a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the music thats available and that availability is entirely shaped by our environments. For Example, did you know that the theme to Tetris has words?
@@donalucino7401 The only thing I love more than recognising the humanity of others is fun little trivia. Thanks for both lol
@@raimarulightning you're right on the money too. Songs like "Shave 'em dry" by Lucille Bogan are praiseworthy, but 90 almost 100 years old now. It's too raunchy for you tube, the kids won't find it here. and being so old it's just not on anyone's radar. its beautiful, single take, no autotune, piano and vocals probably recorded by a single mic together. it's a gem ;)
Not only is their music really great, their videos are also so creative. Glad you’re getting into Gorillaz! One of my husband’s favorite bands of all time.
Every album is better than the last
@@pudermcgavin4462I disagree, I feel like the newer the album, the more hit and miss it is, but the fact that Damon is still spitting out masterpieces is incredible. But I might be biased since Demon Days is still my favorite album by far
Gorillaz and the chilipeppers had the best music videos in the 2000s
The first 2 Gorillaz albums back in 2001 and 2005 were so far out of left field compared to everything else that was coming out at that time. And nearly every track on their self titled first album and Demon Days their second were absolute bangers. There was such a depth and fervent passion for what Albarn & Hewlett were creating, and it shows in the lyrics, the melodies, and the videos. They were classics as soon as they released, and they hold up over time so so well. Even 20 years later, they still have that same energy and the same hook that gets into you. Glad you're digging into these songs. Others to listen to from that era: 5/4, 19-2000, Tomorrow Comes Today, Dirty Harry, Dare, and El Mañana.
El Mañana for sure
I can’t wait to see him analyse Dirty Harry haha
@@Bongsandquotesilike Oh, Knox is going to LOOSE HIS SHIT trying to breakdown The Song Machine project 🤣
Graviteh-eh-eh-eh eh-ehhh.... Still gets in my head sometimes.
Stylo, all day, anyday
Noodle is a girl (the girl that was on the floating island). You should check out "Dare- Gorillaz" it has noddle in it.
At 6:55 - It's not a microwave beep. It's an answering machine beep. I think you missed the point of the last set of lyrics: "All I want to hear is the message beep..." It would mean that someone is calling him, so someone cares about him.
If I’m being honest, I always enjoyed Feel Good Inc. for the sound, and never truly paid attention to the lyrics. To see Knox pulling all of this information out from what he’s hearing? That’s extremely impressive and now I’m hearing this song in a completely different light. Thanks!
❤same. This is one of my wife's favorite songs. I could never really tell what the lyrics were either tho.
This is why Knox is the 🐐 at breaking music down so dang good!!
The music video ties into an other music video, for "El Mañana". Their discography is quite broad, but I think you might enjoy "Stylo", "Pac-Man", "Dare" or "Garage Palace" for very different reasons. The animation and music is of the highest quality in all of them.
Also, the person on the edge of the windmill is not 2-D the singer, but Noodle, the guitarist ( who kicked the sh*it out of undead apes in "Clint Eastwood").
Frrr
DARE next 100%
Stylo definitely!
Dare is the first video in the story, then Feel Good, then El Manana
Dare still one of my favorites
Damon albarn the British guy doing the singing parts is the lead singer of blur, legendary punk/indie band that burst onto the scene at the same time as oasis. Brit pop era you should check out blur you'd love it
Start with charmless man by blur
Punk? lol. Don't get me wrong, I love Blur but they were hardly punk. They weren't even indie for most of their career, unless you consider Polydor, Warner and EMI as indie. :)
They were Britpop, not even remotely punk or indie. The only song they had that even approached a punk sound was "Song 2" and that song was meant to be a fucking _joke._
@@RabblesTheBinxIt's ironic that Song 2 was the most successful track of Blur, just like Smells Like Teen Spirit was for Nirvana
@@RabblesTheBinx umm popscene(which sounds like wire meets buzzcocks) and quite a few others actually.
If you plan on diving deeper into the tracks in Demon Days, keep in mind that it came out in 2005, and the major thematic elements involve the political climate of the West post 9-11, especially the US’s war in Iraq. The album starts out very pessimistic about the state of the world but it ultimately ends on an optimistic note. If you haven’t listened to the entire album from beginning to end, you’re missing out.
(Literally my favorite album if you can’t tell)
Damon is the Gorillaz. He brings in other artists if needed. The Gorillaz is a representation of Damon's alternative sides. Noodle being the feminine aspect
My college roommate used Feel Good Inc. as an alarm, so now my brain is trained to become wide awake whenever I hear it!
Using it as an alarm is really wanting to hear the message beep.
Funny enough Knox, you were asking why he was 2d in the video at times? His name is 2D, so he stays mostly in that style. Also the person on the windmill island is Noodle a little still alive ( not a robot girl at this time) girl who is the only one missing from the band on the inside of the Feel Good Inc. tower.
Love your thoughtful reactions, and it’s so refreshing to see a reactor watch this that not only knows who de la soul is, but recognized them immediately. Well done
Heard this song a thousand + times and you just taught everything about this song.
Damon is one of my favorite artist. His solo and Blur stuff is also pretty good.
Also that band he formed with Paul Simonon of The Clash.
@@jasonremy1627 the good, the bad & the queen
@@alexsutcliffe8533 that's the one. Thanks! Couldn't remember it.
Always love seeing you dive into new stuff. For the record, the character on the floating island was Noodle, the character singing was 2D.
I feel like you need to react to a video about the lore and story of the Gorillaz across all there albums! There is a really crazy story and world being built!
I'm not sure if it happened everywhere, but the speed at which this song took over my hometown was astounding. It was literally everywhere overnight. It's wild how nostalgic this song is for me lol.
The guitarist on the windmill island is the Gorillaz guitarist Noodle. She's Japanese. 2-D is the singer in the song chiming "Feel Good!" The bass player is Murdok and the drummer is Russell. You watched Clint Eastwood. If you pay attention, Russell's possessed spirit comes out of him... known as Del, the Funky Homosapien who raps in that song.
Gorillaz has so many great songs. My absolute favorite I could listen to every day is On Melancholy Hill. But their other songs are amazing as well. Stylo, Dirty Harry, Dare, 19-2000 and so many more. They are all so different but still have the recognizable Gorillaz tune.
What does the windmill represent in Feel Good Inc?
2D is reminiscing/dreaming about the windmill that's headed for real land - the land he belonged to before the Inc took over his autonomy. He sings about the love and freedom that turned forever on the windmill land and invites everyone at the Inc to join in.
Feel good inc. is where the band is going partying using drugs/sec to feel good. The windmill is outside of all that where noodle is happy without the drugs. The tower is even shaped almost like a needle. 2-D wants out that’s why he longs to be on the windmill with noodle. De La Soul represents when the partying starts again and 2-D is drawn back into partying and dancing. Then he goes back to longing for the windmill and getting away from the drugs. The second rap verse he doesn’t start dancing he just gets sad it’s starting again.
Congratulations on a million subscribers buddy, you've more than earned it! It's good to see when hard work pays off!
I was never a fan of blur but because i was 15 during the 99s brit pop war between them and oasis and i am a Mancunian through and through but when gorrillaz came out, i was all in 😊
I think one of my favorite things about watching your videos is that you always seem to be having so much fun. Keep up the good work.
Fun fact: the windmill was inspired by one of Hayao Miyazaki's movies Castle in the Sky
Love your reactions! Very insightful and open minded to alternate meanings. Great job not only breaking down the lyrics but also the video. Keep it up!
12:40
The person singing is 2-D still, but the guitarist on the floating island is not also him, she's Noodle.
One of the coolest things about their videos is that they largely connect and tell the story/history of the band. When/if you finish doing reactions to them, you should definitely see about watching them in order.
There are a number of playlists that not only have the music videos but band lore and interviews in chronological order. It's interesting to see how they portray the characters over the years, especially 2-D and Noodle. There's an entire book written about the history of the band that explains things like 2-D's eyes and why Russell's possessed.
I played Feel Good so many times it came out during that time & it is still in my playlist after all these years. The GenZ probably don't know them & how iconic the music video was, so I'm happy your doing a reaction video on this.
I am gen Z (older half since I was born in 99) and I have literally grown up with Gorillaz. I am a literal life long fan of them.
trust me Gen Z (me) definitely knows the impact of Gorilaz, there was not a lot of music that came out during our formative years to actually replace iconic artists like this.
I love your breakdowns, Knox! subbed!
I never really understand song lyrics but now after clint east-wood and feel good, the way you explained it made me like the song so much more man, thank you!
Love this track - Damon Albarn is just so good. Cracking bassline too.
The person outside playing the guitar is a girl by the way, her name is Noodle. The one singing the song is named 2-D, he's not the only one on the island.
Just started watching your reaction to this...and you're very on point already...Gorillaz are very groovy 😊
Vocalist is the rock band from Blur , bck in mid 90s and his British.
I always take "and all I wanna hear is the message beep" as meaning he's calling someone but doesn't really want them to pick up.
I would say the next line explains it further. "My dreams they gotta catch because I don't get sleep no"
For me, this means the artist is restless as the rat-race of the mainstream music industry wouldnt allow rest.
The singer is damon albarn from the uk band Blur who had the battle of bands in the 00s with Oasis.
Since you already jumped to feel good Inc you should do Dare and El mañana next. But I'd say do at least one more song from their 1st album, it can be tomorrow comes today, 19-2000 or rock the house with Del. There are even other non m/v tracks that rock
Also, before leaving demon days you have to cover the MF DOOM Collab, maybe even the D12 one
I know I'm a year late of watching you react to this song but I have goosebumps after listening to you casually break down this song into what it represents.
You're exceptional at breaking down the messages that rappers say in their songs.
Next Gorillaz song needs to be November Has Come. Yet another great song with a suprise feature
What a breakdown man, excellent analysis/reaction
Great breakdown of the song. I enjoy watching your videos, but please react to El Manana. That song follows Feel Good Inc. They almost all connect as one big story. I hope you will and can't wait to watch your reaction to it.
one of the best bands i've ever seen live, saw the plastic beach tour in the UK at the o2 arena, theres like 30 band members on stage including 2 drum kits, one had electric samples and a sub-bass sidechained to the kick it was immense. De la soul supported AND did their featured gorrilaz songs, Damon Albarn has this signature sound for those 2 albums where his mic is like a repurposed police radio receiver so the white noise distortion and feedback isn't post processing he can genuinely just sound like that its got this like ethereal quality to it
Pls tell me you know about the character commentary videos on these where one of the band members talks about "making" the mvs. They're so meta it's amazing
Probably not, I know I didn't until I read your comment
@stampycaunthe1950 oh i hope you enjoy them. They're murdoc being....well murdoc, but talking abt the band and the mvs. There are quite a few of these vids actually
Dude, your music analysis make me happy. Keep doing more Gorillas Videos, these are awesome!
your mic cut out at the end right at your lead in to Gorillaz you are Knox Hill certified.....
♥️🙏♥️
"If youre damned and free" probably refers to "were damned to be free" by Sartre. No one will decide anything for you. Everything is your choice - not choosing is also a choice
I kept hearing the groove from 'Let it whip' from the Dazz Band 🤣 -
So let it whip (let's whip it, baby)
Child (let's whip it right)
Get a grip (let's whip it baby)
(Whip it all night)
"Why is he 2-D" (5:43). I can't stop laughing!
Loved your reaction and breakdown (your super computer brain does amaze me 😊) Loved the whole concept of Gorillaz, rinsed this album, tis a banger. So i was bopping in my kitchen to this 😅 Thanks Knox 😁
El Mañana is the continuation of the story being told through this video.
Watching your reactions always makes me Feel Good!!! I was a senior in high school when Clint Eastwood came out and a stupid fool in college when this song came out 😂😂. Awesome song, awesome reaction. Nothing more to say.
I've been waiting so long for a reaction video to actually dive into the story of the video and lyrics, thank you so much ❤
13:00 it's actually Noodle they're showing w the guitar there :)
"Why does he look 2D there?"
Well, his name *is* 2-D, after all. Lol.
Also, he wasn't seeing himself. That was Noodle on the windmill island. When I first saw the video I thought it was him, too. I didn't know Noodle had aged at the time (I was a casual-at-best listener of Gorillaz. Check out the Gorillaz lore on your off time. It's crazy deep).
The video for "El Manana" (I don't know the alt+ code for the appropriate N and am currently too lazy to look it up) picks up immediately after this video, with the attack choppers chasing the windmill island.
alt+164. (part of being a Spanish speaker. It's muscle memory by now)
I also thought it was 2D outside when I first saw this video. Even though it's Noodle outside, his analysis still kinda works; 2D is locked inside looking out while Noodle is sitting oustide with her legs dangling form the edge.
You had it almost right, you had mentioned it but yes this has to do with 1984. Really good breakdown on this. Always love hearing your thoughts on the lyrics. And for some reason RUclips unsubbed me to you. But fixed that.
I love how your audio drops out around 15:36, that was the best part of this video. :P
I feel Howl's moving castle with this. Your analysis and breakdown as per usual is above and beyond and you've given me a good few new things to think about 😂 your observation with music is quite outstanding, I watch a lot of reaction but you do see/hear things that afterwards I'm like yeah i absolutely agree and need to hear it again(not listen) 😂
Damon Albarn is one talented guy ! Loved him in his brit pop days with the band Blur.
I had a feel that was the singer from blur. They just sounded to similar. Thanks for the confirmation. I've been wondering for over twenty years of that was him.
9:31 Well, watch "El Mañana" and you'll see why the helicopters are there.
i love playing the bass line on my bass its so satisfying
Melancholy Hill is a direct sequel to this. Also, the person on the Windmill is a different character, the little girl with the guitar from Clint Eastwood.
One of the easiest and catchiest bass lines I ever learned to play.
Its wild this is your first listen to this. This was the song on my childhood and many others in the UK
how come youre a De La Soul fan and never heard this iconic song before
Maybe he was young.
I heard this song and never heard de la soul. Sometimes you just miss em🤷
When I noticed there wasn’t audio at the end I was so glad it didn’t happen through out and we didn’t lose any actual reaction, Knox for GOAT 2024!
Never clicked on anything faster i love them they were so unorthodox
Im here for this journey!
@@DrtBgMarx we'll walk this road together 💪
oh there seems to be some audio missing at the end! glad it got it's certification tho :D
absolutely love your videos, you always manage to add so much to these songs with your rapid fire interpretations! Truly makes you appreciate these songs even more in a new light
Again I love how you break down the lyrics. For me, this song always felt like they were singing about the difference between artificial happiness provided by drugs/sex/etc vs the happiness that is actually real and fulfilling. Like how sex is empty without love, or how drugs only make you happy till the high wears off. And he himself is trapped in that artificial happiness, dreaming and longing for what's real.
There's actually another meaning in the song. The other meaning is about how recent companies only want a certain sound to make people feel happy or to get money out of it. Which is why one of the most ironic things is they use this song for a iPod commercial
Ooh, interesting way to view it. @@rioulethebeats9717
The more songs I watch you react to, the better I'm able to catch the meanings and doubles, this has given a long time Gorillaz fan a new perspective!
Very little compares to Murdoc vibing in his underwear. A sight you won’t ever get out of your head.
The way I've always perceived the meaning of this song is slightly skewed by what i know about the Gorillaz. Damon Albarn, who is the musical founder of the Gorillaz was originally in the band Blur, and attained distain toward the music industry at that time. A lot of the songs from the Gorillaz is a jab at the modern music industry. So knowing this, this is what I've always seen as the meaning behind the song and video.
Feel Good inc. is the mainstream music industry. Preaching fame and fortune to those they sign, but most artists have mental health issues such as depression. It's sadly a lot of the inspiration of their music. So while Feel Good Inc. (Mainstream Music Industry) has everything that people think will bring them happiness (Sex, Fancy Ornate Rooms, etc) its portrayed as dark and dreary, and the singer is longing to find what actually makes him happy.
The Windmill island could be a lot of things depending on how you see it. For instance, you could see it as being smaller record labels, and the helicopters are being sent to destroy the smaller labels (a take on capitalism), but i see it a different way. Again going back to depression being a major source of creativity for artists, and the singer longing for the island, I see the island as being his happiness. Its bright, its green, its flying through the sky and peaceful, even with it being more simple and less of the extravagance of Feel Good Inc. The helicopters are being sent by Feel Good Inc to take out the happiness of the artists, because the depression of the artists is what fuels the songs that make the Music Industry money.
Now the cameo from De La Sol. Its placed on the screens consistently, and they are the ones doing the maniacal laughing. I believe they represent the heads of "Feel Good Inc." Let's look at the lyrics. "Laughing Gas" can be seen as portraying false happiness. Forcing the artists to be seen as happy by any means, even drugging them. "Lining them up like ass cracks" getting them in line as if doing what they are saying. "Play these ponies at the track" is betting on the artists success. Going forward a bit "With yo sound, you in the blink. Gon' bite the dust, can't fight with us, with yo sound, you kill the inc." Basically saying, if you make it big and make us money, your success in this is guarantied, but if you fail, you're a liability to our company, and we'll drop you.
I could keep going, but i think the point is made. I very obviously could be wrong, but this is the way I've always understood the song. It's sad, but a truth that, while I'm not in the music industry, I could see happening.
On melancholy hill would be such a great next song from them.
Hands down my favorite break-down reactor. I continually enjoy your content and appreciate how much you pick out to discuss.
5:43
"...and why is the....why is he 2D?"
Ironically, his name is 2-D.
And I take it more like "and all I wanna hear is the message beep".... because you're out living your life, not at home answering my call.
"And i just heard a beep like a microwave beep"... or like a message beep... yeah you're not old enough to remember hearing those on the daily. 😂
My literal thought when knox said this was "Well, because he's 2-D"
@Demonslayre yep me too... like "uhhh? Cuz he is?"
At 11:22 - I just realized something. They mentioned Motown, which is in Detroit, Michigan. But at this point, they mentioned Cheddar-Headed... Cheeseheads are fans of the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, the state next door to Michigan.
They might be talking about "cheddar" as money, but I think it is another interesting layer.
You should check out Melancholy Hill by them next. Its a vibey song but it's also deep
Yessir!! I had requested this!!!
The person on the island is actually Noodle ❤
This brings back childhood memories! For some reason I remember this song so good in my memory! Thanks for reaction to this!
This is probably the closest I've seen any reaction channel get to the true meaning of the song. You are right about it taking shots at the music industry and the idea that they're selling good feels in an Orwellian Utopia kind of way. The only mistake you made is that it wasn't 2-D, the singer, on the floating island with the windmill it was noodle, the bassist.
to correct you too noodle is a guitarist and not bassist, that's Murdoc the mastermind of evil :D
The most insightful reaction to this song I’ve seen.
There’s no way in hell you’re just now hearing this. It’s a wildly prolific song from way back.
I love your way of analyzing the lyrics. You Always bring a fresh perspective
First time?
Definitely not
YESSSS Knox. Keep Gorillaz coming my dude. Love your breakdowns. Your latest track is great too. 👍
Thank you for breaking this song down. It came out in 2005, I loved it & my youngest son loved Gorillaz as well. I still have this CD lol
I gotta say, I didn't know what to expect but your breakdown of this song was impressive 👍 you caught all the lyrics and did a great analysis 👍🍀
2-D singing through the megaphone is a nice Easter egg for Blur fans. Damon (of Blur and Gorillaz) always sings the Blur song “Oily Water” through a megaphone.
Twice you said "Drug alliteration" when you meant "allusions". Alliteration is using the same letter or sound at the start of words while allusions are indirect references.
Oh you sweet summer child, 2d is singing, noodle is on the floating windmill island, noodle is the one dancing in dare. Murdock, the one on guitar here (green) is the one that woke up at the end of dare
Also consider, if you haven't already, checking out Clint Eastwood
He hasn't seen Dare. Ssshhhhh!
The way you decipher all the imagery and nuances is so impressive!!!! Definitely a new fan here! I bet you did brilliant book reports at school 😂
Im like a snail when it comes to "getting it" so I really enjoy these breakdowns. I also have some kinda sensory thing, Listening to new music can be really overwhelming and it's turns into just "noise", so breakdowns like this help me to digest new music a lot easier
Dam knox! I never knew this song needed breaking down 😂 wtf haha
That’s why you the goat my g
Gorillaz has it's ups and downs for me but what i abolutely love is the plot that flows from each album, with "Plastic Beach" being my absolute favorite
Been waiting for this from you for a while - good to see!
Fun fact: the guitar's G string is flat by -42 cents