| “ | On Cracker Island it was born | „ |
Cracker Island is the title track and the first single of Gorillaz' eighth studio album, Cracker Island. The song features American bassist, singer and songwriter Thundercat.
Information[]
Cracker Island was first unveiled at the Primavera 0 festival in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 28 April 2022, alongside the track Silent Running.[1] On 26 May, Gorillaz posted a snippet of the studio version on TikTok,[2] and teased the cover art a few days later.[3][4] Stars Redmond, the band's digital marketing manager and Jamie Hewlett's assistant, revealed that the single will be released on 22 June.[5] Cracker Island premiered worldwide on BBC Radio 1W's Future Artists and was shortly afterwards uploaded on various streaming services.[6]
Recording[]
In an interview with Jack SaundersW after the single's premiere on BBC1, Damon Albarn stated that the song is about the idea that "people have kind of some mad ideas can all kind of live together happily in their own kind of echo chamber". He also said that he started working on it on GarageBandW, before joining Greg Kurstin in LA, who brought Thundercat onboard.[6]
| “ | Bringing in Thundercat was a really fun flavor to bring to the album. This wild, sort of uptempo disco song. I had just been working with Thundercat and we had become friends. I texted him and he said, ‘Yes, definitely, I’ll do it.’ It was very fun to watch him work on it and to hear him write his melody parts. He sang a lot of what Damon sang and then added his own thing and the harmonies. It’s always fun to witness him play, because he’s absolutely amazing on the bass. | „ |
| ~ Greg Kurstin, Apple Music[7] |
Music Video[]
- Main Article: Cracker Island (Music Video)
The music video for Cracker Island was premiered on YouTube on 29 July 2022. It was directed by Jamie Hewlett and Fx Goby, and produced by Nexus Studios. The video was first teased with a snippet of 2-D sitting inside a police car, released on the same day as the track.[8]
The video shows the band members (sans Murdoc) being held and questioned by the LAPD at Los Angeles County Hospital, while 2-D hallucinates visions of Thundercat. At the same time, a white bed sheet with two eye holes inexplicably rises and slowly moves to the lobby, leaving a trail of black slimy liquid. Meanwhile, a catatonic Russel dimly stares at the TV, watching a news report about a "major incident below the Hollywood signW", which the police have interrupted. Russel suddenly snaps out of his trance and joins the rest in the lobby, as Murdoc finally arrives and moves to embrace the bed sheet ghost, who reveals itself as a young lady before rapidly aging into an elderly woman. Murdoc lovingly caresses her cheek before moving in for a kiss, as the rest watch in disbelief.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: 2-D & Thundercat]
On Cracker Island it was born
To the collective of the dawn
They were planting seeds at night
To grow a made up paradise
Where the truth was auto tuned (forever cult)
But it’s sadness I consumed (forever cult)
Into my formats everyday (forever cult)
In end I had to pay (what world is this)
In the end I had to pay (I purged my soul)
In the end I had to pay (I drank to riot)
Nothing more to say (I drank to riot)
[Chorus: 2-D]
They taught themselves to be occult
They didn’t know it’s many strategies
They taught themselves to be occult
They didn’t know it’s many strategies
Fantasies
[Bridge: Thundercat]
What world is this?
What world is this?
[Verse 2: 2-D & Thundercat]
On cracker island it was raised
By the collective from the grave
It only came out at night
It ate up their paradise (paradise)
Where the truth was auto tuned (forever cult)
And it’s sadness I consumed (forever cult)
Into my formats everyday (forever cult)
In the end I had to pay (what world is this)
Out there on my silverlake (I was not there)
In the end it will be great (beneath the hills)
I’m like a ship between the tides (I saw myself)
I held on I survived (there in the void)
[Chorus: 2-D]
They taught themselves to be occult
They didn’t know it’s many strategies
They taught themselves to be occult
They didn’t know it’s many strategies
Fantasy
[Verse 3: 2-D & Thundercat]
On cracker island It will die (forever cult)
Join the collective in the sky (forever cult)
And on a shining boat of light (forever cult)
Go up to paradise (what world is this)
Where the truth is autotuned (I purged my soul)
And it’s sadness I consume (I drank to riot)
Into my formats everyday (I drank to riot)
In the end I had to pay (forever cult)
In the end I’ll have to pay (forever cult)
In the end I’ll be ok (forever cult)
[Outro: 2-D]
Nothing more to say
Nothing more to say
Nothing more to say
Release Information[]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Catalog # | Label | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benelux | 2022 | Advance CD Promo | N/A | Warner Music Benelux | — |
| Worldwide | 22 June 2022 | Streaming | Parlophone / Warner Music | #94[9] (UK) / #2[10] (US) | |
| MP3 Download | 5054197188619 | ||||
| 24 February 2023 | 7" Vinyl (as part of the "Deluxe" box set) |
5054197174865 |
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Cracker Island became Gorillaz' highest-charting song on the Billboard Alternative AirplayW chart since Feel Good Inc., reaching number 2.[10]
- Cracker Island is the first song that was performed live on the Gorillaz World Tour 2022 before its official release, with the others being Silent Running, New Gold, Skinny Ape, Possession Island and Oil.
- Cracker Island has a Live Intro, a speech recited by Ben Mendelsohn before a performance of the song on the Gorillaz World Tour 2022 on June 2nd in Paris.
References[]
- ↑ Shutler, Ali (1 May 2022). "Watch Gorillaz perform new Thundercat collab as they kick off 2022 world tour". NME. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ @gorillaz (26 May 2022). "Light the beacon of truth and join us". TikTok. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ @gorillaz (1 June 2022). "Where the truth was auto tuned". TikTok. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ @Gorillaz (7 June 2022). "Cracker Island is coming… pre-save now!". YouTube. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ [citation needed]
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Maeoka, Toshio (23 June 2022). "Gorillaz Premieres New Song “Cracker Island” featuring Thundercat on BBC Radio 1". PM Studio. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Gorillaz. "Cracker Island". Apple Music. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ @Gorillaz (23 June 2022). "🚨 Gorillaz - Cracker Island ft. Thundercat | OUT NOW 🚨". YouTube. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Gorillaz Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved on 14 July 2025.