DARE

DARE (挑戦 chōsen in Japanese) is the twelfth track and second single on Gorillaz' 2005 album, Demon Days. It features vocals by Shaun Ryder and Rosie Wilson.

As soon as Demon Days leaked, fans and critics were picking "DARE" as having 'single' written all over it. It was a surprise to nobody when it was plucked from the album to be the follow-up to the smash hit "Feel Good Inc." "DARE" crashed into the UK charts at #1, becoming the first Gorillaz single to do so.

Bonus tracks were spread generously over the 3 formats in the UK, the standouts being the excellent "Highway (Under Construction)" and the early version of "DARE", "People". Several big-name remixers were enlisted to corner every possible DJ angle, resulting in some interesting takes on the song (some of these were available on promos and as legal downloads only).

All in all, "DARE" represented an excellent package for the fans; and with its catchy lines and stunning video, the title song was also a deserved hit worldwide.

Recording

The chorus happened because when Shaun Ryder was in the vocal booth he couldn't hear the others, so he told them to turn it up.

It was kinda like this: "I can't hear myself ... I can't hear myself. Hey! Turn on the headphones, would ya!"

And then they started turning it up and he said: "Yes... It's coming up a bit... It's coming up... It's coming up... It's coming up... It's there!

Lyrics

It's coming up, It's coming up, It's coming up
It's coming up, It's coming up, It's coming up
It's DARE
It's DARE
You've got to press it on you
You just think it, that's what you do baby
Hold it down there
Jump with them all, and move it
Jump back and forth
And feel like you were there yourself
Work it out

Never did no harm
Never did no harm
It's DARE
It's coming up, It's coming up, It's coming up
It's coming up, It's coming up
It's DARE

You've got to press it on you
You just think it that's what you do baby
Hold it down there
Jump with them all, and move it
Jump back and forth
And feel like you were there yourself
Work it out

Never did no harm
Never did no harm
It's DARE
It's coming up, It's coming up, It's coming up
It's coming up, It's coming up
It's DARE

Never did no harm
Never did no harm
It's DARE
It's coming up, It's coming up, It's coming up
It's coming up, It's coming up
It's DARE

You've got to press it on you
You just think it, that's what you do baby
Hold it down there
Jump with them all and move it
Jump back and forth
And feel like you were there yourself
Work it out

You've got to press it on you
You just keep think it, that's what you do baby
Hold it down there
Jump with them all, and move it
Jump back and forth
And feel like you were there yourself
Work it out

^[1]

UK Formats

CD1

1. DARE

2. Clint Eastwood (Live Featuring De La Soul and Bootie Brown)

CD2

1. DARE

2. Highway (Under Construction)

3. DARE (Soulwax Remix)

DVD

1. DARE (Video)

2. People

3. Samba At 13

4. DARE (Animatic)

Release dates and chart positions

UK : 29/08/05 – highest chart position: - 1

JAPAN : 07/09/05 – highest chart position: -

AUSTRALIA : 05/09/05 - highest chart position: -

Video

Trivia

The song was named DARE due to guest vocalist Shaun Ryder's inability to say "there" due to his thick accent. The resulting word sounded like "Dare" and the title stuck.
"DARE" is not just Gorillaz's only UK number one single to date, but also Shaun Ryder's. Although he had success in both Happy Mondays and Black Grape, neither band ever had a number one single.
The song features a sample of Daft Punk's "Revolution 909". in the music video, it starts at 4 minutes and 7 seconds, while it starts at 3 minutes and 47 seconds in the album/single versions.
The instrumental backdrop of the track was also used in the song, "People".
At the end of the video when Murdoc wakes up, originally there was a poster that resembled Evanescence's "Fallen" album cover, but at some point it was replaced with a nun poster as seen in the currently available YouTube video.
Noodle sings in this track but is voiced by Rosie Wilson (aka Roses Gabor).