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Feel Good Inc. is the sixth track and the lead single from Gorillaz's second studio album Demon Days. The song features hip hop group De La Soul.

Information[]

Gorillaz_Feel_Good_Inc._Apple_iPod_+_iTunes_-_mai_2005

Gorillaz Feel Good Inc. Apple iPod + iTunes - mai 2005

"Feel Good Inc." charted high in most European countries (including an at-the-time career best of #2 in England, accompanied by a chart run to rival Clint Eastwood's 4 years before). In the US, aided by an iPod commercial featuring the song, and presence on the latest successful "Now" compilation, "Feel Good Inc." took Gorillaz to a whole new level - the track peaked just outside the top 10 in the Billboard Top 100, and it was also top of the Modern Rock charts for a 3-week spell.

In the UK, due to a loophole in the chart rules, "Feel Good Inc." was able to enter the charts before its official release because the record company released 300 copies of the 7-inch single format, meaning that legal downloads would count towards a chart placing for the single (this was because, according to UK chart rules at that time, download sales contributed to charting placements, but only if a physical format was also available).

A total of 4 new and original songs were available across formats, although the song Murdoc Is God was only included on the Japanese CD, where it was released as an EP instead of as a single, similar to other songs from Phase 2. The feel of the B-sides was more free and experimental than that of those that had appeared on 'Demon Days' - showcasing another side to the Gorillaz sound. Two digital-exclusive EPs were released: the iTunes Feel Good Inc. EP Series, which released on 26 December 2006 and featured it's previously unreleased demo, and the Feel Good Inc. EP, released a month later.

"Feel Good Inc." makes an appearance in Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3 on Wii, Sing Star Pop! on PlayStation 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC Versions, Guitar Hero 5 on Xbox 360, the 2006 movie Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker, and was part of Weird Al YankovicW's "Polkarama". It was also one of the songs covered by Kidz Bop for the ninth album, and the only Gorillaz song covered by the group, although it was controversial among fans.

Recording[]

Real Life Backstory[]

Feel Good Inc. was one of the first songs Damon worked on with Danger Mouse, describing the process as "very instinctive".[2] The windmill imagery in the lyrics was inspired by the Palm Springs windmillsW Damon saw during a trip to his first CoachellaW performance with Blur in 2003.[3]

De La Soul, who provided the rap for the song, were brought in by Burton, who was good friends with them.[2] Although Pos initially wanted to work on Kids With Guns, they eventually settled on this track after hearing the demo.[4][5]

Virtual Band Backstory[]

According to Noodle, the song started out as an upbeat 80s track. Eventually she moved towards a more acoustic sound, reminiscent of the countryside. The 'windmills' were one of the key words to help with the visual imagery and also a reference to the 'dark, satanic millsW' that William BlakeW wrote about in his verse of "JerusalemW". They also represent a "note of optimism, a reminder of a simpler time. Like maybe, a snapshot of an older world, more innocent."[2][6]

ā€œ I had the main tune, the bit that 2-D sings. But I'd left a big space for where a rapper would do their part. It was Danger Mouse that originally suggested De La Soul. He was good friends with them and sent them the track and they agreed to fly over. Although at first when they arrived they were just messing around, trying to make each other laugh. Fortunately, we recorded most of that, and that's how we got the crazy-sounding laugh that you hear on the track. The whole thing worked amazingly, but most of it was an accident. ā€ž
~ Noodle

The production on 2-D's vocals also reflect that sensibility "like an image beaming at you from the past… a ghost of a memory."[6]

Music Video[]

FeelGoodIncMV
Main Article: Feel Good Inc. (Music Video)

The music video for Feel Good Inc. was released on 9 May 2005 along with the single itself. It was directed by Jamie Hewlett & Pete Candeland and was produced and animated by film production company Passion Pictures.

The video shows 2-D trying to wake up the attendants of the Feel Good Inc. Tower with a megaphone while Murdoc and Russel perform. De La Soul later appear rapping on the TVs in the hall. Noodle floats by the tower on a Flying Windmill Island playing the guitar, in which 2-D looks longingly at. The video ends with 2-D sitting back on the chair he started in and Noodle’s floating island being followed by helicopters, seemingly leading into the music video for El MaƱana.

Lyrics[]

(Laughing)

Sha, sha ba da, sha ba da ca, feel good (x8)

City's breaking down on a camel's back
They just have to go 'cause they don't know whack
So while you fill the streets
It's appealing to see
You won't get out the county 'cause you're damned and free
You got a new horizon it's ephemeral style
A melancholy town where we never smile
And all I wanna hear is the message beep
My dreams they've got her kissin' 'cause I don't get sleep, no

[Beep]

Windmill, windmill for the land
Turn forever hand in hand
Take it all in on your stride
It is ticking, falling down
Love forever, love is free
Let's turn forever you and me
Windmill, windmill for the land
Is everybody in?

Laughing gas, these hazmats
Fast cats, lining them up like ass cracks
Play these ponies at the track
It's my chocolate attack
Shit, I'm stepping in the heart of this here
(Yeah)
Care bear rappin' in harder this year
(Yeah)

Watch me as I gravitate hahahahahaaa

Yo, we gon' ghost town
and smoke town
With your sound you're in the blink
Gonna bite the dust
Can't fight with us
With your sound you kill the inc.

So don't stop get it, get it
Until you're jet ahead
Watch the way I navigate hahahahahaaa

(Laughing)

Sha, sha ba da, sha ba da ca, feel good (x8)

Windmill, windmill for the land
Turn forever hand in hand
Take it all in on your stride
It is ticking, falling down
Love forever, love is free
Let's turn forever you and me
Windmill, windmill for the land
Is everybody in?

Don't stop get it, get it
Be proud your captain's in it
Steady, watch me navigate
Hahahahahaaa! (x2)

(Laughing)

Sha, sha ba da, sha ba da ca, feel good (x8)

[7]

Single Formats[]

CD[]

  1. "Feel Good Inc."
  2. "Spitting Out The Demons"

DVD[]

  1. "Feel Good Inc. (Music Video)"
  2. "Spitting Out The Demons"
  3. "Bill Murray"

7"[]

  1. "Feel Good Inc." [A]
  2. "68 State" [B]

European maxi-CD[]

  1. "Feel Good Inc."
  2. "Spitting Out The Demons"
  3. "Bill Murray"
  4. "Feel Good Inc. (Music Video)"

Japan Only EP[]

  1. "Feel Good Inc."
  2. "Spitting Out The Demons"
  3. "Bill Murray"
  4. "Murdoc Is God"
  5. "Feel Good Inc. (Music Video)"

Release Information[]

Region Date Format(s) Catalog # Label Chart positions
United Kingdom 9 May 2005 CD CDR 6663 Parlophone / EMI #2
DVD DVDR 6663
Ltd 7" Picture Disc[note 1] 12R 6663
March 2005 CD Promo CDRDJ 6663
12" Promo 12RDJ 6663
Japan 27 April 2005 eCD TOCP-61100 Toshiba / EMI Records Japan N/A
2005 eCD Promo
Cassette Promo N/A
US CD Promo 7243 8 68982 2 7 Virgin Records #14
12" Promo 7087 6 19305 6 6
Australia May 2005 CD 8695452 Capitol / EMI Records #3
Europe 7243 8 69545 2 7 #2 (Eurochart)
7243 8 69543 2 9
eCD 7243 8 72842 0 3
Argentina 2005 CD Promo CDDIF482 EMI Records Argentina N/A
Brazil 7243 8 68982 2 7 EMI Records Brazil
Israel EMI Records Israel
Worldwide March 2005 Download N/A Parlophone / EMI
May 2005 Download "Instrumental"

Video[]

Gorillaz_-_Feel_Good_Inc._(Official_Video)

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. (Official Video)

Gallery[]

Feel_Good_INC_DVD_Menu

Feel Good INC DVD Menu

Trivia[]

  • "Feel Good Inc." is Russel's favourite song on Demon Days.[8]
  • At some point before its release, this track was simply titled "Feel Good".[9]
  • The synth riffs in the song are very reminiscent of Tom Tom Club's "Wordy RappinghoodW".[6]
  • The track also features an unidentified "Hawaiian guitar" sample that is only present on 2-D's first verse, starting at 0:39.[10]

References[]

Notes

  1. ↑ The initial 300 copies were released on 11 April 2005.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Notes in the booklet to Gorillaz, The Singles Collection 2001-2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Montgomery, James; Perez, Rodrigo (30 January 2006). "Road To The Grammys: The Story Behind Gorillaz's 'Feel Good Inc.'". Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
  3. ↑ @damonalbarnmusic (15 April 2024). "Windmill, windmill for the land". YouTube. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Dunworth, Liberty (11 April 2023). "Gorillaz wanted De La Soul on ā€˜Kids With Guns’ before ā€˜Feel Good Inc.’". NME. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
  5. ↑ Mercer, Kelvin (29 April 2017). "Gorillaz Share The Secret Behind Their Animations, Friction & New Album". HOT 97, located at 22:50. YouTube. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Browne, Cass; Gorillaz (October 26, 2006). Rise Of The Ogre, p. 195. Penguin Group. ISBN 1-59448-931-9.
  7. ↑ "The Singles Collection 2001-2011 [Japanese standard edition]", TOCP-71211, booklet p.17-18
  8. ↑ "Gorillaz Interview Kit", located at 2:13. Lily Townsend (26 June 2019). Retrieved on 3 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Gorillaz – Demon Days – CD (Album, Promo), 2005 [r7926263] | Discogs
  10. ↑ Vasquez, Josiah (6 June 2015). "What's that sample in the background of Feel Good Inc.?". r/gorillaz. Reddit. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.

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