| “ | Feel the impact! | „ |
Left Hand Suzuki Method is the ninth track from Gorillaz' first compilation album, G-Sides. It originally appeared as a B-side track to the single 19-2000. It is also entirely sung by Noodle, voiced by Miho Hatori, who alternates between speaking Japanese and English.
The song was also featured as a US and France-exclusive bonus track of the band's debut album, Gorillaz.
Information[]
The song's title is a combination of two different elements: the Suzuki methodW, a method of music education described by the lyrics of the song created by Japanese musician and pedagogue Shinichi SuzukiW in the mid 20th century, which was studied by both co-creator Damon Albarn and bassist Junior Dan, and the two musicians being left-handed (hence Dan's nickname of "Left Hand Dan").
The full expression also began to be used to describe an unconventional way of applying this method, which consisted of listening to the recording and attempting to play along while also being high from smoking large quantities of weed (which most likely also took place during the song's recording sessions in Jamaica, as Albarn notoriously brought two suitcases full of cannabis with him to consume during their stay).
Left Hand Suzuki Method was initially picked for inclusion on the self-titled album. However, its inclusion was barred by record label Parlophone over concerns that the bong sounds at the beginning of the track would not be well received in international markets. As such, when it eventually made its way to the US, a "clean version" of the track had to be made with the bong sounds edited out.[1]
Its place on the album's tracklisting was most likely taken by either Rock The House or Starshine; the first one was included under request of the label for its more radio-friendly nature, despite Damon Albarn's initial objections, and the latter is the only song on the standard edition of the debut album to have not been produced by Dan the Automator, possibly intended to have been a B-side instead.
Left Hand Suzuki Method also contains the highest number of known samples out of any Gorillaz song:
- "Mannish Boy", by Muddy Waters (drums and chopped-up vocals);
- "Long, Long Ago", written in 1833 by English composer Thomas Haynes Bayly (the violin);
- "What The...", by George Duke (the background humming);
- "No Tricks", by Latee (the "Feel the impact!" line);
- "Desert Sunrise" by Joe Simon and Millie Jackson (multiple instruments).
"Long, Long Ago" is also one of the songs featured in the Suzuki Method of violin education and the Suzuki book 1 for stringed instruments, hence its inclusion in this song.
Exhumation[]
Exhumation is the original working title of the song, included on the Un-mastered Tracks and Instrumentals promo CDs, before being re-named to "Left Hand Suzuki Method" on later releases. It is much longer than the well-known one, with a length of 5:16 instead of 3:12, and without the fade-out in the end. The lyrics remain the same on both versions.
Lyrics[]
[Latee (sample)]
Feel the impact!
[Miho Hatori]
家庭で毎日学習用のレコードを聴かせて音楽的センスを育てる
それによって、上達も早い
[Katei de mainichi gakushû-yô no rekôdo wo kikasete ongaku-teki-sensu wo sodateru]
[Sore ni yotte, jôtatsu mo hayai]
The most important thing is listening to the recording of the music, it makes them get an...um...musical sense and gets to the point of the... fast progress
トナリゼーションを毎日レッスン指導して、音を立派に育てる
[Tonarizêsyon wo mainichi ressun shidô shite, oto wo rippa ni sodateru]
And also... every day, every lesson, we have to make sure they learn about tonalization
Welcome! Let us play a record and build up a sense of music (musical vocabulary). That way, it will come to you quickly.
The most important thing is listening to the recording of the music, it makes them get an...um...musical sense and gets to the point of the... fast progress
Do not hesitate to make mistakes to learn from, so that you can fine-tune the tonal quality of the music.
Also, everyday, every lesson. We have to make sure they have to learn about tonalization.
Video[]
Availability[]
- 19-2000 single (eCDs & UK 12");
- Gorillaz (US & Canadian eCDs, French bonus disc);
- G-Sides (all non-US/CA releases & digutal formats).
- Included on the Gorillaz 20th Anniversary Box Set.
Other Versions[]
- Clean Edit - on the US Edited Version of the debut album
- Un-mastered Mix (Exhumation) - on the Gorillaz Un-mastered Tracks promo CD
- Instrumental (Exhumation) - on the Gorillaz Instrumentals promo CD
- Exhumation Vox - on the Gorillaz.com website as an MP3 file
Trivia[]
- The song retained the name "Exhumation" as short, vocal-only version available in Noodle's Room on the Kong Studios website during Phase One, named "Exhumation Vox".
- Another song featuring lead vocals by Noodle in Japanese was also present on the un-mastered and instrumental promos before being cut from the album: Faust, which was later released as a B-side to the Rock the House single, also had its own short version available on Noodle's Room, also titled "Faust Vox".
- Interestingly, 2-D's backing vocals are not present on this version of the song, only Noodle's.
- Another song featuring lead vocals by Noodle in Japanese was also present on the un-mastered and instrumental promos before being cut from the album: Faust, which was later released as a B-side to the Rock the House single, also had its own short version available on Noodle's Room, also titled "Faust Vox".
- This track was once referred to as "Suzuki Left Hand Method" by the Cafe Cat in the cafeteria during MEL's Kong Studios tour.
- The song was eventually given a music video in 2006 titled "Monk's Montage" on the Phase Two: Slowboat To Hades DVD which paired it with several clips of music videos, G-Bitez, visuals and idents from Phases 1 and 2.
References[]
- ↑ One of many questions answered by Mat Wakeham for User:Hectorama501 through Instagram.