M1 A1

M1 A1
Song Credits
Author(s)	Gorillaz
Songwriter(s)	2-D • Murdoc • Damon Albarn • Jamie Hewlett • John Harrison
Producer(s)	Gorillaz • Dan the Automator
Additonal Infomation	Performers: Gorillaz Bass guitar: Junior Dan Drums: Dave Rowntree Co-producers and engineers: Tom Girling • Jason Cox
Samples & Extracts	Day of the DeadW (1985 film)
Artwork	Jamie Hewlett • Zombie Flesh Eaters
Overview
Type	A-side track
Album	Gorillaz
Phase	1
Released	26 March 2001
Recorded	1998-2000
Studio(s)	Kong Studios, Essex Studio 13, London Geejam Studios, Jamaica
Format	CD • VHS • Vinyl • Cassette • Streaming
Genre	Punk rock • Alternative rock
Length	4:01
Language	English
Track Listing
← Previous	Slow Country
Next →	Clint Eastwood (Ed Case Refix)(Edit) (standard album, hidden track) Dracula (American version)

M1 A1 is the fifteenth track on Gorillaz' debut album Gorillaz.

Recording and Background

The track samples the opening scene from the 1985 film "Day Of The Dead".

The basis of this song was born when 2-D and Russel sat down and watched loads of zombie films. 2-D claims he wrote the lyrics for the song, however, Murdoc argues he wrote the lyrics when driving down an empty highway, driving up to Stoke to see his grandmother on Christmas Day. He was listening to the band Magazine in his car and was inspired by their sound. Though this could be a half-lie on Murdoc's part, he probably wrote the base melody and the lyrics cake later.

Noodle triple-tracked the guitars to make it sound like there was a 'bagful of cats being dragged behind a car.' Then she screamed on top of it.

Lyrics

Hello!
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Is anyone there?
Hello!
Is anyone there?

M1 A1
Thousand miles an hour
Gorillaz got the bass drum
Gorillaz say I want some, some

La la la la la la la la la
Hey!
La la la la la la la la la
Hey!
La la la la la la la la la
Hey!
La la la la la la la
Hey!

M1 A1
Thousand miles an hour
Gorillaz with the beat y'all
Say in what the seller

We go
M1 A1
Thousand miles an hour
Gorillaz with the bass drum
Keep that sound

Wake it up
Check it out, '01 craze (Hello!)
D'ya hear that?
I said, M1 A1

La la la la la la la la la
Hey!
La la la la la la la la la
Hey!
La la la la la la la la la
Hey!
La la la la la la la
Hey!

Video

Gorillaz - M1 A1 - Gorillaz

Trivia

• "M1 A1" is a reference to M1^W and A1^W motorways.
• The Spacemonkeyz Remix of the song is Lil' Dub Chefin', which was released as the only single from the dub reworkings album Laika Come Home, despite M1 A1 itself not having been a single.
  • The music video for Lil' Dub Chefin' is one of the two music videos from the self titled album to not open with Gorillaz being written in red ink, the other being Rock the House.
• The song appeared on the original un-mastered version of the debut album as track 14.
  • It was also incorrectly titled "Mi Ai" as opposed to "M1 A1".
• M1 A1 was used as the opening song for the Humanz, The Now Now and 2022 World Tours.
  • When opening for The Now Now tour, the song's ending led into Lil' Dub Chefin'.