Rock The House

Rock the House
Song Credits
Author(s)	Gorillaz
Featured Artist(s)	Del The Funky Homosapien (as Del The Ghost Rapper)
Songwriter(s)	2-D • Murdoc • Damon Albarn • John DankworthW • Del The Funky Homosapien • Dan Nakamura
Producer(s)	Gorillaz • Dan the Automator
Additonal Infomation	Bass guitar: Junior Dan Engineering: Tom Girling • Jason Cox Pro-Tools: Jason Cox Mastering: Howie Weinberg (album master) • Geoff Pesche (single master) • Tim Burrell (LP master)
Samples & Extracts	Trumpet riff from the theme tune of the 1966 film Modesty Blaise (1966 film)W by John Dankworth and His Orchestra Extract from the extended version of the track 'Live Routine' by MC ShanW with Biz MarkieW Unidentified drum sample
Artwork	Jamie Hewlett • Zombie Flesh Eaters
Overview
Type	Single/A-side track
Album	Gorillaz The Singles Collection 2001-2011
B-side(s)	The Sounder (Edit) Faust Ghost Train 19-2000
Edits	Radio Edit
Phase	1
Released	🇬🇧 27 November 2000 (TCT EP) 🇬🇧 22 October 2001 (single) 🇺🇸 20 November 2001 (single)
Recorded	2000
Studio(s)	Kong Studios, Essex Studio 13, London Geejam Studios, Jamaica The Glue Factory, San Francisco
Format	CD • VHS • Vinyl • Cassette • Streaming
Genre	Hip hop • pop rap • rap rock • trip hop
Length	4:09 (Album Version) 3:04 (Radio Edit) 3:48 (Un-mastered version)
Language	English
Track Listing
← Previous	Double Bass
Next →	19-2000
Singles Chronology
← Previous	19-2000
Next →	911

“

How many people ready to rock the house?

„

Rock The House is a song by Gorillaz and the tenth track and third single from their self-titled debut album, Gorillaz, featuring Del The Funky Homosapien.

Information

Rock The House is one of the two tracks on the debut album to feature American rapper Del The Funky Homosapien as Del The Ghost Rapper, the other being Clint Eastwood. It features a memorable trumpet riff sampled from the theme tune of the 1966 film Modesty Blaise.

The track was first released as a B-side on the Tomorrow Comes Today EP in late 2000. It was later released on the debut album and also got a single release. The single got a fair amount of radio play but could not be said to achieve true 'single' status in territories outside the UK, where its chart position would at best be described as 'acceptable' for a third/fourth single.

MTV however lapped up the video so from this point of view it was a promotional success - the video and the radio version of the song would later be offered as a purchase incentive bonus on most editions of the compilation album G-Sides. There were three excellent B-sides across formats which would become firm fan favourites.

Virtual Band Backstory

On the band's autobriography, Rise of the Ogre, the band members express their distaste for the tune. 2-D states that "It really shouldn't have been on the record, it's the one thing [there] that I really don't like", while Russel stated that "without the presence of 2D s vocal, it only kinda does half the job of 'Clint Eastwood'". Murdoc comment on the shooting for the music video, stating:

“

I’d had a lot of fun on the day, but looking back, its anybody's guess what was happening. (...) We should have deleted that track there and then. That’s the last time I listen to a record label's advice about what a single should be.

„

Music Video

Main Article: Rock The House (Music Video)

The music video for Rock the House was directed by Jamie Hewlett and Pete Candeland.

The inspiration for the video is said to have come from Hewlett's angst at the time, as the band was going through the process of being sued by another band named "The Doppelgangerz" (according to Rise of the Ogre), who claimed that Gorillaz was a stolen idea.

Lyrics

I know you like that
You wanna try that
It's like a flashback
So shake your ass crack
I got the balls to
Rock the salsa
Funk the blues-a
Any groove to
Make you move 'cause
Taking you to
Another landscape
Is my mandate
I'm highly animated even though I'm decomposing
So if your feet is frozen, I'mma die to see you ropin'

And when the MC rhyme and the DJ spin
I want y'all to just get down
Now while the MC rhymin' and the DJ cuttin'
I want y'all to just get down
And when the MC rhyme and the DJ spin
I want y'all to just get down
Now while the MC rhymin' and the DJ cuttin'
I want y'all to just get down

Tap your toes and clap your hands
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Come on, trace the globe and shake your pants
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Just twist your hip and do the dip
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Come on, shake and bake, do whatever it takes
(How many people ready to rock the house?)

Gravitational pull
I'll have you making a fool
Out of yourself on the dance floor
Doing back spins, running man, and more
Party down with vigor and candor
Coming to the jam
Or look like a landlubber
And do the aqua boogie
Win lots of goodies maybe
Pop a Gucci wallet, turntables is talking to me
It's awfully groovy seeing
All the treasure and the booty

And when the MC rhyme and the DJ spin
I want y'all to just get down
Now while the MC rhymin' and the DJ cuttin'
I want y'all to just get down
And when the MC rhyme and the DJ spin
I want y'all to just get down
Now while the MC rhymin' and the DJ cuttin'
I want y'all to just get down

Tap your toes and clap your hands
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Come on, trace the globe and shake your pants
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Just twist your hip and do the dip
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Come on, shake and bake, do whatever it takes
(How many people ready to rock the house?)

I wanna get down lower than Atlantis
Going toe to toe with an enchantress
Get funkier than funkadelic wearin' pampers
While you eggheads is on the wall preparin' answers
Sharing transcripts while we over here
Dipping and dancin'
Rhythm romancin'
Wallflowers\
Giving no action, no
All hours, we chillin' and maxin'
So relaxing
Opposites attracting
I'mma toss my hat in
Floss when the track spin
Like I'm on a crack binge
Jigging and wiggling
Freakin' booties speakin' to the cuties, so belligerent
No religion, just bump the feed on
You'll feel reborn
Negativity we just dead it like decon
Better lift your feet and just measure the beat on
The pulse when it respawns

Tap your toes and clap your hands
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Come on, trace the globe and shake your pants
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Just twist your hip and do the dip
(How many people ready to rock the house?)
Come on, shake and bake, do whatever it takes
(How many people ready to rock the house?)

Single Formats

• Commercial Releases
• Promos

Standard CD

1. "Rock The House"
2. "The Sounder"

Enhanced CD 1

1. "Rock The House (Radio Edit)"
2. "The Sounder (Edit)"
3. "Faust"
4. "Rock The House (Teaser Trailer)"

Enhanced CD 2

1. "Rock The House"
2. "Ghost Train"
3. "19-2000"
4. "19-2000 Geep Simulator Trailer"
5. "19-2000 (Music Video)"

Cassette

1. "Rock The House (Radio Edit)" [A]
2. "The Sounder (Edit)" [B1]
3. "Ghost Train" [B2]

12" Vinyl

1. "Rock the House" [A1]
2. "The Sounder (Edit)" [A2]
3. "Faust" [B1]
4. "Ghost Train" [B2]

UK/EU Promo CD

1. "Rock The House (Radio Edit)"
2. "The Sounder (Edit)"

PAL VHS Promo

1. "Rock The House (Music Video)"

UK 12" Promo Vinyl

1. "Rock The House" [A]
2. "The Sounder" [B]

Release dates and chart positions

• UK: 22/10/01 – highest chart position: #18

Video

Rock the House

Full version

Trivia

John Dankworth and his Orchestra - Modesty Blaise breaks

• The song samples a large number of assets from "Modesty Blaise Theme" by Jazz musician John Dankworth^W.
• During the Live at the Forum, Rock The House was performed by the British hip hop group Phi-Life Cypher, who also provided rap parts for the original version of Clint Eastwood, as Del The Funky Homosapien was unable to perform at the Forum.
• The B-side track The Sounder shares its bassline with Rock The House.

Gallery

CD1 front cover.

Full front cover for CD1.

CD2 front cover.

Full front cover for CD2.

Standard CD front cover.

Standard CD back cover.

Standard CD disc.

Front cover for the promo CD.

Back cover for the promo CD.

Wallpapers

CD1 wallpaper 1.

CD1 wallpaper 2.

CD1 wallpaper 3.

CD1 wallpaper 4.

CD1 wallpaper 5.

CD2 wallpaper 1.

CD2 wallpaper 2.

CD2 wallpaper 3.

CD2 wallpaper 4.

CD2 wallpaper 5.

Others

Stickers for the Music Video in a Dazed Magazine

The Singles Collection 2001-2011 cover