| “ | Yeah yeah yeah, I'll pay when tomorrow, tomorrow comes today... | „ |
Tomorrow Comes Today is a song by Gorillaz and the third track from their debut album, Gorillaz. It was first released as the lead and title track from the Tomorrow Comes Today EP on 27 November 2000, and was later re-issued as the album's fourth and final single on 25 February 2002. The song features backing vocals by Noodle, voiced by Miho Hatori.
Background and Information[]
Before becoming a Gorillaz single, the song was originally a demo recorded by Blur, another band of Damon Albarn's, titled I Got Law, released as a bonus track from their album 13 in 1999. In Gorillaz' fictional universe, Murdoc Niccals stole the demo track from Albarn along with many others which he used for the band's self-titled debut album.[citation needed] It also samples the drum beat from the song 'Get Out of My Life, WomanW', written by Allen ToussaintW.
Tomorrow Comes Today was one of the three songs by the band originally considered as singles from their self-titled debut album, the other two being Clint Eastwood (which became their biggest hit at the time) and Slow Country. Remixes of these three songs were made to promote them within the UK Garage scene before their actual commercial releases and to decide which ones should become singles or not.[2] In Tomorrow Comes Today's case, its remix was made by DJ, producer and pirate radio host Carl H., former owner of record label Middle Row Records; being deemed successful enough for the song to be commercially released. The recording was not, however, released as a single originally, but as an extended play instead, becoming Gorillaz's first-ever commercial release. This remix, on the other hand, was not featured on any formats or releases of the song, remaining exclusive to The UK Garage Remixes 12".
The beginning of 2002 saw Gorillaz's cultural stock in the UK still on a high with award nominations and notably the appearance at the UK BRIT Awards, opening the show. To remind the public that the album was still out there, a single was required. Tomorrow Comes Today, although released previously as the lead track on EP was chosen as there was a video readily available, and also because the original release had not made much impact back in 2000 so it would be new to a large number of people.
The biggest treats for the fans on the package were probably the revised Gorillaz biographies, a dub remix by the Spacemonkeyz named Tomorrow Dub and a new original B-side, Film Music, a mischievous title which tied in with the Gorillaz movie Damon and Jamie were talking up to any interviewer who would listen (and, Gorillaz having conquered the world by this point, these were not few in number). As this is the only original B-side track not compiled on any version of G-Sides (excluding remixes and alternate versions of already-included track), the inclusion of Film Music also makes this release more desirable for collectors.
Recording[]
2-D claims a lot of the song was just whatever came into his head, then they stuck it together with another bit that sounded good. It's been described by him as a "French film that's been blurred".
Murdoc simply described it as "noir".
During the track, the spirit of Sir Emerick Khong can be heard moaning. Murdoc says it is the ghost's dehydrated soul clutching his head, looking for painkillers.
The whistling towards the end was actually Murdoc in the corridor, who had gone for a "quick slash", which the mic picked up.
After they played the song back, Murdoc liked the combo of the urban imagery and the cowboy-style whistling and thought it sounded "Morricone", like a Wild West London soundtrack.[3]
Music Video[]
- Main Article: Tomorrow Comes Today (Music Video)
The music video for Tomorrow Comes Today was the first Gorillaz music video ever made. It was released on 27 November 2000 as part of the Tomorrow Comes Today EP and re-released on 25 February 2002 alongside the single. It was directed by Jamie Hewlett & Pete Candeland, filmed by Mat Wakeham[4] & Ed Reeve[5] and animated by Passion Pictures.
The music video features a montage of the four band members in the city of London, mostly during nighttime, with no actual backstory to it. 2-D is the only member seen performing the song, by singing along to it.
Lyrics[]
Everybody's here with me
(We) Got no camera to see
Don't think I'm all in this world
The camera won't let me roll
The verdict don't love our soul
The digital won't let me go
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'll pay (yeah, yeah, yeah)
When tomorrow
Tomorrow comes today
Stereo I want it on
It's taken me far too long
Don't think I'm all in this world
I don't think I'll be here too long
I don't think I'll be here too long
I don't think I'll be here too long
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'll pay
When tomorrow
Tomorrow comes today
Single Formats[]
Enhanced CD[]
- 'Tomorrow Comes Today'
- 'Film Music'
- 'Tomorrow Dub'
- 'Tomorrow Comes Today (Enhanced Video)'
Promo CD[]
- 'Tomorrow Comes Today'
DVD[]
- 'Tomorrow Comes Today (Music Video)'
- 'Film Music (Visualiser)'
- 'Tomorrow Dub (Visualiser)'
- 'Jump the Gut Pt. 1 (Video)'
- 'Jump the Gut Pt. 2 (Video)'
12"[]
- A1. 'Tomorrow Comes Today'
- A2. 'Tomorrow Dub'
- B. 'Film Music (Mode Remix)'
7" Promo[]
- 'Tomorrow Comes Today'
- 'Tomorrow Dub'
Release Information[]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Catalog # | Label | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 25 February 2002 | eCD | CDRS 6573 | Parlophone / EMI | #33 |
| DVD | DVDR 6573 | ||||
| 12" | 12R 6573 | ||||
| January 2002 | CD Promo | CDRDJ 6573 | |||
| 7" Promo | RDJ 6573 | ||||
| CDr Promo | N/A |
Availability[]
- Tomorrow Comes Today EP (all versions);
- Gorillaz (all versions plus album sampler);
- Tomorrow Comes Today single (all versions);
- The Singles Collection 2001-2011 (all versions).
Video[]
Trivia[]
- Tomorrow Comes Today is listed as the second track on the un-mastered version of the Gorillaz album, and Slow Country is listed as the first track instead.
- Tomorrow Comes Today was the first Gorillaz song remixed by the Spacemonkeyz. It was originally titled 'Tomorrow Dub' and was released as a b-side track to the single, before being renamed to 'Bañana Baby' on the remix album Laika Come Home.
- The track samples a line from a recording of the Gregorian chant "Dies iraeW": "Cum vix iustus sit securus?", which translates as "when [even] the just may [only] hardly be sure?".[7]
- Tomorrow Comes Today was sampled in Danny Brown's 2012 single 'Grown Up', 5 years prior to his collaboration with Gorillaz on the Humanz track, Submission.
Gallery[]
Physical Releases[]
Enhanced Content[]
Others[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes in the booklet to Gorillaz, The Singles Collection 2001-2011.
- ↑ Seda-Schreiber, Jack (26 March 2021). "TOW THE LINE - AN INTERVIEW WITH Curtis Lynch Jr.". Hip Albatross. Weebly. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
- ↑ Browne, Cass; Gorillaz (October 26, 2006). Rise Of The Ogre, p. 44-45. Penguin Group. ISBN 1-59448-931-9.
- ↑ Zawlacki, Jake (18 March 2025). "'You can't just let them fucking take over': The Mat Wakeham interview". The Comics Journal. Retrieved on 22 March 2025.
- ↑ "Music Archives". editphoto.net. Ed Reeve. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
- ↑ Gorillaz, "The Singles Collection 2001-2011 [Japanese standard edition]", WPCR-50332, Booklet p. 10-13
- ↑ @AdorationOfTheCross (11 April 2018). "Gregorian Chant : Dies Irae (Lyric Video)". YouTube, located at 1:57. Retrieved on 26 April 2025.
