Feel Good Inc.
"Feel Good Inc." | ||||
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Single by Gorillaz featuring De La Soul | ||||
from the album Demon Days | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 9 May 2005 | |||
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Gorillaz singles chronology | ||||
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De La Soul singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Feel Good Inc." on YouTube |
"Feel Good Inc." is a song by British virtual band Gorillaz featuring American hip-hop group De La Soul. Released on 9 May 2005 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Demon Days, the single peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 14 in the United States, topping the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for eight consecutive weeks and appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end rankings for both 2005 and 2006. The song peaked within the top 10 in 15 countries, reaching No. 1 in Spain and Greece, and has been certified five times platinum in Canada and triple-platinum in the United Kingdom.
The song was listed in Pitchfork Media and Rolling Stone's Best Songs of the 2000s. "Feel Good Inc." was nominated for three Grammys at the 2006 Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, ultimately winning for Best Pop Collaboration.[6] Popdose ranked it 26th on their list of 100 best songs of the decade.[7]
Music video
Background
The main themes of the video are intellectual freedom and the media's dumbing down of mass culture.[8] Jamie Hewlett said in an interview that the inspiration for some scenes in the video came from Hayao Miyazaki; specifically, the windmill-powered landmass, which has been compared to that of Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky.[9] On 26 April 2022, the video was re-uploaded to the Gorillaz YouTube channel with commentary from virtual band member Murdoc Niccals.[10]
Synopsis
At the beginning of the video, the camera rises up to the top of the Feel Good Inc. tower, and a sample of the Spacemonkeyz dub of "Clint Eastwood", entitled "A Fistful of Peanuts", can be heard. The camera focuses into the tower, where 2-D yearns for the freedom to join Noodle on her floating island. The characters lying on the floor represent those who have already been "dumbed down", while the band members are the ones who have awakened. 2-D attempts to awaken all the people lying on the floor from their half-dead state by yelling at them through his megaphone, in the style of a political activist. Ominous helicopters, which closely resemble Korean War-era Bell H-13s, chase the floating island, monitoring the behaviour inside and ensuring that no one escapes. It is unclear whether they are preventing Noodle's escape or are chasing her away.[8]
Back in the tower, De La Soul appear as larger-than life, seemingly omnipotent images on surrounding television screens, taunting the Gorillaz band members[11] and driving 2-D into a wild, hypnotic frenzy as he tries to resist the urge to be dumbed down. At the end of the video, 2-D, beaten by his surroundings, returns to the state he was in when the video began, repeating the words "Feel good" until the video finally ends, in an exact reversal of the intro. The repetition of "Feel good" represents that 2-D is convincing himself that everything is OK (as if he is brainwashing himself to believe it), instead of confronting the harsh truth of the situation.[8] The music video for "El Mañana" continues the narrative, depicting two helicopter gunships catching up to Noodle's floating windmill island and attacking it.
Awards and nominations
Awards
Nominations
Track listings
UK CD single[12]
UK DVD single[13]
UK 7-inch single[14]
European maxi-CD single[15]
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Japanese CD EP[16]
US digital EP[17]
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Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the European maxi-CD single and Demon Days liner notes.[15][18]
Studios
- Recorded at Kong Studios (Essex, England) and 13 (London, England)
- Mixed at Pierce Rooms (London, England)
- Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City)
Song personnel
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Video personnel
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Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
All-time charts
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Sales and certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[73] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[74] | 5× Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[75] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[76] | 3× Gold | 450,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[77] sales since 2009 |
Platinum | 50,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[81] Mastertone |
Gold | 2,924,479[80] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | 4 April 2005 | Alternative radio | Virgin | [82] |
9 May 2005 | Digital download | [17] | ||
Australia | CD | Parlophone | [83] | |
United Kingdom |
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[84] |
References
- ^ The following cite the song as "alternative rock":
- "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best – Consequence of Sound". Consequence.net. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "11 essential Gorillaz tracks". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (28 November 2005). "Damon's Day". The New Yorker. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ Rolling Stone Staff (17 June 2011). "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
...this seamless merger of Damon Albarn's melancholy Britpop and De La Soul's head-bobbing hip-hop...
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (2009). "Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Rush Join "Guitar Hero 5 " Lineup". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "They're coming back: Gorillaz' greatest tracks, ranked". Gigwise. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Grammy Award Winners 2005". Grammy.com. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ^ "The popdose 100: 100 best songs of the decade". Popdose. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ a b c Browne, Cass (2006). Gorillaz: Rise of the Ogre. Riverhead Books Inc. pp. 213–216. ISBN 9781594489310.
- ^ Kermode, Mark (19 July 2008). "The interview: Jamie Howlett". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ^ "Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc (Commentary Edition)". YouTube. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ Rambarran, Shara (2016). "Feel Good" with Gorillaz and "Reject False Icons": The Fantasy Worlds of the Virtual Group and Their Creators. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 148–170. ISBN 9780199321285.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Feel Good Inc (UK CD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. CDR 6663, 7243 869882 2 5.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Feel Good Inc (UK DVD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. DVDR 6663, 7243 8 69883 9 3.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Feel Good Inc (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. R 6663, 07243 872447 7 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Feel Good Inc (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. 07243 872842 0 3.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Feel Good Inc (Japanese CD EP liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. TOCP-61100.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Feel Good Inc – EP". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Demon Days (European CD album liner notes). Gorillaz. Parlophone. 2005. 0946 346592 2 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Issue 796" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1628. 14 October 2005. p. 33. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 40" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1629. 21 October 2005. p. 53. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1621. 26 August 2005. p. 69. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ Gorillaz — Feel Good Inc. TopHit. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 16/2005" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on 30 August 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Tracklisten.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 22. 28 May 2005. p. 51. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ "Gorillaz: Feel Good Inc" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 12–18/6" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 17 June 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2005.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Netlistinn viku 22, 2005" (in Icelandic). Tónlist. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Feel Good Inc". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 12 May 2005". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 20 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Top Digital Download.
- ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 30, 2005". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". VG-lista.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" Canciones Top 50.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2005". ARIA. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005" (in German). Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2005)". TopHit. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ "Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52" (PDF). Billboard. VNU Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2005" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Classifiche annuali 2005 FIMI Nielsen, dominano gli artisti italiani" (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2021. Click on Scarica l'allegato.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 2005". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005" (in German). Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ Duffy, Thom (24 December 2005). "Billboard 2005 The Year in Music & Touring" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52. p. YE-70. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "Top 50 – Pop Rock: Cierre de Año, 2005" (PDF) (in Spanish). Record Report. 24 December 2005. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Hot 100: Year End 2006". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Music Canada.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Gorillaz; 'Feel Good Inc.')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ "British single certifications – Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 5/13/2017" (PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1600. 1 April 2005. p. 19. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th May 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 9 May 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Feel Good Inc". vblurpage.com. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
External links
- Pitchfork Media review 3/25/2005
- Music video from official fansite
- 2005 singles
- 2005 songs
- De La Soul songs
- Funk rock songs
- Gorillaz songs
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
- Internet memes introduced in 2016
- Number-one singles in Greece
- Number-one singles in Spain
- Parlophone singles
- Rap rock songs
- Songs about freedom
- Song recordings produced by Danger Mouse (musician)
- Songs written by Damon Albarn
- Songs written by David Jude Jolicoeur
- Virgin Records singles