Gorillaz | Feel Good Inc.
Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” - how Damon Albarn and Danger Mouse created a dark critique of consumer culture disguised as an irresistible 2005 hit that won a Grammy and defined virtual band music.
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Story Behind “Feel Good Inc.”
The Grey Album That Changed Everything
In 2004, Damon Albarn was planning Gorillaz’s second album when he heard something that stopped him cold: Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album, an unauthorized mashup of Jay-Z’s The Black Album and The Beatles’ White Album. Despite EMI’s skepticism about working with a producer embroiled in legal controversy, Albarn insisted Danger Mouse was exactly who the project needed. As Albarn explained, the project required “a slightly different approach” from their debut, and Danger Mouse represented “one of the best young producers in the world.”
Recording began in March 2004 at Studio 13 in London, with additional sessions at Kong Studios in Essex. Albarn described “Feel Good Inc.” as one of the first tracks he worked on with Danger Mouse, calling the process “very instinctive.” The windmill imagery that became the song’s visual centerpiece came from Palm Springs windmills Albarn saw during Blur’s 2003 Coachella performance. Those spinning blades would become a symbol of freedom and escape, contrasting sharply with the oppressive corporate tower that housed the track’s dark message.
De La Soul’s Laugh Heard Round the World
Danger Mouse brought in De La Soul for the rap verses, leveraging his friendship with the iconic hip-hop trio. Initially, De La Soul member Pos wanted to work on “Kids With Guns,” but after hearing the demo for “Feel Good Inc.,” they settled on the track that would become Gorillaz’s biggest hit. The song’s opening laugh - instantly recognizable and slightly unsettling - came from De La Soul’s PA Pasemaster Mase, whose contagious guffawing had been a signature element since their 2000 track “U Don’t Wanna BDS.” Damon whispered exactly where he wanted the laugh, and Mase delivered perfectly.
“Feel Good Inc.” Recording and Production Details
Danger Mouse’s Instinctive Production at Studio 13
The track was produced by Danger Mouse alongside Gorillaz (Damon Albarn), with additional production by Jason Cox and James Dring. Engineering was handled by Jason Cox, with programming by Danger Mouse and James Dring. The mix was completed at Pierce Rooms in London, with mastering by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk in New York. The production featured Danger Mouse on percussion and drum programming, with Albarn handling lead vocals, keyboards, and acoustic guitar.
The song’s foundation rests on an ominous, pulsating bassline and what’s believed to be a flat, bent G string guitar line played by The Verve’s Simon Tong. The rhythm section possibly came from a Suzuki Omnichord synthesizer preset - similar to the “Rock1” preset Albarn used for “Clint Eastwood” - demonstrating Gorillaz’s knack for parodying cut-and-paste pop music with unexpected sources. The track also features an unidentified Hawaiian guitar sample during 2-D’s first verse and contains samples from Luke’s “I Wanna Rock.”
From Upbeat 80s to Dark Acoustic Countryside
According to virtual band member Noodle’s account, the song started as an upbeat 80s-influenced track before evolving toward a more acoustic sound reminiscent of the countryside. The chorus sections feature strummed acoustic guitar, vinyl crackles, and floating ethereal pads - creating what Noodle described as “a reference to the ‘dark Satanic mills’ that William Blake wrote about in his verse of Jerusalem,” the prominent critique of exploitative British industrialism. This sonic shift from oppressive to hopeful perfectly mirrored the visual contrast between the Feel Good Inc. tower and Noodle’s floating windmill island.
Notes About “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz
Release Date: May 9, 2005
Duration: 3:41 (Album Version), 3:28 (Radio Edit)
Genre: Alternative Rock / Hip-Hop / Trip-Hop / Rap Rock
Album: Demon Days (2nd studio album, track 6)
Featured Artist: De La Soul
Producers: Danger Mouse, Gorillaz, Jason Cox, James Dring
Label: Parlophone (UK), Virgin Records (US)
Chart Performance: #2 UK, #14 US Billboard Hot 100, #1 US Alternative Songs (8 consecutive weeks), #1 Spain, Poland, Greece
Sales Certification: 7x Platinum (New Zealand), 5x Platinum (Canada), 4x Platinum (UK)
Awards: Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (2006)
Gorillaz “Feel Good Inc.” Era Band Details
Album Details
Album: Demon Days
Release Date: May 11, 2005 (Japan), May 23, 2005 (UK), May 24, 2005 (US)
Labels: Parlophone (UK), Virgin Records (US)
Producers: Danger Mouse, Gorillaz, Jason Cox, James Dring
Recording Locations: Studio 13 (London), Kong Studios (Essex)
Album Sales: 8 million copies worldwide
Album Certifications: 6x Platinum (UK), 2x Platinum (US)
Album Chart Performance: #1 UK Albums Chart, #6 US Billboard 200
Virtual Band Members
2-D - Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Murdoc Niccals - Bass Guitar
Noodle - Guitar
Russel Hobbs - Drums
Real Musicians/Producers
Damon Albarn - Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizers, Melodica (Blur frontman, Gorillaz co-creator)
Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) - Producer, Percussion, Drum Programming
De La Soul - Featured Rap Vocals (Trugoy the Dove, Posdnuos, PA Pasemaster Mase)
Jason Cox - Co-Producer, Engineer, Mixer
James Dring - Co-Producer, Programming
Simon Tong - Lead Guitar (The Verve)
Howie Weinberg - Mastering
Production Notes
First album collaboration between Damon Albarn and Danger Mouse
Darker tone than debut album, addressing post-9/11 apocalyptic themes
Inspired by Albarn’s train journey through impoverished rural China
Described by Albarn as concept album about “the world in a state of night”
Featured in Apple iPod commercial (May 2005)
Music video directed by Jamie Hewlett and Pete Candeland
Interesting Facts About “Feel Good Inc.”
The Chart Loophole That Changed UK Chart Rules
“Feel Good Inc.” made controversial UK chart history when it entered the Top 40 before its official release date. In 2005, the Official Singles Chart combined physical sales with digital downloads for the first time, but singles still required physical copies to qualify. Wanting to save distribution costs, Parlophone Records issued only 300 limited edition 7-inch singles prior to the release date, allowing legal downloads to count toward chart placement. This loophole enabled the track to chart early, sparking debate about chart eligibility rules and eventually leading to changes in how the UK charts handled digital releases.
Grammy History and the Virtual Band That Won Real Awards
At the 2006 Grammy Awards, Gorillaz made history twice. First, they performed a visually stunning mashup with Madonna’s “Hung Up” using Musion Eyeliner holographic technology, appearing to perform on stage as animated characters. Then “Feel Good Inc.” won Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, making Gorillaz the first animated outfit to actually win a Grammy (they’d been the first nominated in 2002 for “Clint Eastwood”). The track also received nominations for Record of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video. Albarn later expressed disappointment with the performance execution, noting the required low volume to avoid disrupting the holographic technology made it “tough.” The win launched Danger Mouse’s career trajectory, leading to his Producer of the Year Grammy nomination that year and eventual win in 2011.
Common Questions
Q: What is “Feel Good Inc.” actually about? A: The song is a critique of consumer capitalism and the manufactured entertainment industry. The title’s irony represents corporate drive for vacuous, mood-lifting music designed as a distraction tactic. The Feel Good Inc. tower symbolizes imprisonment by excess and hedonism, while Noodle’s floating windmill island represents freedom and simpler times before industrialization’s “dark Satanic mills.”
Q: Who are the real people behind Gorillaz? A: Gorillaz is a virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn (Blur frontman) and Jamie Hewlett (Tank Girl comic co-creator). While the four animated characters (2-D, Murdoc, Noodle, Russel) are fictional, Albarn is the only permanent musical contributor, collaborating with various producers and guest artists for each album.
Q: Who produced “Feel Good Inc.”? A: Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) produced the track alongside Gorillaz (Damon Albarn), Jason Cox, and James Dring. This was Danger Mouse’s first collaboration with Gorillaz, brought in after Albarn heard his controversial Grey Album. The partnership proved crucial to Demon Days‘ darker, more intricate sound.
Q: Why is there a laugh at the beginning of “Feel Good Inc.”? A: The distinctive opening laugh comes from De La Soul member PA Pasemaster Mase, whose contagious guffawing has been a signature element since their 2000 track “U Don’t Wanna BDS.” Damon Albarn specifically whispered where he wanted the laugh placed, and Mase delivered the perfect unsettling tone that sets up the track’s dark commentary.
Q: How successful was “Feel Good Inc.”? A: The track became Gorillaz’s biggest hit worldwide, reaching #2 in the UK, #14 in the US, and #1 in Spain, Poland, and Greece. It topped the US Alternative Songs chart for eight consecutive weeks and appeared on Billboard’s year-end charts for both 2005 and 2006. The song won a Grammy, has been certified up to 7x Platinum in various countries, and has over 1 billion YouTube views.