Clint Eastwood (song)

Demo versions of "Clint Eastwood" were originally recorded by Damon Albarn on a four-track using a drum machine and guitar. A re-recording similar to these demos was recorded into Logic for use as a backing track. The strings featured in the song are from a string machine, the Solina String Ensemble. According to engineer, Jason Cox, "Damon gave us the OK to set fire to it on stage, but we said 'No, you can't set fire to that! It's a classic!'", and it ended up being used on the song as well as some other tracks on the album.{{cite magazine|first= Sam |last= Inglis |title= Recording Gorillaz's 'Clint Eastwood' |date= September 2001 |magazine= Sound on Sound |url= http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep01/articles/gorillaztracks.asp |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202556/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep01/articles/gorillaztracks.asp |archive-date= 3 March 2016}} The drums are provided by a drum machine and the main instrument used in the song is the melodica, which Albarn used to make the basic track as well. The song's instrumental beat originated from the first preset of the Suzuki Omnichord.{{cite web|first= Brady |last= Gerber |title= The Best, Worst, and Weirdest of Gorillaz, According to Damon Albarn |website= Vulture.com |date= 20 October 2020 |access-date= 6 May 2021 |url= https://www.vulture.com/article/gorillaz-best-worst-damon-albarn-interview.html}}

Rapper Del the Funky Homosapien was brought onto the track at the last minute. The rap verses had originally been recorded by British group Phi Life Cypher, but producer Dan the Automator asked Del to quickly record his own verses for the song during a recording session for the 2000 album Deltron 3030 which he was recording with Del and the group Deltron 3030 at the same time. Del then wrote and recorded his verses in 30 minutes, utilizing the book How to Write a Hit Song gifted to him by his mother.{{cite web |url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/19/del-the-funky-homosapien-gorillaz-clint-eastwood-rap/ |title=Del the Funky Homosapien Hit the Books for Famous Gorillaz Rap |publisher=Spinner |date=April 19, 2010 |access-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-date=16 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916213947/http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/19/del-the-funky-homosapien-gorillaz-clint-eastwood-rap/ |url-status=dead }} Del later said that he was completely unaware of the song's release on the album Gorillaz and its success until people he personally knew began telling him that it was being played all over the radio.{{cite AV media|date= January 15, 2018 |title=Del the Funky Homosapien on Not Wanting to Do Gorillaz "Clint Eastwood" (Part 6)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq2qSq6NpNY |access-date=September 23, 2022|time=7:13|publisher=djvlad}}

Of the song's title, Albarn explained during a Reddit Ask Me Anything: "We were recording in Jamaica and listening to a lot of dancehall music and we imagined a cool moniker to have would be Clint Eastwood. Also I'm a great fan of the actor and of Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone".{{cite news |date=31 August 2022 |title=Why Gorillaz named two songs after famous actors |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/gorillaz-named-two-songs-famous-actors/ |last=Taysom |first=Joe |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Far Out |language=en-US}}

Some of the single releases featured an alternative version of the song which featured British hip hop group Phi Life Cypher, who also feature on the group's B-side "The Sounder". This was the original version.

For some live performances of the song, alternative rappers are used. At the Brit Awards 2002, the original version was performed, with Phi Life Cypher. For the 2005 Demon Detour Live shows, a version of the song featuring De La Soul, who have also appeared on "Feel Good Inc." and "Superfast Jellyfish", and Bootie Brown, who has also appeared on "Dirty Harry", was written and recorded. This version was released on the CD single of "Dare". During the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour, a third version of the track, featuring British rapper Tinie Tempah, was written and performed. During July 2010, when Tempah was unable to make tour performances, a fourth version of the song, featuring Tempah's verses performed by British grime MCs Kano and Bashy, was devised. Snoop Dogg also performed a rap during the group's 2010 Glastonbury performance. During the group's Asian tour dates, a fifth version of the song, featuring all new verses from Lebanese-Syrian rapper Eslam Jawaad, was performed.{{cite web|first= Otis |last= Hart |title= Gorillaz, Recorded Live in Damascus |publisher= NPR Music |date= 29 July 2010 |access-date= 16 July 2014 |url= https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128846005}}

During Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn's 2014 solo tour for Everyday Robots, he performed the song live with Dan the Automator and Del the Funky Homosapien for the first time.{{cite web|first= Evan |last= Minsker |title= Watch Damon Albarn Perform Gorillaz Songs with Snoop Dogg, Deltron 3030, De La Soul at SXSW |website= Pitchfork |date= 15 March 2014 |access-date= 15 May 2015 |url= http://pitchfork.com/news/54361-watch-damon-albarn-perform-gorillaz-songs-with-snoop-dogg-deltron-3030-de-la-soul-at-sxsw/}}{{cite magazine|first= Dan |last= Reilly |title= Watch Damon Albarn, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Snoop Dogg do 'Clint Eastwood' |magazine= Spin |date= 17 March 2014 |access-date= 15 May 2015 |url= http://www.spin.com/2014/03/damon-albarn-deltron-3030-snoop-dogg-clint-eastwood-sxsw/}} Later in the tour, he played the song with new guest rappers like Vic Mensa, while also bringing back rappers who have previously performed the song with Gorillaz like Bashy and Snoop Dogg.{{cite web|first= Dan |last= Buyanovsky |title= Damon Albarn & Vic Mensa Perform Gorillaz's 'Clint Eastwood' at Gov Ball |publisher= Revolt |url= http://revolt.tv/video/damon-albarn-and-vic-mensa-perform-gorillazs-clint-eastwood-at-gov-ball/EB677115-ECF2-46B4-9700-1060C5B32DD9 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150928193330/http://revolt.tv/video/damon-albarn-and-vic-mensa-perform-gorillazs-clint-eastwood-at-gov-ball/EB677115-ECF2-46B4-9700-1060C5B32DD9 |archive-date= 28 September 2015}}

Since Gorillaz' return in 2017, other rappers have performed the track, such as Little Simz and Vince Staples, with others like Kano and Del returning at select shows.{{cite magazine|first= Gil |last= Kaufman |title= Gorillaz Live return at O2 Arena With Tons of Special Guests |magazine=Billboard |date= 11 August 2021 |access-date= 25 August 2021 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9613378/gorillaz-live-o2-arena-special-guests/}}

Argentine rap star and freestyler Trueno performed the song alongside Gorillaz at Quilmes Rock in 2022.{{relevance-inline|date=August 2022}} Later that same year, American rapper Freddie Gibbs made a guest appearance onstage with Gorillaz where he performed his verse from "Thuggin'" off his 2014 album Piñata.{{relevance-inline|date=August 2022}}

Alex Needham of NME praised the Ed Case Remix, stating that it "hauls [the track] down the dancefloor of Twice As Nice, where all the disparate elements fall into place and the jarring culture clash suddenly makes perfect sense. A little shift in perspective and, suddenly, you've got a West London Basement Jaxx, embodying a more interesting – and accurate – vision of England than anything Blur (Albarn's other project) have dared to attempt."{{cite magazine|first= Alex |last= Needham |title= Gorillaz : Clint Eastwood |magazine= NME |date= 5 March 2001 |access-date= 13 December 2012 |url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/4146}}

In 2001, Hewlett and Albarn indicated that they had not received any feedback from Clint Eastwood himself over the song.{{cite web|first= Darren |last= Davis |title= Gorillaz Go Ape on 'Clint Eastwood' |publisher= Yahoo! Music |date= 13 July 2001 |url= http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12045171 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070921083943/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12045171 |archive-date= 21 September 2007}} Albarn expressed a desire to send the actor some of the band's merchandise as a mark of respect, and said, "I'm sure Clint Eastwood would like [the song]. He's an intelligent man."

The animated music video was directed by Jamie Hewlett and Pete Candeland. It starts with the Gorillaz logo in red against a black screen, and the following quote from the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead: "Every dead body that is not exterminated, gets up and kills. The people it kills, get up and kill" in Japanese then in English. This phrase was deemed offensive in some countries and a censored version was produced that omits this intro. The video and song name is a reference to the famous western starring actor Clint Eastwood, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. An interpolation of the yell from the film's theme song, in particular that film's protagonist Tuco Ramirez (Eli Wallach)'s leitmotif, can be heard at the beginning of the video, followed by sinister laughter from Murdoc Niccals. The notes that the melodica plays are also based on the yell.

The band is seen playing their music against a completely white backdrop. 2-D is seen wearing a T-Virus shirt most likely referencing Resident Evil. Russel Hobbs' cap then begins to mysteriously rise on its own, and the ghost of Del appears to be emerging from under it. He begins to rap, leaving the other band members dumbfounded, and the backdrop slowly develops dark clouds in the sky, and enormous tombstones start to burst out of the ground, and the scene becomes that of a cemetery, as a shower of rain and thunderstorm begins. Shortly afterwards, zombie gorilla hands rise up from the ground. Murdoc is grabbed by the crotch and pulled to the ground, a reference to the Peter Jackson zombie film Braindead. Seconds later, the zombie gorillas themselves rise up. Murdoc immediately flees at the sight of them, with a number of them pursuing him. He then turns and glares at them out of frustration at his inability to escape, and the zombie apes engage in a bizarre dance routine before Murdoc is knocked back by a lightning bolt; this dance routine is similar to the choreography of Michael Jackson's music video "Thriller".{{cite web|first= Rob |last= Mitchum |title= Gorillaz – Phase One: Celebrity Take Down (DVD) |website= Pitchfork |date= 4 February 2003 |access-date= 16 July 2014 |url= http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3525-phase-one-celebrity-take-down-dvd/ |archive-date= 13 May 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100513035006/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3525-phase-one-celebrity-take-down-dvd |url-status= dead}}

Noodle is then shown joyfully skipping along, almost as if she is completely unaware of her surroundings, and in her playful skipping, she delivers a hard kick to one of the zombie gorillas in the face. Immediately afterwards, Del is then sucked back into Russel's head as the gorillas all disintegrate, and the band members are left standing in the cemetery, now bright with sunlight. The video then concludes with a split screen showing each of the four band members and their names. The video has a running time of 4:32, which is significantly different from the album version, which runs for approximately 5:42, however, the album version features about 1:10 of the backing track playing with no vocals over the top. The BPM of the music video is also slightly slower than that of the album version, and the music video version has an ending after the last time "My future" is sung, whilst the album version fades out at the end.

The video for "Clint Eastwood" won an award at the Rushes Soho Short Film Festival Awards in 2001, defeating entries by Blur, Fatboy Slim, Radiohead and Robbie Williams.{{cite news|title= Gorillaz win film award |work= BBC News Online |date= 2 August 2001 |access-date= 1 June 2008 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1470780.stm}}

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Benelux and French 2-track CD single{{cite AV media notes|title= Clint Eastwood |others= Gorillaz |year= 2001 |type= European CD single liner notes |publisher= Parlophone |id= 7243 8 79249 2 5}}

1. "Clint Eastwood" – 5:55
2. "Dracula" – 4:41

Australian, European and UK CD maxi-single{{cite AV media notes|title= Clint Eastwood |others= Gorillaz |year= 2001 |type= UK CD single liner notes |publisher= Parlophone |id= CDR 6552}}{{cite AV media notes|title= Clint Eastwood |others= Gorillaz |year= 2001 |type= Australian CD single liner notes |publisher= EMI Records |id= 7243 8 79050 0 9}}

1. "Clint Eastwood" – 5:55
2. "Clint Eastwood" (Ed Case Refix edit) featuring Sweetie Irie – 3:41
3. "Dracula" – 4:41
4. "Clint Eastwood" (video) – 4:30

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Italian and UK 12-inch vinyl{{cite AV media notes|title= Clint Eastwood |others= Gorillaz |year= 2001 |type= UK 12-inch vinyl sleeve |publisher= Parlophone |id= 12R 6552}}

:A1. "Clint Eastwood" – 5:55

:B1. "Clint Eastwood" (Ed Case Refix) featuring Sweetie Irie – 4:28

:B2. "Clint Eastwood" (Phi Life Cypher version) – 4:52

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title= Clint Eastwood |others= Gorillaz |year= 2001 |type= UK cassette single sleeve |publisher= Parlophone |id= TCR 6552}}

1. "Clint Eastwood" (Original Mix edit) – 3:45
2. "Clint Eastwood" (Ed Case Refix edit) featuring Sweetie Irie – 3:41
3. "Dracula" – 4:41

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Adapted from liner notes and Tidal.{{Cite web |title=Credits / Clint Eastwood / Gorillaz |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/1492617/credits |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=Tidal}}

• Damon Albarn – vocals
• Del Tha Funky Homosapien – rap
• Dan the Automator – producer
• Gorillaz – producer
• Tom Girling – co-producer, engineer, Pro Tools
• Jason Cox – co-producer, engineer
• Toby Whelan – assistant engineer
• Tim Burrell – mastering engineer

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2001|certyear=2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2021|access-date=16 February 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|certyear=2019|relyear=2001|access-date=25 February 2019|note=sales since 2009|id=6311}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|id=2001-07-27|source=radioscope|access-date=29 December 2024|certyear=2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|access-date=January 10, 2024|id=Gorillaz-clint-eastwood}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|certyear=2022|id=1379-1720-1|access-date=4 October 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Gorillaz|title=Clint Eastwood|nocert=true|relyear=2001|salesamount=1,228,344|salesref={{cite web|title= Nielsen SoundScan Charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 5/13/2017 |publisher= Nielsen SoundScan |via= Def Jam Promo |url= http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-5-13-17.pdf |archive-date= 21 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170921145412/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-5-13-17.pdf}}}}

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• List of number-one hits of 2001 (Italy)

{{Reflist}}

{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song}}

{{Gorillaz singles}}

{{Del the Funky Homosapien}}

{{Clint Eastwood}}

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Category:2001 songs

Category:2001 debut singles

Category:Gorillaz songs

Category:Cultural depictions of Clint Eastwood

Category:Del the Funky Homosapien songs

Category:Rap rock songs

Category:Dub songs

Category:Alternative dance songs

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Parlophone singles

Category:Songs written by Damon Albarn

Category:Virgin Records singles