Strange Timez is the title track of Gorillaz' seventh studio album Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez and a part of Gorillaz' 2020 web series Song Machine. The song features and was co-produced by the multi-instrumentalist, producer, lead singer, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of The Cure, Robert Smith.
Background[]
| “ | What I gave him was just a um- a really basic drum track, a really skittish piano and my niece's trumpet playing. [...] I just sent the piano, the drums and the trumpet to- to Robert, and he did the rest, really. | „ |
| ~ Damon Albarn, A Gorillaz Conversation w/ Co-Creator Damon Albarn & Anthony Fantano[1] |
Strange Timez was the first track made during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. The song was made remotly, with Damon Albarn being in contact with Robert Smith through E-mail conversations. Smith also wrote most of the lyrics and came up with the title for the song, and by extention the whole album.[1] The trumpet in the song is played by Etta Albarn Teulon, Damon Albarn's niece.
The music video had to be done without any previously recorded footage. The characters, objects and most of the enviorments were made in 3D, with the faces animated in regular Song Machine 2D style.
Strange Timez premiered on the Gorillaz YouTube channel on September 9, 2020 as Episode Six.[2] Alongside it a remix of the song called Strange Timez (Robert Smith AURORA Remix), made by Robert Smith, has been released.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus: Robert Smith]
Spinning around the world at night
Spin round in black and white
Spinning around untill the sun comes up
Strange time to see the light
[Verse 1: 2-D]
I think I've fallen onto silken thread
My head is spinning
Suspended in a twilight web- that keeps on giving
The looping dervish in the lodge is lost within the ringing
Far away I can hear the sound of someone out there singing
I'm speeding through the forest
Strange echoes of Belarus
Where presidents pin badges on disconnected youths
What will you be dreaming of
No horseplay, no diving
Cutting grass with scissors
Whilst the great leader's reclining
In golden hallways where we spin
The faithful will be silent
[Interlude: 2-D]
Existing or not?
At the same time
Spinning
[Pre-Chorus: Robert Smith & 2-D]
Spinnin' around the world at night (Strange timez)
Spin in and out of sight
Spinnin' around until the Sun comes up (I helped you feel good)
Strange time to turn it on
[Chorus: Robert Smith]
Spinning around the world at night
Spin round in black and white
Spinning around until the Sun comes up
Strange time to see the light
[Verse 2: 2-D]
Bottled water of the worlds, surgical glove world, beach washing world
I'm twitching in the grimy heat, I think I might be spinning
The unicorn degrading
No horseplay, no diving
Cuttin' grass with scissors, whilst the great leaders-
[Pre-Chorus: Robert Smith]
Spinnin' around until the Sun comes up
Strange time to turn it on
[Chorus: Robert Smith]
Spinnin' around the world at night
Spin round in black and white
Spinnin' around until the Sun comes up
Strange time to see the light
[Outro: Robert Smith & 2-D]
Strange time (strange time) to be alive
Strange time (strange time) to be alive
Music Video[]
Lyric Video[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gorillaz. "A Gorillaz Conversation w/ Co-Creator Damon Albarn & Anthony Fantano". YouTube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ↑ Gorillaz. "Gorillaz - Strange Timez ft. Robert Smith (Episode Six)". YouTube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 8 September 2020.