Empire Ants Live!

So, I just recently happened across this little gem. Its from the Gorillaz latest album, "Plastic Beach," and its altogether an amazing song, but this live version is pretty stellar as well. Enjoy!

Damon Albarn's use of "Gorilla" Advertising

To many people the name "Damon Albarn" doesn't bear a bunch of significance.  Even if someone were to name the band, "Blur" they wouldn't be able to pin much behind it with the exception of that catchy song, "Song 2."  However It is a fair estimate that many people would be able to say that they have heard of the band, "Gorillaz."  The Gorillaz are a cartoon band comprised of 4 cartoon characters named; 2D, Noodle, Murdoc, and Russel.  The real band is comprised of Damon Albarn and multiple artists.  After Damon had found success as an artist, he felt that the music industry had become too commercialized and sold out.  Therefore, he created the Gorillaz as a means to bring out and advertise those lesser known artists who are trying to get their music out there.  Instead of playing the same style and genre, they incorporate the different styles of the artists they feature to make their album completely unique.  They cannot be simply categorized into a single genre due to this fact.  However, this is wonderful for the up and coming artists such as Daley, or the older artists who are trying to make a comeback such as Shaun Ryder.  In some instances, they simply wish to make instrumental music, calling on the help of both the London Symphony Orchestra or the Lebanese National Orchestra.  Their goal is to simply help advertise those musicians and give them a chance to be heard not just by some big label or recording company, but to be heard by the people, and to let them decide if they want to hear more of them.  This is a very unique style of guerrilla advertising as it isn't just cut and dry, or even a big example in a public square.  It is a subtle use of guerrilla advertising, letting the public hear these artists, and then letting them determine if they want to hear more and search them out.  In a time where there is so much clutter and overly used gimmicks, Damon Albarn's "Gorillaz" change the mold by using this unique approach to advertise those who would otherwise be uncapable of advertising themselves.


An example of an up and coming artist:



Excerpt from a live performance including London Symphonic Orchestra:

V-Dub, Representing Deutschland...

I have always been a huge fan of interesting and funny commercials.  I still remember several years ago when the "V-Dub" campaign came out from Volkswagen.  I find these commercials very interesting as well as refreshing.  The majority of the advertising dealing with the automobile industry is about how you can "pimp" your car and all the features you can add to it.  It seems rather ridiculous at times all of the little things that people will do to cars, when in the end the car ends up looking closer to a toy instead of a means of transportation.  Volkswagen's approach to keeping cars simple, clean, and organized, helps to build their reputation as such in a continually cluttered automobile industry.  When "V-Dub's in the house," you can tell who they are, their cars speak for themselves, and their automobiles differentiate themselves from others in the automobile industry.


These commercials are able to appeal to all different age groups; using "hip" lingo to appeal to the younger generation, and "un-pimping the auto" to appeal to the older generation by having a simple car.  Below are two of my favorite examples of their commercial campaign.

"All of Which Makes Me Anxious, at Times Unbearably so..."

The newest song up is an old one from the band, "Gorillaz."  Its title is "Double Bass."  This song is quite interesting with only a single phrase of lyrics, it pulls you in with its rhythms and different sounds that are quite musically pleasing.  I highly recommend giving it a thorough listening, and trying to get the "feeling" that is being conveyed through the music.