Gorillaz - The Lost Chord ft. Leee John (Episode Nine)

Gorillaz present Song Machine | Season One
Episode Nine: The Lost Chord ft. Leee John

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[CREDITS]

Director: Jamie Hewlett
Featured Artist: Leee John
Co-Directors: Tim McCourt, Max Taylor
Producer: Eva Dahlqvist
Production Managers: Samia Ahmed & Lisa A. Smith
Production Assistants: Laurence Moss & Skye van der Walt
2D Animation Supervisor/Lead Animator: Venla Linna
2D Animation: Amanda Holm, Alvise Zennaro, Diego Porral
2D FX Animation: Mattieu Petit
Clean Up Artists: Laura Büchert Schjødt, Daniel Morales Ramirez, Maria Sandvig Nielsen, Alison Oxborrow, Diego Porral
Matte Paint: Antoine Birot
Compositing: Freddie Lewis-Wall, Bernardo Varela, Elliott Kajdan, Valerie Guichard
Grade: Lewis Crossfield at Time Based Arts
 
Live Action Producer: Natalie Steiner 
Live Action Production Assistant: Alice Hayes
1st AD Day 1: Tom Kelly 
1st AD Day 2: Luke Goodrich 
Production Runner: Sinead Solomon, Joanna Thompson, Laurence Moss, Skye Van Der Walt
 
DOP: Max Halstead 
Phantom Operator: Stephen Price 
Focus Puller Day 1:Toby Goodyear 
Focus Puller Day 2: Benjy Kirkman 
 
Gaffer Day 1: Jim Agnew
Electrician Day 1: Richard Harrowing 
Electrician Day 1: Charlie Manningwalker
Gaffer Day 2: Will Pope 
Electrician Day 2: Jon Prentice
Electrician Day 2: Greg Probart 
Rigger Day 1: Steve Daly 
Rigger Day 2: Kristian Fletcher
 
Costume Designer: Catherine Ladd 
Wardrobe Assistant: Liz Crossman 
Lead SFX Make Up Artist: Natasha Lawes 
SFX Make Up Artist: Bethan Adams Stringer 
SFX Makeup Trainee: Jane Emily Arnold 
 
VFX Supervisor: Bernie Varela 
Special Effects Supervisor: Mats Rivenes 
Special Effects Supervisor: George Finnamore 
Trainee Special Effects: Antonio Cardoso 
 
Catering Day 1: Aga Aga
Catering Day 2: Little Cooking Pot 
Camera Kit: Love High Speed
Covid Supervisor: Karl Lawton 
 
Additional Plastic Beach footage courtesy of Tristan Oliver and Passion Pictures.
 
Visual Effects Stock Footage provided by FX Elements & Action VFX

#Gorillaz #SongMachine

[megan-]

I will forever be grateful for Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett to get drunk enough to come up with an idea for a cartoon band in the 90's. Gorillaz is the best thing to happen during this pandemic.

[doom_shrm]

The fact that 2D helped murdoc up even though he did all that stuff to him on plastic beach makes me so emotional broo

[kindram]

Everyone's talking Murdoc and 2D which is understandable, but does anyone else see that Russel is mainly concerned about Noodles safety. She was safe in his mouth at the beginning, he helps her put onto the lighthouse. Holding her hand, holding her wrist as they go through the portal. He's concerned about her and only her here. It's so cute like an older brother protecting his lil sis

[laylaq.]

this was so symbolic actually, their shared trauma that has been sitting over them for ten years is finally destroyed and they can truly move on.

[yasion]

Gorillaz fans: Plastic Beach is back

Damon: *Let's fckng destroy it, Leee*

[Notcaptainobvious]

Gorillaz: "would you like to see more plastic beach?"
Me: "Boy would I!"
Gorillaz: "Destroyed it"

[Misunao]

The fact this is only partially CGI is why Jamie Hewlett is an underrated artist. The water and models are all real. He’s an incredible man that Gorillaz can’t do without.

[kingarthur]

The fact that Gorillaz has been making music for like 20 years and their songs are still bangers amazes me

[vanexai]

I love how Russel spat out Noodle just like at the end of the Rhinestone Eyes animatic. Jamie really didn't want to miss a single detail.

[kingo_clubs]

Me: "And then he used his laser eyes to destroy plastic beach!"
My parents: "Sure son, eat your dinner."

[djquar]

The fact that Murdoc for a brief moment accepts his fate, then becomes ELATED when 2d comes back just brings tears to my eyes in so many ways. He KNOWS 2d shouldn't have come back but that fact that 2d does just melts my heart.

[lemongrenade]

Im sorry but the absolute terror on murdocs face when the portal closed. Jamie did an AMAZING job on showing that he thought they wouldnt come back for them. Murdoc knows hes done terrible things to them, and was not expecting them to come back. And 2D came back for him, his face was just OMG he was SO relieved. Its insane how a perfect combo of music and visuals can create such vivid storytelling

[tired]

The cyborg Noodle being abandoned all this time and Murdoc crying looking at her
Plastic beach exploding
Murdoc pushing 2D to the portal
Murdoc almost being left behind in plastic beach
2d coming back to get him

This is a emortional roller coasterl, I can't stop sobbing

[MGKiryu]

that final moment of 2D going back to save murdoc is not only a great moment, but it symbolizes the themes of the music video really well. instead of festering on the trauma and feelings of the past and letting murdoc die alone and helpless (like he debatably may deserve for everything he’s done), 2D forgives and moves past it all. he doesn’t let those past emotions cloud his judgement or keep him “chained” down, and he goes back to save murdoc. it’s really powerful!

[Mr_bukowski]

1:30 Dang that shot of Noodle looking at her old mask, haunted by the broken memories of her past, gives me chills.

[MoonShadow]

“...And then 2D saved Murdoc!”
“Ok, daughter...Do you want to open your presents now?”

[nolan]

The lore now be like
“And then, Leee John destroyed plastic beach with his laser eyes-“

[sasariwtf]

2D coming back for Murdoc is literally the most heartwarming thing I’ve ever seen.

[stuart]

Since Murdoc is the one who literally kidnapped and locked 2D during phase 3, I think the destruction of the Plastic Beach is a nice metaphore of Murdoc losing his control over 2D.

[largeproblem]

When you think about it, this video is Murdoc having to confront his mistakes to a pretty severe extent.

Plastic Beach was a disaster for everyone in the group, one that he pretty much hand-crafted:
- He created Cyborg Noodle to replace Noodle after she went missing.
- He was the one who pissed off the Boogeyman and his pirates and got people killed as the band was forced to split up.
- He was the one who had the band relocate to Plastic Beach in the first place.

In other words, pretty much most (if not all) of Plastic Beach is Murdoc’s fault.

And in this video, when they all wash up on the shore, that’s why Murdoc’s immediately bummed out. Amid the band basically replacing him with Ace for a while, and then willingly leaving him out (as seen in the other Song Machine videos), they’re now brought to the biggest reminder of how terrible he’s been to all of them. And maybe he’s trying to get better, but Plastic Beach still stands as a monument to the terrible, self-centered things that Murdoc has done, and as another reason for the band to never forgive him.

That’s also why Lost Chord (and Song Machine Season 1 as a whole) are so crucial to his character. Throughout the season, we’ve seen and heard that Murdoc is TRYING to be better. He knows he messed up, and he wants to take it all back. The biggest obstacle there is his own selfishness, and his awful treatment of the band thus far. That’s why Noodle and Russell are shown to be skeptical of him trying to get involved again, and why 2D is still constantly protected by the both of them, even as he’s come out of his shell in recent years.


This video is the culmination of that; when confronted with a literal life-or-death situation, Murdoc finally gets to see if the band thinks saving, and worth keeping around. And sure, Noodle and Russ are quick to bolt and leave him behind, but *2D goes back.*

2D, the one whose nickname comes from the very first injuries that Murdoc inflicted on him (2 dents, cuz his eyes were all wonky after Murdoc ran him over twice).
2D, who has been used and abused by Murdoc over the years, forgave him. And whether or not that’s justified isn’t up to us; it’s up to Damon, and Jamie, and everyone else involved with the group.

Song Machine S1 has been a narrative of finding brightness in the darkest times (which we’ve had a lot of, recently) and comfort in an odd world. By extension, saving Murdoc may not be the most justifiable action, but it was one built on hope. And, if Song Machine, the bigger Gorillaz narrative, or 2020 in general has taught us anything, it’s that hope is what’s gonna get us through this.

also more like seeea john hahahah

e: you guys are so cool and creative, all the elaboration and alternate takes beneath this comment and all the support is so great. the gorillaz fanbase is the BEST