Empire Ants

Gorillaz, Yukimi Nagano, Little Dragon

About Empire Ants

"Empire Ants" is a song by virtual band Gorillaz, released on their third studio album Plastic Beach. It features guest vocals and instrumentation from the trip hop band Little Dragon.


Year:
2010
4:43
530 
#4

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Oh joy's arise
The sun has come again to hold you
Sailing out the doldrums of the whole week
The polyphonic prairies here, it's all around you
It's all around you, out here

And if the whole world is crashing down
Fall through space out of mind again
Where the emptiness we leave behind on warm air rising
Blows all the shadows far away

The falling alcohol empire, is here to hold you
Rolling out and haunted 'til it sleeps

Little memories, marching on
Your little feet, working the machine
Will it spin, will it soar
My little dream, working the machine

Soon like a wave that pass will fall
And closing in on you they're going on

Little memories
Your little feet, working the machine
Will it spin, will it soar
My little dream, working the machine

Soon like a wave that pass will fall
And closing in on you they're going on

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Gorillaz

Gorillaz are an English musical and visual project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The project consists of Gorillaz itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters. This band has four animated members: 2D (lead vocalist, keyboard, and melodica), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar and drum machine), Noodle (guitar, keyboard, and occasional vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion). Their fictional universe is explored through the band's website and music videos, as well as a number of other media, such as short cartoons. The music is a collaboration between various musicians, Albarn being the only permanent musical contributor. Their style is a composition of multiple musical genres, with a large nu… more »

12 fans

Written by: DAMON ALBARN, LITTLE DRAGON, JAMIE HEWLETT

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release and Album Inclusion
"Empire Ants" is a song from the third album of Gorillaz, "Plastic Beach," released in 2010.
Artists Collaboration
The song features guest vocals from Yukimi Nagano, the lead vocalist of the Swedish electronic band Little Dragon. This marked one of the significant collaborations of the Gorillaz band.
Genre and Style
The song bridges two distinct musical genres. The first half maintains a slow, calm, and atmospheric melody that highlights Damon Albarn's low-key vocals, while the second half shifts towards a more upbeat electronic rhythm which features Yukimi Nagano.
Song Theme
In the song, Damon Albarn voices the perspective of the fallen empire. The song speaks about the decay of capitalism and mankind's negligence of the environment.
Popularity
Despite not being released as a single, it gained popularity and is seen as one of the standout tracks on the album.
Musical Instruments
The song uses two different styles of keyboards: the mellow sound of the Rhodes electric piano for the first half, and synthesizer tones for the second half.
Concept
"Empire Ants" reflects the overall concept of the "Plastic Beach" album which focuses on the detrimental impact of human activities on the environment and adopts an oceanic theme.
Live Performances
The song was performed live numerous times during the Gorillaz' “Escape to Plastic Beach” tour in 2010, often featuring Yukimi Nagano making a guest appearance.
Critical Acclaim
The song is often praised by critics for its unexpected mid-song genre shift and the artists' ability to smoothly meld the contrasting styles together.
Music Video
Although there isn't an official music video for "Empire Ants," the Gorillaz posted an 'audio visualization' for the song on their YouTube channel.

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