Gorillaz interview (extended): Politics, Brexit, Humanz discussed by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett

It is about the power of dance as a political act: a commentary on our times and an escape from it. Humanz, the latest album by Gorillaz collaborators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett was dreamed up by the idea of the most dystopian fantasy possible: what if Donald Trump became President of the United States? And then he did. There are no explicit references to Trump himself, but the sound track is entirely informed by politics.
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[@saltandiron3379]

Jamie's facial expressions make this interview.

[@ablurida]

was looking for this comment, I laughed at his face the second the interview started. It's like, 'uh, don't get him started please'

[@Ksu_]

@@50milliondownthedraintonym16 he was a successful comic book artist before meeting Damon.....

[@pankulka9927]

637northdohenydrive Lodger Lol what. Jamie is the artist behind Tank Girl, he’s very vocal about politics too, but damn, I can imagine how exhausting it was to go to another interview in which Damon is taking over and the whole thing gets just about politics and not art.

[@jessica5497]

@@pankulka9927 its not Damon's fault tho. if the reporter hadn’t brought the conversation up, he wouldn’t have why to talk about it… Jamie was just over the interview itself, we dont know what happened before and this interviewer is known to be annoying af and Damon is a pretty vocal on his views. Gorillaz was Always political, Always.

[@pankulka9927]

@@jessica5497 Err, I’m not sure why your explaining it to me, I’m a fan of Gorillaz (and Damon’s music as a whole) for about 14 years now, I’m pretty sure I’m aware of that. I don’t remember what was in the comment I was responding to (I see it’s deleted now), but I guess half of my response is out of context now.

[@jonnysac77]

If your upset that Damon Albarn is left wing then I have some bad news for you about Demon Days and Plastic Beach

[@elijahcorbett7476]

Wdym ?

[@v.9439]

@@elijahcorbett7476Demon Days and Plastic Beach have political undertones that are much more in support of the left wing than right wing

[@leonie563]

Why are you saying he's morphing into Billy Bragg? He seems to be for being in EU but I agree that Brexit was simply early to splitting from EU. I think England is still in Europe and it's people will always travel and English heritage has a value. But the poor in most countries are beung neglected. That kind of Thatcherism hasn't ended. It's ironic that people who leave home countries, see their country differently. Better to decide if you leave, leave and move on. We are all visitors on planet earth.

[@DanJuega]

@@v.9439 Kinda hilarious that you would put it in american terms

[@annabanana8700]

The far right aren’t satisfied till they have browbeaten everyone else into agreeing with them…

[@SadLittleToaster]

0:09 Jamie is like "Oh God, here we go..."

[@greenghostraptor5695]

I'm 100% convinced that Damon Albarn came up with the title for the Now Now at 29:40

[@Lotselance]

26:06 Jamie: "Not today! Maybe tomorrow." Damon: "Oh, I'm.. I'm already-" I swear to god Damon was about to say he'd already started on the next album there hahaha. The Now Now came out so quickly.

[@PeppyOoze]

modern life IS rubbish...

[@odyshape]

The press needs to let go that old story about Blur and Oasis. It's been 20 years and they still ask and comment about it. Annoying, irrelevant.

[@blake8120]

Crazy how Damon is talking about times being weird in 2017... wonder how he feels now lol

[@blake8120]

Gabby I hope so too

[@daynawhitmarsh5974]

Strange Timez!

[@alicestoneham9524]

4:12 Jamie: It´s okay knee, he´ll shut up soon enough..

[@stickmandavid4669]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@theovann-leeds953]

The massive Sigh Jamie does when Damon gets going, I do agree with a lot of what he's saying but that was funny! "Oh great, this again"

[@HeroSoulEater]

It's like having to re watch the same re-run over and over, I agree with what Damon is saying but once you hear it once you've heard it a thousand times but with different words.

[@tommytimetelevision3316]

Theo Leeds A Votes a vote... age shouldn't determine anything & shouldn't be used to what's right or wrong. He Sounds like Nick Clegg & EU democracy.

[@VictoriaSobocki]

Theo Leeds 0:10 I watch it over and over again

[@coxley]

I think you're misinterpretting it's meaning- that was a sigh of shared disatisfaction with the Tory/Mercer Brexit manipulation outcome in my opinion

[@kevinpuduseril8271]

I feel Damon is more a philosopher than a politician. I don't think politicians should shoulder all the burden/privilege of figuring out the system. Philosophers should be just as respected as politicians.

[@Qwazin]

"... kind of sort of..." -Damon Albarn

[@charlizard100]

politics aside, the gorillaz make some fucking tunes

[@mattemery4081]

Jamie being too cool to be literally anywhere for half an hour.

[@goodnessmercybegood2all450]

Undiagnosed adult adhd?

[@georgeheaton]

🤣

[@supersayinyuki]

You can hear Jamie just sigh really really loud

[@nightsage217]

Be humanz, Talk to each other, Sing together, Celebrate and be Sensitive to each other.

[@guitar_and_weed]

nightsage217 you should write a song about that...

[@difjaoisdjfoaisjdfoaiogeis]

37:03 oh my god he reads comments online...lmao oh no

[@genghisdaze7425]

We need more people like this in the music industry

[@johnbelchek3406]

Preach!!!

[@Iazzaboyce]

There were plenty of skinny and starving children in the UK before the Labour Party won a landslide in 1945. You should get some education.

[@Iazzaboyce]

Yes, there was 'skinny and starving' people in the past, as a direct consequence of the 'free market economy' you seem to think will solve these problems. Before Labour was in a position to do anything (1945) five evils were identified: want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness. Labour policies were for full employment, welfare state, national health service, education and decent housing. That's why the working class are no longer 'skinny and starving' and have better health, housing, and education. Rich people do not tend to give money to others (which is how they get rich), but they always need to exploit others to get that money. Today's problems in NHS funding, high unemployment, underemployment levels, wage compression, unaffordable rents/mortgages, tuition fees, cuts in welfare, zero hours contracts.... These things should be making you think we're going back to 'skinny and starving' people.

[@genghisdaze7425]

Sam Beaney​ whilst reading your comments a qoute you used pops into mind "Anyone can milk a cow". Stop milking it, they are netaural, respectful and have a voice people are listening to.

[@genghisdaze7425]

Sam Beaney that's what you are trying to do. Please take a leaf from your own book.

[@aubrietesta1089]

this entire comment section is a shitshow

[@assfartdinglestein3286]

Damn, you'd think Jamie and Damon are twins, I can't tell them apart.

[@stuffwithsoph8264]

Why am I surprised that I agree with almost everything he's saying...? I really shouldn't. I've always agreed and loved Damon Albarn.

[@tomwhitworth9591]

x SANDINISTA x awesome triggered? Bless you ❄️

[@nathann7281]

x SANDINISTA x you have terrible grammar.

[@carterbleach781]

Sandinsta, just enjoy the video

[@jonnysac77]

You didn't disagree with the politics in Gorillaz when you heard it in the album, why would you disagree with them now?

[@suvrat.sharma]

@x D3G3N3R8 NATION x will you shut up man

[@toejoe]

Everybody here is pretty angry at Damon for not agreeing with their beliefs. I mean I don't agree either but at least I respect his views towards modern politics and views

[@JonasViatte]

21:55 THE BATH!

[@natashaturner6688]

This whole interview is Jamie going “am I ever gonna get to speak?”

[@angelvu]

637northdohenydrive Lodger thats like saying if a person worked in a sweatshop all their life they have no right to voice their opinions, you have no clue how much work it takes for him to make his pieces of art just for you to see, just like how in a sweatshop a person is making clothes for you by hand just for you to throw away later. he’s constantly pumping out drawings without art block, which is incredibly hard to do. he deserves to be paid as much as damon, without his art gorillaz would never exist.

[@H3ll9_Fr13nd]

I feel like 99% of the time Jamie is just staring at the Russel poster on the door

[@AgosArg]

You ridiculous people, Damon as all of you can give his opinion about politics and do of his music whatever he feels like it lol I appreciate to hear what he thinks :).

[@sufiai96]

They talk so much sense, I agree with a lot of what‘s being said. Lol Damon at 14:45

[@TheGroveling]

You say you like his music, but know not of his views on politics? In what barrel you've lived all of your life? Get real. Sometimes I have to thank my luck, I'm not a celeb, so much fake people around you.

[@juliadennisofficial4716]

Damon Albarn for president 2024

[@bugmanzz]

YESS

[@laze_r]

WARNING! Don't go to the comments section! Its full of bullshit

[@hackedskull]

this_is_my_username opinions right? people just get so emotional and can't accept different opinions, and politians are using those emotions to manipulate us and divide us, I wish more people would understand Damon's point of view, he's not about politics, he's about living in peace, of course brexit is not his thing, he's about building bridges not burning bridges, you can disagree with someone and have a civil conversation about it, people really need to drop this "us vs them" mentality, with the whole "if you're not with me it must mean you're against me" thing

[@rumisfordrinkingnotburning]

Lasse Kiminki warning stfu.

[@sugarrush227]

"We have a bit of a cartoon character in the white house"

[@angenie9]

24:36 When someone mentions Gorillaz thank me later❤️

[@cotonoudetachment6196]

Man I love this band. Long live Gorillaz

[@iquestionexistence8730]

Quite funny that some people didn't seem to realise that Damon would be left-leaning, have they never heard the lyrics to any of the Gorillaz songs? Lol

[@sleepin-bugz6452]

i agree with him so much, not because he is my idol. because he's actually speaking the fucking truth

[@nataliewebber3139]

I agree with everything Damon said tbh He's great.

[@oscarharding3429]

29:54 *About a year later, an album called 'The Now Now' is released

[@cassieaguirre6629]

Why is everyone mad at Damon? Calling him ignorant and saying he's close minded. Im new to this politics stuff. I would appreciate an answer

[@kILo0oMa]

They're on the other side of the political spectrum and don't like him because they're close minded themselves?

[@SoloFloFoSho]

tiger They're mad a Damon because they see his political views as wrong. Though I don't agree with him I think he should be able to say whatever he feels. I just want songs without "fuck trump" undertones my dude

[@cassieaguirre6629]

Boxed Ahh, okay. Honestly, I see Damon as a musician. Not a politician. I see Jamie as an artist. Not a politician

[@SoloFloFoSho]

tiger r I wish I could but it's becoming harder as they go down that road

[@cassieaguirre6629]

Boxed True. Knowing how political Humanz is

[@thebeachisdark7]

The bit damon said at the start is so true, why are we led by comfortable people

[@stellarbabe]

It hit close when Damon mentioned his daughter not getting to vote. I live in the US and I won't get to vote until 2024. I really don't understand it, we're allowed to drive freely by 16, have jobs, and are expected to choose classes that will plan out our future careers and yet we can't decide on the future of our country?

[@tomwhitworth9591]

Noodledoodles if tou can pay tax you should be able to vote. Simple as.

[@tomwhitworth9591]

Dylan Boland everyone is exploitable. Brexit voters thought the nhs would get 350 million extra per week. It wont. That's exploitation.

[@ZippyMcFadden]

At age 16, you have no clue about how the world actually works. They should raise the voting age to 21.

[@danielgardecki1046]

Zippy McFadden I'd rather they raised the voting age to 25.

[@chuckbowie5833]

That's how democracy works, mate. Can't say "well, I don't want this particular type of voter not to have a say".

[@spencilvania]

anybody catch how he kept saying "now" after discussing that they're going to work on a new album.

[@rigsby1454]

Damon still looking fresh

[@apollobassguitar]

I think even those who don't agree with what he's saying (which is ok) at least he's passionate enough to his ideas that I can love it. Even though I might be on the fence.

[@moneyswagepic1628]

when they predicted metaverse

[@TheLewylew]

This aged well.

[@luisandresmarino9218]

Gorillaz ❤️

[@toddafel5402]

0:09 *SIGH*

[@tam3090]

dont have a clue about politics or what damons saying but i just came here to see the interview HAHAHAH

[@Paddyllfixit]

Too many old fuddy-duddies are calling the shots.

[@Spohcsom]

Its called democracy, get over it. That interviewer was really trying to manipulate them to say what he wanted.

[@thephoenix3155]

A family in Doncaster who can’t get thorough a week! Best line ever! Love you Damon!

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

What does he know about A Family Hard up in Doncaster or Southend or anywhere for that he's a wealthy elite type himself and older he's 55 now 49 in this interview he's talking upper nonsense here in my opinion

[@busterxuno1356]

Idc what Damon says it's his opinion and his words appreciate it

[@inory5460]

Jamie has such a soft voice. Its nice to listening to

[@thisstillchangesnothing]

Is this interview really that shocking? No.

[@DarkEliteEric]

Damon said dark twisted fantasy

[@AntoinettexKitten]

I wanted jamie just to take over and go on a rant

[@analytorres8868]

I'm looking forward to see Damond in 2d costume :)

[@johnreid4093]

The way Damon could have stopped Brexit is gone to working class estates in Clacton and Sunderland Doncaster and told the working class, about how they should except other cultures into their areas, and as Damon is working class they'll listen to him

[@spaceePirate]

Yooo their idea about technology getting to where they envisioned the band may become true because of the Metaverse, they are somehow ahead of the time, maybe Gorillaz will be the oldest band still going in the next 50 years

[@jonatherton]

Guru-murthy with his vacuous style and leading questions. A master at how to scratch the surface and get the bare minimum from an interview.

[@reimons14]

Yoh guys, would be awesome if you upload interviews with a higher volume (please, thank you)

[@PriHL]

Damon says exactly what I say about the whole brexit shambles and how things are by and large. Big respect! We need more people who think like that but unfortunately this way of thinking is very rare.

[@morgan5397]

what a guy damon albarn is.

[@whyfi1141]

I like Damon Albarn but what he's saying here is a little naive. There was a choice between leave or remain and more wanted to leave. End of. How can you say the difference is the middle class comfortable of society. More people chose to leave. To say that people should protest, get out onto the streets etc. You cannot do that EVER. It completely poo poos on voting and it will not end well. How close a vote is means nothing. More people wanted out. Whether it's by 1 vote or a million means nothing.

[@patrickmanway290]

Isn't this the interviewer RDJ walked out on? LOL!

[@nullw00d]

Them talking abt presenting news but from home rly did age like milk w covid

[@Mclucasrv]

Bodysuits Yeah!

[@projectluraz5745]

Jamie : Alright daMon

[@elwray3506]

Whatever happens, I have a couch available for these guys. And at times also a bit of sunshine in a bag. And I can play a kazoo:)

[@coxley]

Spot on about Brexit

[@seanrobertson9589]

Damon Albarn ain't no Mensi ....

[@boxianparkk]

14:44 le tomó un larrrrgo segundo el comprender la pregunta AJAAHHAHAHAH

[@vanessacarrasquilla3869]

guys there music has always been political what do you mean they shouldn’t be political????

[@cazupenal]

The second half of this video is much more intriguing and insightful than the first.

[@TheSecretJester]

8:00 😂😂 even they know humanz wasn't there best album.

[@TheMagicOwL127]

The now now foreshadowing.

[@genghisdaze7425]

THE BATH

[@nightsage217]

the bath that brings us to Saturn Rings~

[@user-vs6oe8fl3m]

The baff

[@kdotdachampofficial]

"Hey you guys..I'm just gonna take a bath"

[@Eyeinthesky2012]

Respect the decision. Love

[@brymsd8895]

I thought there were 2 damon albarn

[@uunnoov]

Even tho I don’t agree with the creators of Gorillaz politically, that doesn’t erase their talent and my respect for them,

[@levitation2114]

Did you even listen to their music?

[@uunnoov]

@@levitation2114 ofc

[@levitation2114]

@@uunnoov then you didn’t understand it, all of their music has always been political and had left winged ideas in them

[@jadealyssa3428]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@levitation2114 You can still enjoy the music without agreeing with the underlying message. Don’t be pretentious.

[@levitation2114]

@@jadealyssa3428 being pretentious for saying they didn’t understand an extremely clear message? Get a dictionary please

[@danevetts681]

21:50 ... uh oh

[@MsMrKacper]

Lol Damon and Jamie looks like brothers xd

[@elbaponce7372]

Ojalá algún flaco sea como Vos en Argentina ❤Creativo guapo y Bieno

[@emmetmcnamara4479]

the working classes spoke not the middle classes damon

[@willpeony5534]

Leave politics to politicians.

[@Goji938]

jamie looks so smug all the time. i'm convinced he's a faerie.

[@1000000ninjapandas]

This perfectly describes current world politics

[@raulpenaranda1077]

Late to the party but were D & J twins separated at birth? 😎

[@jamesadcock5235]

Yes but a lot of young people don't know or understand and old people the same

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

Damien Albarns older he's 55 Now he's no youth

[@asleepabyss6679]

And it is now...cuz its now.....its now and its now. You dont say?

[@funeralgirl]

AsleepAbyss the now now

[@surfmora]

21:40 well shiat… that didn’t age well… or did it?

[@spinynorman8217]

Ha so you didn't want division but then proceed to divide the vote into age groups because your fellow citizens had the audacity to choose an outcome you didn't like through a (truly) once in a generation referendum... Theoretical analysis of voters colour class intelligence or education is merely an elite horrified to discover their world view isn't shared north of Watford. Being lectured by rich musicians like Bob Geldof or Damien Albarn on lefty C4 and then going back to their privileged lives is hard to stomach. Interestingly l bet these pontifications didn't get extended to the Macron victory where the analysis showed the younger demographic wanted a change to the right. BTW Brexit wasn't about isolationism it was actually about looking beyond the real isolationists, the EU itself and another myth is that only racists voted for Brexit, five years on from Brexit it looks like the true racism is against anybody white and the neo fascists of the woke movement.

[@johnnyconnelly7278]

Nailed it brilliantly.Albarns analysis of the Brexit voter is ludicrous.Watching C4 ludicrous bias is also eye opening.

[@M.as.e]

0:58 fucking hell how mad is that English people voting for the future of this country crazy right!

[@jasonpilatos7125]

Brexit will cost more money for the UK than it will give and the campaign lied and broke election laws to make it happen

[@jenavivetheratqueen4825]

21:56 THE *B A F F*

[@thomasminarchickjr.7355]

What’s a Brexit?

[@ryanmccallum8191]

The strange thing is that the majority of Albarn career and success was built on nostalgia. Those images of him wearing Fred Perry with doc Martins, modern life is rubbish etc. Think he needs to take a hard look back at himself

[@BioDieselEstate]

Oh dear, Damon. You got caught with your pants down on Complacency. Didn't you wonder why Eddie Izzard et al were getting involved and vocal? Unfortunately, you're amongst that even smaller percentage that could have made such a difference against the Russell Brands of our world. It's too late now. We won't get a second chance to stay in Europe.

[@jordanshaw6391]

Hmmm is he not ‘comfortable’ does he just scrape through every month? I’m 25 and voted leave, the reason why most the areas outside of London, Birmingham etc voted leave was because the areas have less Europeans in them. The areas that voted stay are highly multi cultured and it would benefits them more to stay 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@goaway9611]

this interviewer is terrible. this is the interviewer that made robert downey jr leave because he was asking invasive questions. he is always interrupting and can’t let damon finish a single thought.