Gorillaz - Mr. Softy's Balloon Race (Quality Remaster)

Remastered by Kye Lewis/fatcat by recreating the high frequencies that was originally compressed for Flash Player.

[@G_guy]

according to Gorillaz Wiki '' The song was made/or dedicated to Russel after 2-D thought he always looked too depressed. The record was last found in Russel's room as seen in the Gorillaz Room'' and that's sweet

[@Usernameof]

Holy shit the pvz gw players guy

[@OtisNotibrus]

That's actually just a headcanon that, through word-of-mouth, somehow got accepted as an official fact. All we officially know is that this is a track in Russel's bedroom and that's it.

[@cheerio4000]

This song feels like it was buried deep in my brain even though I’ve never heard it

[@Moody_Azz]

BROOOO, i feel that way too, it's strangely nostálgic

[@SuperMarioPlushAdventures1]

it samples a nintendo song and if you even hum the mario theme you get 11 life sentences in a maximum security prison

[@cheerio4000]

@@SuperMarioPlushAdventures1 oh i know it’s balloon fight, but i never even played that growing up

[@vernorexia682]

Why does the current canon forget about Russel and 2D's friendship?

[@robertsmithfan877]

RIGHT

[@aetherds3481]

fr

[@jaydickson9298]

Because all Russel does now is just release cool spicy recipes

[@codystevens1391]

current canon forgets about russel entirely tbh

[@dottedottedotte]

@@codystevens1391 Sadly, yeah.

[@biponacci]

Oh come on this could at least have made D-Sides

[@cartersauce1344]

It might, it’s coming out on vinyl in April, and it comes with a “previously unreleased track”.

[@doodie4083]

FrenchToast IsBetter really? that’s awesome, was aware of both the B side albums coming to vinyl but didn’t know t would come with an unreleased track

[@cartersauce1344]

apparently there isnt an unreleased track, that was just something i heard somewhere. Sorry for the false hope.

[@red-tz6jh]

Fact: 2D made this song to cheer up Russel!

[@oldchannel2185]

where did you get that fact from exactly

[@eepy123]

I knew that lol

[@myless7387]

Not fact, fake fan storyline from the dumb poop ass wiki

[@danielbueno8474]

@@myless7387 "dumb poop ass wiki" sounds like a cool as heck name for a wiki. Where can I read it?

[@bloom9008]

That song is one of my favorites since as many say, 2D dedicated this song to Russel in his depression stage, so beautiful

[@GorillazRaritiez]

I'd like to make clear this isn't the official original audio, all fatcat did was estimate what the bitcrushed high frequencies would sound like and recreate it, which is why it sounds overly tinny.

[@McNibbler]

Hey, I know it's a long shot, but I remember somewhere in a comment (possibly on this video) that you had said fatcat was working on a restore of Aluminum and even shared a (now dead) Soundcloud link of a WIP. Do you know if that WIP is still floating around, because I absolutely adore that song and have only been able to listen to it in potato quality every time it pops up in my playlist :(

[@Char10tti3]

@@McNibbler i randomly found a few seconds of high quality live audio once. Probably posted to reddit by someone but never heard about the remaster sorry

[@McNibbler]

@@Char10tti3 There was a promo tape that never got an official release, but it was teased. There were approximately 40 or so seconds of it that were shown off in professionally recorded audio, but unfortunately that's all we ever got from this concert as far as I know. That being said, fatcat's restoration was different and they were restoring the entirety of the song using the only 3 known recordings of it (the two really shitty full length ones and the one good but short one) and some heavy signal processing. There was a WIP Soundcloud link posted here a couple years ago that sounded fairly decent, but that link has since died and the restoration has never been released publicly since.

[@Char10tti3]

@@McNibbler ooh I'd never heard of the promo tape, I know when people were wanting Seasides out Mr Softys came up and it seemed like it probably wouldn't be released because of the certain state it was in and I think because damon didn't want to be pressured or that's what I got from that (could be just not how he wanted to put it out). Sad that the link is gone hopefully someone somewhere saved a bit of it. I'd seen a video someone said was a WIP file, but I don't know if it was because it was pretty bassy still so no idea

[@pennythecatsalt4154]

Heard somewhere that this was made to cheer up russel

[@Thitoss]

I can still see the disk spinning in Russel's* room in my head

[@corncake4677]

All i want to know is how the hell did this only stay a demo. This is like, unironically, one of their most beautiful songs.

[@smilenowsmileforever4226]

Nintendo, that why.

[@magic-vinny]

nintendo would have sued their asses off

[@Cheesyboi]

@@magic-vinny why??

[@potionmonkey157]

@@Cheesyboi The song contains heavy usage of samples from Nintendo's "balloon fight" game. The 8 bit sound is the main theme of the game repeated over and over again throughout the entire song. This coupled with Nintendo being notoriously protective of their IP's (they've gone after free, non-profit fangames before), leads me to think that most likely the label didn't want to risk a potential lawsuit.

[@EXTENDEDWARRANT]

Potionmonkey 15 do you know what song from balloon race it is I can’t seem to figure it out

[@SaluteToTheLost]

I just noticed that 2-D sampled from Balloon Fight

[@olderchannel8912]

which balloon fight songs exactly

[@SaluteToTheLost]

“Game Start”

[@olderchannel8912]

@@SaluteToTheLost YEP THAT'S A DEFINITE SAMPLE

[@k-leb4671]

Using that sample, it might be possible to make this instrumental sound even more "restored".

[@Homodemon]

In the Rise of the Ogre book it is stated that he loved filling up his synthesizers with any and ALL little sounds he found amusing and interesting and played around and improvised entire songs to himself just because it was funny to him And when he finds any new instrument, he toys with it and plays it ad nauseam, to the point of making Murdoc mad and take it away from him. He has a natural affinity for synths, keyboards, pianos, and small wind instruments like harmonicas, melodicas, whistles, a thing about 2D is that anything that makes sound calls his interest ever since he was a kid, specially after his first concussion

[@someone-mq9bw]

me when it russel’s birthday

[@omdoxus]

Lyrics:Why can't you be near? Never one would appear Where do we go from here, where do we go? If the last one isn't there And it's all gone But if the last one wasn't there It'd all be wrong Sometimes you turn around Sometimes you're lost but not found Where do we buy the day, when we go? If the last one isn't there And it's all gone But if the last one wasn't there It'd all be wrong Your Welcome 💖💖🌈🌈

[@carlitosrtapia1948]

Knowing that 2D made this song to cheer up Russel makes the lyrics really cute :)

[@manofwar33]

Somehow I find this track so calming. It reminds me of my child hood and I love every second of it.

[@sawyerjamesofficial488]

Probably the creepiest song ever maybe and that art somehow does it justice

[@EvenSkans]

Sawyer J. But it’s pretty heartwarming knowing 2D made it to cheer up Russel 💕

[@sweetsnacc1596]

you clearly have not heard Don Quixote's Chrostmas Bonanza

[@muduckz]

​@@sweetsnacc1596And the image just makes everything scarier

[@Gravitayy505]

I never thought of it as creepy I just can barley hear the lyrics

[@ThirdDimensionalBeing]

Holy sweet jesus finally hearing this with good quality. Even the original Kong Studios didnt have quality this good.

[@zellodine4708]

Many years ago my friends and I had an idea for a movie and we wanted this song as the intro.

[@hayley3585]

God I used to LOOOVE this song and I’m so glad I found it again!!!!! I’ve been looking for years and it’s a little hard to find an unreleased song 😂 thank you so very much for posting it!!!! 💖

[@Aquadwolf]

This song makes me so happy I’m so happy I found it

[@randomcommenter7343]

I legitimately love this song, so thank you for the restoration!!

[@andreigaming625]

This song/demo it's perfect when you go on a roadtrip.

[@muttthingy9908]

this song, for me, has the same energy and gives me the same feeling of childish happiness as the Frog Chorus by Paul McCartney.

[@jamie4864]

now we need a restored mix 2

[@GorillazRaritiez]

he's working on it

[@jamie4864]

nice definitely looking forward to it!!

[@sonicsix569]

Gorillaz Raritiez whose the person working on it?

[@TimDimNuderu]

Dear sonicsix, it is he

[@noomiloomi488]

@@GorillazRaritiez Is he close to finishing it?

[@Shazzoir]

Mate, you are a legend, thankyou for this!

[@kingdead9533]

Okay.... 1. HOW THE HELL WAS THIS POSSIBLE!?!?! and 2. Download link please?

[@yashironene7904]

This makes me want to cry but in a good way

[@brianbread7698]

The picture for this is beautiful.

[@tukc]

this sounds amazing!

[@ayamedesuka]

im so glad i found this remastered version of my favorite unreleased gorillaz song

[@brazilbr4415]

Awesome song, one of my favorites Gorillaz songs.

[@naate2]

Finally, we can listen to it in high quality

[@amoru1012]

The only thing that doesn't sound at high quality is 2D's voice Anyway bless your soul

[@franz.francisco]

MasterCrash 97 yeah that would be really hard to do though

[@angelinebejaran2906]

Same

[@omdoxus]

2D sounds depressed kinda..

[@Jobe-13]

This is awesome

[@moonface4698]

sounds like a happy morning song

[@Squeemez]

BLESS YOU

[@achtzehn7502]

He didnt sneeze tho

[@butterbee8193]

You know it kinda sounds like Don't Get Lost In Heaven's demo

[@zombiehiphop]

SO GOOD

[@thegamer-zx3qz]

Love this!

[@star_8.]

The lore behind this song is wonderful...

[@cheerio4000]

I haven’t listened to this in far too long

[@cheerio4000]

that’s what I just said

[@cheerio4000]

literally - this song makes me so happy! :)

[@cheerio4000]

YEAH!!

[@cheerio4000]

i am back

[@cheerio4000]

i havent listened to this in FAR too long!!!

[@bornie___8758]

Omg thank you

[@Shawn_Crahan_fangirl]

It's so great!!!!!!im shook😳😳😳

[@4r4chn1da33]

I like to think that this image is russel taking a photo with a big fan :)

[@keegansicard8570]

This and Don Quixote's Christmas Bonanza are good for G-Sides. It deserves more tracks anyways.

[@joshuabengry7998]

This is fire vro couldn't be better this made my life worth living man I love this soooo much I love the gorillaz for life 23 dawg hahahahahah

[@cheerio4000]

😭

[@demian1678]

very good song

[@awesomeswagboy]

I remember seeing this art on the 2000s singles album and not knowing where it was from

[@c.l.m.c.3328]

this feels like the sound of a mandela effect

[@Orangeboy3030]

god level remaster

[@treypoop]

frfr

[@ianschwartz08]

tbh this song is creepy considering all of what happened post-phase 2 and pre-phase 3

[@TheRealAuxide]

Ah yes, LSD acid trip: audio edition

[@rainbowrotcod]

Oh my gosh. Fatcat is my savior. This is e pi k e *Epik dabes*

[@andreigaming625]

I hope Gorillaz will release 20 anniversary edition of Self Titled and Demon Days.

[@Panndaaaaaa]

wow how was this possible? I need a restored version of J Dilla's 97 Batch beat tape too

[@markuscollector]

1:36 my favorite part

[@darkcart]

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@gavinnatoreyay9293]

i just noticed this sounds a lot like Idaho from the now now

[@WeirdBrain]

hi catfat

[@KidEatsKeyboard]

WOAH

[@lesleygebhardt7041]

This image is cursed afff

[@omdoxus]

Nah

[@joshuabengry7998]

This song is class hahahahah

[@alejandrasanchez5612]

Que recuerdos

[@smilenowsmileforever4226]

NES Balloon Fight.

[@-Lola.]

Who's that girl Russel is with?? I always wonder when I see thus photo

[@hayley3585]

jacob mynenko that’s Noodle! It’s her after phase one but before phase 2! ✌️

[@-Lola.]

She looks nothing like Noodle, she wears glasses and has red hair

[@hayley3585]

Hmmm 🤔 if it isn’t noodle then idk who it is lol! I’ve always been told it was noodle and I followed along w it, because I guess it made sense. So I guess we won’t fully know unless we ask Jamie Hewlett himself! lol

[@GorillazRaritiez]

the pic is in rise of the ogre, i'm not sure it explains who the girl is, it's probably a fan -sm

[@hayley3585]

Oh cool! I remember it being in ROTO but I always thought it was noodle lol! Tysm!

[@Soundwave11037]

When should we expect Mix 2?

[@GorillazRaritiez]

fatcat said he couldn't get that to sound good using the same technique

[@bathory168]

La aparición del calacas chidas

i wonder if it uses a very low pitched sample of watermelon man by herbie hancock

[@woahadinosaurdude]

nes game

[@roachdoggjr419]

Never liked this when I first heard it, now I think its beautiful, sometimes you gotta give experimental things a chance

[@closing24.7]

Dude, 100 gecs sounds different here

[@catomax26jeev]

Awfully This Song Is Lost And Underrated (Lost Because You Can't Find It's Official Site) :'(

[@GorillazRaritiez]

you can find the recreation of the official site though

[@nciaa]

Ola

[@TheFrogChannel]

Did this song get put on the Record Store Day 2020 version of D-Sides?

[@jmes3824]

no

[@harrymania32X]

The Bad is the instrumental Sounds more than the voice

[@2-dfachero253]

Wow

[@michaelboydston313]

how did you guys restore this?

[@Jadovran]

Nice! MP3 Link?

[@antoniorameriz1732]

Lyrics??

[@jozielfuentes3509]

So this gets scrapped but Sex Murder Party doesn't.

[@kottonkandy0962]

To be fair, this was made wayyy before Humanz was made.

[@melanyvaleriapichardocruz7718]

Azopotamadrealv:0

[@alesis7582]

Sabes quien es la niña que está alado de russel?

[@angelinebejaran2906]

Thanks but I'm deaf now

[@GbrElfunk]

This was their peak of originality, miss those days, now even Gorillaz sound like every generic hip-hop trap stuff

[@freedomcounty6736]

Your crazy there is alot of unique stuff all over Song Machine Vol. 1. Like Opium, Strange Timez, Lost Chord and many others. The Now Now, doesnt even have any hip hop on them except for one song. Your pretty mistaken bro, last thing you heard must have been Humanz.

[@GbrElfunk]

@@freedomcounty6736 Now now was decent, nothing remarkable though, now, song machine and the latest EP, plus the announcement of a reggaeton song, well, that pretty much makes my point: generic, mainstream stuff. If you think the antisystem, "reject false icons" Gorillaz still exists, well, you must like them a lot

[@freedomcounty6736]

@@GbrElfunk You really think Song Machine is generic commercial stuff? I get Meanwhile, but Taxi to 80's Reykjavik? I mean Gorillaz had a commercial element in the early years too, they werent just doing Soft's Balloon. I've been a fan since 2001 too. But whatever, have your opinion. Its all good.

[@cheerio4000]

@@GbrElfunk it never did lol that reject false icons thing was kinda lame tbh

[@radiskrem]

[@radiskrem]

holy moly

[@Uber_Versace]

Its mixed kind a weird

[@CHR0MEMATIC]

Is this official?

[@olderchannel8912]

the restoration edit isn't, the song is

[@CHR0MEMATIC]

Ah.

[@robertsmithfan877]

reminder!! 2d and russel are in love actually

[@samanthavlogs9008]

👍❤🐵🐒🙈🙉🙊

[@stepha7102]

Where is this from

[@GorillazRaritiez]

kong studios

[@stepha7102]

Gorillaz Raritiez Thanks!

[@souklight]

Si estás leyendo esto quiero que sepas que estoy triste.

[@6Senor]

Ojalá que estes mejor ahora❤

[@Bot-iy2ul]

it doesn't sound better

[@Tangerine9407]

Who is here because Dillon Flinn? Edit: (From hallelujah monkeyz)

[@stepha7102]

This gives me homestuck vibes.

[@luke4djojo]

this give me gorillaz vibes but I can see why you feel homestuck vibes.

[@popcorn8743]

I remember getting emailed this after finding it in the Kong studios toyr game thing

[@popcorn8743]

I was like hey found a song and it was kinda awesome and whoever runs ran? The site responded to me and got my email and sent it to me