Dirty Harry (song)
Encyclopedia
"Dirty Harry" is a song from Gorillaz
' second album
Demon Days
. It was the third single
from the album, released 21 November 2005. It peaked at #6 in the UK. It was also released as a promo
and onto iTunes
earlier that year. An early version of "Dirty Harry" titled "I Need a Gun" was included on Damon Albarn
's album Democrazy
. On 8 December 2005 it was announced that "Dirty Harry" had been nominated for a Grammy under the category "Urban/Alternative Performance", but was beaten by Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
's "Welcome to Jamrock
". The song's lyrics contain the line "The war is over so says the speaker with the flight suit on", a reference to George W. Bush
's "Mission Accomplished" televised speech. Dirty Harry
is also a 1971 film directed by Don Siegel
. One of Gorillaz's earlier singles
is the name of the actor who played this film's title character, Clint Eastwood
. The single cover is similar to that of the film Full Metal Jacket
.
CD2
DVD Single
CD Promo
12" Promo
Australian Single
Japanese CD Single
Itunes E.P
Like the video for "Clint Eastwood
", the video for "Dirty Harry" references the Clint Eastwood film of the same name.
"Dirty Harry" is the only Gorillaz music video other than "Stylo
" to be filmed on-location. The band was going to use a computer animated desert, but it turned out simply flying the crew and band to the desert was cheaper and easier. Most of the video features shirtless 2-D and an animated version of the Children's Choir San Fernandez stranded in the middle of a desert, following what appears to have been a helicopter crash. The survivors keep themselves entertained with the song while awaiting the arrival of rescuers, portrayed by Noodle and Murdoc crewing a South African Defence Force
Casspir
mine
-proof vehicle driven by Russel (who wears a Fu Manchu
). The song and video feature a guest appearance by Pharcyde rapper Bootie Brown, who leaps out of a sand dune in World War II military fatigues to perform his verse of the song.
In the end of the video the Gorillaz, the children and Bootie Brown depart the crash site in the military vehicle, which breaks down meters away.
The themes in the single, as well as the themes in the entire album are all based on Damon Albarn
's observations on the state that the world is in today.
The helmet which appears on the single cover and the poster for the video (seen in the cinema section of the Gorillaz website) is reminiscent of the Full Metal Jacket
film poster.
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
' second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Demon Days
Demon Days
Demon Days is the second studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, released in May 2005. The album features contributions from De La Soul, Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Roots Manuva, MF DOOM, Ike Turner, Bootie Brown of the Pharcyde, Shaun Ryder, Dennis Hopper, the London Community Gospel...
. It was the third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album, released 21 November 2005. It peaked at #6 in the UK. It was also released as a promo
Promotional recording
A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available...
and onto iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
earlier that year. An early version of "Dirty Harry" titled "I Need a Gun" was included on Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
's album Democrazy
Democrazy (album)
Democrazy is a 2003 vinyl-only double EP by Damon Albarn, frontman of British rock band Blur, the animated group Gorillaz and most recently the unnamed band behind the album titled "The Good, the Bad and the Queen". Albarn recorded these songs, which are little more than demos, during the US leg...
. On 8 December 2005 it was announced that "Dirty Harry" had been nominated for a Grammy under the category "Urban/Alternative Performance", but was beaten by Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Damian Marley
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is a Jamaican reggae artist who has won three Grammy awards. Damian is the youngest son of Bob Marley....
's "Welcome to Jamrock
Welcome to Jamrock
Welcome to Jamrock is a Grammy winning reggae album by Damian Marley. The album was released on September 12, 2005 in the United States and September 13, 2005 in the United Kingdom....
". The song's lyrics contain the line "The war is over so says the speaker with the flight suit on", a reference to George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's "Mission Accomplished" televised speech. Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry is a 1971 American crime thriller produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan....
is also a 1971 film directed by Don Siegel
Don Siegel
Donald Siegel was an influential American film director and producer. His name variously appeared in the credits of his films as both Don Siegel and Donald Siegel.-Early life:...
. One of Gorillaz's earlier singles
Clint Eastwood (song)
"Clint Eastwood" is a song by Gorillaz. It was released as the first single from their debut album in March 2001. It peaked at #4 in the UK and #57 in the US on 11 September 2001. The single has sold 480,000 copies in the UK according to the Official UK Charts Company. The song is a mix of...
is the name of the actor who played this film's title character, Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
. The single cover is similar to that of the film Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is an adaptation of the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard and Adam Baldwin. The film follows a platoon of U.S...
.
Track listing
CD1- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
- "All Alone" (Live) (Feat. Roots ManuvaRoots ManuvaRodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
& Martina Topley-BirdMartina Topley-BirdMartina Topley-Bird is a British vocalist and songwriter who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye...
) - 3:39
CD2
- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
- "Hongkongaton" - 3:34
- "Dirty Harry" (Chopper Remix) - 3:38
DVD Single
- "Dirty Harry" (Video) - 4:56
- "Murdoc Is God" - 2:26
- "Dirty Harryn" (Animatic With Instrumental) - 3:47
CD Promo
- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
12" Promo
- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
- "Dirty Harry" (Instrumental) - 3:47
- "Dirty Harry" (Acappella)
Australian Single
- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
- "Dirty Harry" (Chopper Remix) - 3:38
- "Hongkongaton" - 3:34
- "Dirty Harry" (Video) - 4:56
- "Dirty Harry" (Animatic)
Japanese CD Single
- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
- "All Alone" (Live) (Feat. Roots ManuvaRoots ManuvaRodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
& Martina Topley-BirdMartina Topley-BirdMartina Topley-Bird is a British vocalist and songwriter who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye...
) - 3:39 - "Hongkongaton" - 3:34
- "Dirty Harry" (Chopper Remix) - 3:38
- "Dirty Harry" (Video) - 4:56
Itunes E.P
- "Dirty Harry" - 3:47
- "Highway (Under Construction)" - 4:20
- "Hongkongaton" - 3:34
- "Dirty Harry" (Live In Harlem) - 6:12
- "Dirty Harry" (Video) - 4:56
Music video
The video was first released on 25 October 2005 to subscribers of the Gorillaz website mailing list.Like the video for "Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood (song)
"Clint Eastwood" is a song by Gorillaz. It was released as the first single from their debut album in March 2001. It peaked at #4 in the UK and #57 in the US on 11 September 2001. The single has sold 480,000 copies in the UK according to the Official UK Charts Company. The song is a mix of...
", the video for "Dirty Harry" references the Clint Eastwood film of the same name.
"Dirty Harry" is the only Gorillaz music video other than "Stylo
Stylo (song)
"Stylo" is the first single from British alternative group Gorillaz's third studio album Plastic Beach. The song features guest vocals from Bobby Womack and Mos Def. The single was released on 26 January 2010.-Production:...
" to be filmed on-location. The band was going to use a computer animated desert, but it turned out simply flying the crew and band to the desert was cheaper and easier. Most of the video features shirtless 2-D and an animated version of the Children's Choir San Fernandez stranded in the middle of a desert, following what appears to have been a helicopter crash. The survivors keep themselves entertained with the song while awaiting the arrival of rescuers, portrayed by Noodle and Murdoc crewing a South African Defence Force
South African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
Casspir
Casspir
The Casspir is a landmine-protected personnel carrier that has been in use in South Africa for over 20 years. It is a four wheeled armoured vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The Casspir was unique in design when...
mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
-proof vehicle driven by Russel (who wears a Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu moustache
A Fu Manchu moustache is a full, straight moustache that grows downward past the lips and on either side of the chin; and often, the tapered, pointed ends of the moustache hang past the jawline...
). The song and video feature a guest appearance by Pharcyde rapper Bootie Brown, who leaps out of a sand dune in World War II military fatigues to perform his verse of the song.
In the end of the video the Gorillaz, the children and Bootie Brown depart the crash site in the military vehicle, which breaks down meters away.
The themes in the single, as well as the themes in the entire album are all based on Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
's observations on the state that the world is in today.
The helmet which appears on the single cover and the poster for the video (seen in the cinema section of the Gorillaz website) is reminiscent of the Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is an adaptation of the 1979 novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford and stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard and Adam Baldwin. The film follows a platoon of U.S...
film poster.
Chart positions
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
15 |
| Austria Top 75 Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
69 |
| Belgium Top 50 Singles Chart Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
8 |
| Denmark Top 20 Singles Chart Tracklisten Tracklisten is a Danish top 40 record chart that is presented every Thursday midnight at .The weekly Danish Singles Chart also known as Track Top-40 combines the 40 best selling tracks from legal music downloads and the sales of music singles on either CD or vinyl... |
20 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 100 |
| Germany Top 100 Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
86 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
19 |
| Italy Top 50 Singles Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
40 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
88 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
6 |