Feel Good Inc.

Chart performance

The song entered the UK singles chart at number 22 on 17 April 2005, the first week that legal downloads were included. As the rules required a physical release in order to be eligible for the chart, a limited edition of 300 picture discs were issued; on physical sales alone, the song would have entered at number 197. The Official Chart hosts Jason King and Joel Ross praised Gorillaz' use of the loophole as "guerrilla tactics". After its full release, the song jumped to number two on 16 May 2005.

Music video

Background

The main themes of the "Feel Good Inc." video are intellectual freedom and the media's dumbing down of mass culture. Jamie Hewlett said in an interview that the inspiration for some scenes in the video came from Hayao Miyazaki; specifically, the windmill-powered landmass, which has been compared to that of Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky. On 26 April 2022, the video was re-uploaded to the Gorillaz YouTube channel with commentary from virtual band member Murdoc Niccals. The music video was filmed in February of 2005.

Synopsis

At the beginning of the video, the camera rises up to the top of the Feel Good Inc. tower, and a sample of the Spacemonkeyz dub of "Clint Eastwood", entitled "A Fistful of Peanuts", can be heard. The camera focuses into the tower, where 2-D yearns for the freedom to join Noodle on her floating island. The characters lying on the floor represent those who have already been "dumbed down", while the band members are the ones who have awakened. 2-D attempts to awaken all the people lying on the floor from their half-dead state by yelling at them through his megaphone, in the style of a political activist. Ominous helicopters, which closely resemble Korean War-era Bell H-13s, chase the floating island, monitoring the behaviour inside and ensuring that no one escapes. It is unclear whether they are preventing Noodle's escape or are chasing her away.

Back in the tower, De La Soul appear as larger-than life, seemingly omnipotent images on surrounding television screens, taunting the Gorillaz band members and driving 2-D into a wild, hypnotic frenzy as he tries to resist the urge to be dumbed down. At the end of the video, 2-D, beaten by his surroundings, returns to the state he was in when the video began, repeating the words "feel good" until the video finally ends, in an exact reversal of the intro. The repetition of "feel good" represents that 2-D is convincing himself that everything is okay (as if he is brainwashing himself to believe it), instead of confronting the harsh truth of the situation. The music video for "El Mañana" continues the narrative, depicting two helicopter gunships catching up to Noodle's floating windmill island.

Awards and nominations

Awards

• 2005 MTV Video Music Awards
  • Breakthrough Video
  • Best Special Effects in a Video
• 2006 Grammy Awards
  • Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

Nominations

• 2006 Grammy Awards
  • Record of the Year
  • Best Short Form Music Video

Formats and track listings

Australian, European and UK 2-track CD single

1. "Feel Good Inc." – 3:42
2. "Spitting Out the Demons" – 5:10

European CD maxi-single

1. "Feel Good Inc." – 3:42
2. "Spitting Out the Demons" – 5:10
3. "Bill Murray" – 3:51
4. "Feel Good Inc." (video) – 4:13

Japanese CD EP

1. "Feel Good Inc." – 3:42
2. "Spitting Out the Demons" – 5:10
3. "Bill Murray" – 3:51
4. "Murdoc Is God" – 2:26
5. "Feel Good Inc." (video) – 4:13

European and UK DVD single

1. "Feel Good Inc." (video) – 4:13
2. "Spitting Out the Demons" – 5:10
3. "Bill Murray" – 3:51

European and UK 7-inch picture disc :A. "Feel Good Inc." – 3:42 :B. "68 State" – 4:48

European digital single 1

1. "Feel Good Inc." (instrumental) – 3:42

European digital single 2

1. "Feel Good Inc." – 2:49
2. "68 State" – 4:48

US digital EP

1. "Feel Good Inc." – 3:42
2. "Spitting Out the Demons" – 5:09
3. "Bill Murray" – 3:52
4. "Dare" featuring Shaun Ryder (Soulwax remix) – 5:44

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the European CD single and Demon Days liner notes.

Studios

• Recorded at Kong Studios (Essex, England) and 13 (London, England)
• Mixed at Pierce Rooms (London, England)
• Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City, United States) Song personnel
• Gorillaz – writing, production, mixing
• De La Soul – featured vocals
  • David Jolicoeur – writing
• Simon Tong – additional guitar
• Danger Mouse – production, mixing, programming
• Jason Cox – additional production, mixing, engineering
• James Dring – additional production, programming
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• J.C. Hewett – artwork and design
• Zombie Flesh Eaters – artwork and design Video personnel
• Jamie Hewlett – director
• Pete Candeland – director
• Passion Pictures – production
• Rushes – post production
• Chu-Li Shewring – sound design
• Sebastian Monk – sound design

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. Frere-Jones, Sasha. (28 November 2005). "Damon's Day".
2. Rolling Stone Staff. (17 June 2011). "100 Best Songs of the 2000s".
3. Kreps, Daniel. (2009). "Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Rush Join "Guitar Hero 5 " Lineup". [[Rolling Stone (magazine).
4. (13 October 2015). "They're coming back: Gorillaz' greatest tracks, ranked". Gigwise.
5. "Grammy Award Winners 2005". [[Grammy Awards]].
6. (24 November 2009). "The popdose 100: 100 best songs of the decade". Popdose.
7. (17 April 2005). "Did the downloads really matter?". BBC News.
8. (17 April 2005). "Christie stays top in new chart". BBC News.
9. Browne, Cass. (2006). "Gorillaz: [[Rise of the Ogre]]". Riverhead Books Inc..
10. Kermode, Mark. (19 July 2008). "The interview: Jamie Howlett". The Guardian.
11. (26 April 2022). "Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc (Commentary Edition)". [[YouTube]].
12. Rambarran, Shara. (2016). ""Feel Good" with Gorillaz and "Reject False Icons": The Fantasy Worlds of the Virtual Group and Their Creators". Oxford University Press.
13. (2005). "Feel Good Inc.". [[Parlophone]].
14. (2005). "Feel Good Inc.". Parlophone.
15. (2005). "Feel Good Inc.". Parlophone.
16. (2005). "Feel Good Inc.". Parlophone.
17. (2005). "Feel Good Inc.". Parlophone.
18. "European digital single 1". [[Apple Music]].
19. "European digital single 2". [[Apple Music]].
20. "US digital EP". [[Apple Music]].
21. (2005). "Demon Days". Parlophone.
22. "Gorillaz Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)".
23. (14 October 2005). "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30".
24. (21 October 2005). "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 40".
25. (26 August 2005). "R&R Canada Rock Top 30".
26. (28 May 2005). "Hits of the World – Eurocharts".
27. "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 12–18/6". [[IFPI Greece]].
28. "Netlistinn viku 22, 2005". Tónlist.
29. (May 2020). "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 12 May 2005". [[GfK Chart-Track]].
30. "Tipparade-lijst van week 30, 2005". [[Dutch Top 40]].
31. (August 6, 2005). "Szczecińska Lista Przebojów - Radio Szczecin".
32. (1 September 2005). "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart". [[TopHit]].
33. "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 45/2025". [[IFPI Greece]].
34. "Top 200 Singles Semana 45 de 2025". [[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa]].
35. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
36. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2005". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
37. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005".
38. "Top Radio Hits Global Annual Chart 2005". [[TopHit]].
39. "Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52". [[VNU Media]].
40. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2005". [[GfK Entertainment]].
41. "Classifiche annuali 2005 FIMI Nielsen, dominano gli artisti italiani". [[FIMI]].
42. "End of Year Charts 2005". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
43. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2005". [[TopHit]].
44. "Årslista Singlar, 2005". [[Sverigetopplistan]].
45. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005".
46. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". [[Official Charts Company]].
47. "Billboard Top 100 – 2005".
48. (16 December 2005). "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Adult Top 40 Songs".
49. (16 December 2005). "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Dance Songs".
50. (16 December 2005). "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs".
51. (24 December 2005). "Billboard 2005 The Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Songs".
52. (24 December 2005). "Top 50 – Pop Rock: Cierre de Año, 2005". [[Record Report]].
53. "Hot 100: Year End 2006". billboard.com.
54. "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2025".
55. "End of Year Singles Chart – 2025". [[Official Charts Company]].
56. (May 13, 2017). "Digital Songs Chart Week Ending May 13, 2017". [[Nielsen SoundScan]].
57. (1 April 2005). "Going for Adds".
58. (9 May 2005). "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th May 2005". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
59. "Feel Good Inc".