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The 2001 song Damon Albarn has never topped: “That can only happen once”
Damon Albarn has said he has never surpassed ‘Clint Eastwood’, the 2001 breakthrough single by his virtual band Gorillaz. He described the track as a rare moment where the music, concept and timing aligned perfectly, suggesting that such an achievement cannot simply be repeated.
Released as Gorillaz’s debut single, ‘Clint Eastwood’ combined Albarn’s melodic style with hip-hop elements, including vocals from Del the Funky Homosapien. The song helped establish Gorillaz as a major project distinct from Blur, reaching number four in the UK singles chart and becoming one of Albarn’s best-known recordings.
In short
- Albarn says ‘Clint Eastwood’ remains his unmatched song.
- The 2001 single launched Gorillaz to wide recognition.
- It blended alternative pop with hip-hop.
Explained simply
Damon Albarn became famous in the 1990s as the lead singer of Blur, a British rock band. In 2001, he took a significant creative shift by launching Gorillaz, a project built around animated characters rather than real performers, mixing hip-hop with his melodic songwriting.
'Clint Eastwood' was the debut single from Gorillaz, and it proved the concept could reach a mainstream audience. The song combined Albarn's pop instincts with hip-hop production and featured American rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, reaching number four in the UK singles chart and becoming one of Albarn's best-known recordings.
The track demonstrated that Albarn could work successfully outside Blur's rock framework, blending different musical styles in a way that proved commercially and critically successful. This established Gorillaz as a major project in its own right, distinct from his work with his former band.