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.