British virtual band Gorillaz taps American rapper ScHoolboy Q for the "PAC-MAN" music video, as a part of their ongoing "Song Machine," Monday, July 20.
The Gorillaz and ScHoolboy Q collaboration marks the fifth episode of the virtual band's "Song Machine." Their musical series, which sees the band release new tracks every month, features a different artist each time.
"PAC-MAN" opens with their signature "Song Machine Theme" featuring Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, Stuart "2D" Pot, and Russel Hobbs. Damon Albarn, Blur frontman and Gorillaz co-creator, provides the vocals for 2D. The blue-haired frontman sings the first verse as he plays the 1980 arcade, with the iconic ghosts looking like his bandmates.
"You can freak me out, you can throw me in the lion pit./ You can borrow my hands and tell me I'm not here./I'm a mad Pac-Man, livin' in a leveled world./ Everywhere I go I don't know where I am," 2D sings in his lower register.
A funky electro pop beat accompanies 2D's droning line: "I'm stressin out." Noodle is fiddling on her phone while Russel is training against a punching bag. Murdoc slips in and out of his own "portal" in the Jamie Hewlett directed vid.
Halfway through the track, ScHoolboy Q drops his verse, with animated neon lines highlighting his features. "I shattered my thoughts to get out my shell./ Uh, why would I hold my tongue to tuck in my tails?/ Ayy, can't dream if my ego is broke, nah," Q delivers.
"Song Machine" series
"PAC-MAN" is the fifth entry in Gorillaz "Song Machine." The band first teased their new project with a series of images in their social media accounts on January 28. The following day, the band released a 22-second instrumental, the "Song Machine Theme Tune," on YouTube and music streaming platforms.
In support of the official release, Albarn and Remi Kabaka Jr appeared on Annie Mac's "BBC Radio 1" show. During their radio show appearance, they premiered the first installment of "Song Machine." Tagged "Episode One," Gorillaz dropped "Momentary Bliss," featuring British rapper slowthai and punk duo Slaves.
It was followed by "Désolé," a pop and bossa nova track featuring the Malian artist Fatoumata Diawara. Released on February 27, it featured the four Gorillaz members, Albarn, and Fatou travelling via boat in Italy's Lake Como. The song was performed in English, French, and Bambara.
Returning on April 9, Gorillaz featured London-based artist Georgia as well as 80s rock icon Peter Hook from Joy Division and New Order. Together, they released "Aries," a new wave and synthpop track, for their third episode.
Their latest episode prior to "PAC-MAN," the Octavian-supported "Friday the 13th." Recorded in the middle of the COVID-19 quarantine, the accompanying video shows the virtual members bruised as a result of their fight from the previous "Song Machine" episode. The video mostly featured the band members and Octavian rapping against a montage of highway and tunnel traveling.
At the end of the "PAC-MAN" music video, the band announces that they will return in September.
Watch "PAC-MAN," the fifth episode of "Song Machine" with ScHoolboy Q, below:
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