This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
If you would like to see this album in a new light, try putting this idea in to your head.
This album is much like a play. It starts with an orchestral intro, setting up the feel of the story, which sounds like a dock to me. But you also have to think of it not as our world, but it is much a like, but this is the Gorillaz universe, aka The World of the Plastic Beach.
Now, we have characters also, very important (the idea isn't exact, but bare with it):
2D is the voice of Human Nature Little Dragon(or Noodle, which ever) is the voice of The Electric/Stylo (I named the girl character Stylo for explanation reasons. Bobby Womack I assume is the voice of Nature, but im not 100% on it. Mos Def seems to be the speaker for Stylo, making her seem glamourous, or just a part of the human mind taht loves Stylo. Bashy and Kano are two actual humans way in the past before any form of rules existed. Gruff Rhys and De La Soul are two spokespersons for a commercial ad in this world. Mark E. Smith is a ship Captain in search of plastic beach. Lou Reed is Artificial life, much like a robot. Snoop Dogg is just the voice for the album, for example "in fair verona where we lay our scene" from romeo and juliet.
Now in this world, we, the people, are represented as the pirates, in search of this electric, plastic, and fake paradise.
Now if youre still following along, ill explain myself by commenting on the other songs of the album.
@monkeyninja69 I really do think you're correct, considering plastic beach started out as an idea for a play, called carousel.
The intro plays out like the beginning of a dream, with the gentle lapping of waves and French horns. It acts like a haze, hiding the true nature of the world with an enticing cover. It's only when the haze fades away do we truly see what lies underneath.