Gorillaz - DARE

Music Appreciation

Gorillaz's “DARE,” released on August 29, 2005, was an instant success, marking a high point for the band by reaching the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart. The song, a standout from their Demon Days album, features Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays fame and the voice of Rosie Wilson, who takes on the character Noodle. Known for its infectious beat and Ryder’s Mancunian accent that inspired the song’s title, “DARE” became a defining track for Gorillaz, gaining popularity worldwide.

The song's quirky video, directed by Jamie Hewlett and Pete Candeland, takes viewers into Noodle’s imaginative world, where Ryder appears as a giant, disembodied head kept alive by a network of machinery in her closet. Throughout, Ryder’s animated head delivers his lines, while the other band members add character in amusing ways—Russel reads a newspaper on the toilet below, and 2-D listens in with an ear pressed to the floor. The video ends in a twist with Ryder waking from what seems to be a dream, only for Murdoc to send him back to sleep, reinforcing the eerie yet playful mood that defines the band’s style.

With references to horror classics like The Exorcist, The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, and The Ring, the video builds a retro-horror atmosphere that perfectly matches Gorillaz’s unconventional image. Ryder’s head, supported by vintage props like Atari joysticks and a Speak & Spell, gives the video a surreal, humorous edge. Noodle, in control of the Frankenstein-like scene, adds a sense of empowerment as she rocks out, making “DARE” not only visually unforgettable but a memorable nod to horror and pop culture alike.

via Gorillaz