Superfast Jellyfish

Gruff Rhys and De La Soul share vocals over Swanson commercials and David Attenborough narration.

"Superfast Jellyfish" dropped as the second single from Gorillaz' third studio album, Plastic Beach. Released on 9 May 2010, the track mixes nostalgia with rare talent. It pairs vocals from Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals and De La Soul, who had already worked with the group on "Feel Good Inc." The sound pulls from specific sources: a 1986 Swanson's microwave "Great Starts Breakfasts" commercial and an episode of Natural World called "Sperm Whales: Back from the Abyss," narrated by David Attenborough. This release captures a distinct moment in the band's timeline, stitching together live instruments and eclectic found sounds for its unique atmosphere.

Quick Facts

Artist: Gorillaz featuring Gruff Rhys and De La Soul
Album: Plastic Beach
Released: 9 May 2010
Recorded: 2009
Studio: Studio 13 (London, UK)
Genre: Hip hop, funk
Length: 2:54
Label: Parlophone

Lore & Background

Vocals were delivered by Damon Albarn, Gruff Rhys, and the hip-hop group De La Soul. The instrumental backing was crafted through synthesizers, sampled loops, drum programming, and additional guitar work by Gruff Rhys, with extra drums contributed by Gabriel Manuals Wallace. Production duties were handled by Jason Cox for mixing and recording, Stephen Sedgwick for recording and programming, and Howie Weinberg for mastering. The track premiered on BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe show on 25 February 2010. About an hour later, it was uploaded to the official Gorillaz YouTube channel, where it garnered significant attention before the video even dropped.

Reader's Guide

Fans can explore the track through various formats detailed in the release history. The promotional CD single includes the original version at 2:54 and an instrumental mix at 2:47. For those seeking variations, a remixes edition features "Superfast Jellyfish" (Unicorn Kid Remix) at 3:34, the "Evil Nine Remix" stretching to 6:09, and the "Mighty Mouse Remix" clocking in at 6:48. The official music video is available on YouTube via Jamie Hewlett's upload from 8 March 2010. To hear the track as it first aired, listeners can look for the BBC Radio 1 premiere from 25 February 2010. The song's unique composition relies heavily on the specific samples mentioned, making it a distinct entry in the Plastic Beach era that blends pop sensibilities with documentary and commercial audio.