Monday Music: Gorillaz – Hallelujah Money

This week’s Monday music is from a band that needs no introduction.

I cannot describe my excitement for this song, Gorillaz are one of my all time favorite bands. The past few days have been those of a intense, joyous fervor in the music community. Gorillaz have released their first song in five years, and it’s a politically charged one at that. Debuted a day before President Trump’s inauguration, Hallelujah Money is a direct attack at his presidency. And I cannot be happier for it.

The opening shot of the video is an animated depiction of Trump Tower’s elevator bay. The video “takes place” in one of the tower’s elevators, and the single’s lead singer, Benjamin Clementine, is eerily lit. Clashing symbolic imagery is projected on the walls of the elevator, too many subtleties to coherently list here. Shots of La Candelaria Brotherhood, whose religious garb is almost exactly the same as the KKK, brings a contradicting image. The juxtaposition of the hate that the KKK represents and the peaceful, holy ceremonies of La Candelaria during their holy week. This all alludes to Trump, and that his outward “persona” are not what they seem; a commentary on his supporter’s mental gymnastics trying to excuse his negative traits; OR that he is painted as this terrible tyrant but underneath the surface isn’t. It can really be interrupted both ways.  Shots of Napoleon and Animal Farm are pretty self explanatory. Throughout the video we see Benjamin riding the elevator UP and out from the dark and gloomy imagery, to happiness, rainbows and American flags. The random shot of Spongebob at the end is from an episode where he is fired from his job, a direct reference to Trump’s catchphrase on his reality TV show The Apprentice.

The lyrics tell a haunting tale of fear and greed. We must protect our sacred trees and their fruit, from evil scarecrows from the far east. We must build a wall stronger than Jericho. The repeating praises of money, Hallelujah Money, tells us how much we as a modern society worship cash.

I love this song. Most negative critiques of the tune are from people who are ignorant of Gorillaz extensive catalog (I’m looking at you Reddit). All I’ve seen from online keyboard warriors is how this isn’t as good as their “popular” songs, and that Benjamin Clementine is a “terrible fit” for it. OR how Gorillaz need to not be so “political”. These statements are so asinine it hurts. The band has always been political; their first album was a commentary on over-processed “fake” musicians. Demons Days is an anti Iraq war record (with direct attacks on George Bush). Plastic Beach, lambasting our instant gratification, extremely disposable society. Each album represents a story, and Hallelujah Money is an interlude or bridging song in the overall story that the next album will be. The 6/8 time signature is discomforting for someone expecting a 4/4 pop song. I love this song. I cannot wait for the full album to be released.

Let us know in the comments your thoughts on Hallelujah Money. What do you think about it’s anti Trump/capitalism message? How well do you think Benjamin Clementine fits in with the group.