Dirty Harry (song)

"Dirty Harry" is a song from British alternative rock virtual band Gorillaz' second studio album Demon Days.

"Dirty Harry"
Single by Gorillaz featuring Bootie Brown
from the album Demon Days
B-side
  • "Hongkongaton"
  • "All Alone"
Released21 November 2005 (2005-11-21)
Recorded2004
Genre
Length3:50 (single edit)
2:42 (radio edit)
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gorillaz singles chronology
"Dare"
(2005)		 "Dirty Harry"
(2005)		 "Kids with Guns" / "El Mañana"
(2006)
Bootie Brown singles chronology
"Dirty Harry"
(2005)
Music video
"Dirty Harry" on YouTube

Song history

"Dirty Harry" was first released as a promotional single on iTunes before being released as the third single from the album on 21 November 2005, peaking at #6 in the UK. An early version entitled "I Need a Gun" was included on Damon Albarn's album Democrazy. On 8 December 2005, "Dirty Harry" was nominated for a Grammy under the category "Urban/Alternative Performance", but was beaten by Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock".

Music video

The video was first released on 25 October 2005, sent to those on the e-mail list on Gorillaz' official website. A thematic follow-up to the band's "Clint Eastwood", it refers to the film of the same name, Clint Eastwood being the lead actor in the movie. "Dirty Harry" is the first Gorillaz music video to be shot on location; initially, the group intended to utilise a computer animated desert as background, but discovered that simply flying to a real desert was easier and cheaper.

The video was shot in the Swakopmund Desert in Namibia; it mainly features a shirtless 2-D and an animated version of the San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus stranded in the desert, following what appears to have been a helicopter crash. The survivors keep themselves entertained with the song while awaiting the arrival of rescuers, portrayed by Noodle and Murdoc crewing a Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik Wer’wolf MKII mine-proof vehicle driven by Russel (who wears a Fu Manchu).

Both song and video feature a guest appearance by Pharcyde rapper Bootie Brown, who leaps out of a sand dune in military fatigues to perform his verse of the song. The video concludes with Gorillaz, the children and Bootie Brown departing the crash site in the Werwolf, which breaks down a short distance away.

Track listing
UK CD1 / Digital Single
  1. "Dirty Harry" – 3:50
  2. "All Alone" (live) – 3:40
UK CD2 / Digital E.P.
  1. "Dirty Harry" – 3:50
  2. "Hongkongaton" – 3:35
  3. "Dirty Harry" (Chopper remix) – 3:40
UK DVD Single
  1. "Dirty Harry" (music video) – 5:00
  2. "Murdoc Is God" – 2:26
  3. "Dirty Harry" (animatic) – 4:21
European / Australian CD single
  1. "Dirty Harry" – 3:50
  2. "Hongkongaton" – 3:35
  3. "Dirty Harry" (Chopper remix) – 3:40
  4. "Dirty Harry" (music video) – 5:00
  5. "Dirty Harry" (animatic) – 4:21
Japanese CD single
  1. "Dirty Harry" – 3:50
  2. "All Alone" (live) – 3:40
  3. "Hongkongaton" – 3:35
  4. "Dirty Harry" (Chopper remix) – 3:40
  5. "Dirty Harry" (music video) – 5:00
US Digital EP
  1. "Dirty Harry" – 3:50
  2. "Highway (Under Construction)" – 4:17
  3. "Hongkongaton" – 3:35
  4. "Dirty Harry" (music video) – 5:00
  5. "Dirty Harry" (Live in Harlem video) – 4:04
UK 12" vinyl
  1. "Dirty Harry" (Jon Carter remix) – 5:57
  2. "Dirty Harry" (Chopper remix) – 3:40
Australian promo CD single
  1. "Dirty Harry" (Paul Mac remix) (edit) – 3:27
  2. "Dirty Harry" (Paul Mac remix) – 5:11

Personnel
  • Damon Albarn – vocals, synthesizers, guitars, string arrangements
  • Bootie Brown – vocals
  • Jason Cox – bass guitar, mixing
  • James Dring – drum programming
  • Al Mobbs – double bass
  • Emma Smith – double bass
  • Amanda Drummond – viola
  • Stella Page – viola
  • Prabjote Osahn – violin
  • Sally Jackson – violin
  • Isabelle Dunn – cello
  • Danger Mouse – sampled loops, percussion, drum programming, mixing
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Steve Sedgwick – mixing assistance
  • The San Fernandez Youth Chorus – additional vocals

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Wade, Ian (2005). "Gorillaz Demon Days Review". BBC. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. Cinquemani, Sal. "Review: Gorillaz, Demon Days". Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. "Australian-charts.com – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  4. "Austriancharts.at – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  6. "Ultratop.be – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  7. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200609 into search. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  8. "Danishcharts.com – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry". Tracklisten. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dirty Harry". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  11. "Italiancharts.com – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  14. "Swisscharts.com – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  16. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2005" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  17. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  18. "British single certifications – Gorillaz – Dirty Harry". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Dirty Harry in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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