Dirty Harry

The song *Dirty Harry* by Gorillaz, released in 2005 as part of the album Demon Days, has a particularity that makes it resonate differently. Its lyrics, written by Damon Albarn, directly allude to the phrase "The war is over" uttered by George W. Bush, connecting with the reality of that time. The title itself, "Dirty Harry," evokes the 1971 film directed by Don Siegel, and curiously, one of Gorillaz' earliest singles bore the name of the actor who played that character, Clint Eastwood. The image accompanying the single, featuring a helmet reminiscent of the Full Metal Jacket poster, reinforces this visual connection to war cinema.

The production of *Dirty Harry* featured Bootie Brown of The Pharcyde on rap parts, and the San Fernández Children's Choir provided additional vocals, giving it a very distinctive sonic texture. The music video, released in November 2005, was filmed in a real desert, aiming for a more direct and economical aesthetic than computer-generated effects. In it, we see the animated characters of Gorillaz, 2-D and the choir, stranded after an apparent helicopter crash. The narrative is completed with the appearance of Noodle and Murdoc as members of a South African Defence Force, led by Russel, who drives a military vehicle. Like many other tracks on Demon Days, the song draws from Damon Albarn's observations about the current state of the world.