GORILLAZ FT.SPARKS
Deliver Satirical Brilliance on 'The Happy Dictator'
Two years on from their chart-topping album Cracker Island, Gorillaz have returned with a bang. Their new single, “Happy Dictator,” a collaboration with American pop eccentrics Sparks, serves as the first glimpse of forthcoming album The Mountain (out March 2026). True to form, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s ever-evolving project continues to balance playfulness with political bite.
'The Happy Dictator' proves why Gorillaz remain one of the most inventive bands of the past three decades. Inspired by Albarn’s visit to Turkmenistan, where state-controlled news paints a relentlessly cheerful picture, the track uses satire to expose the dangers of manufactured optimism. Sparks’ repeating chorus — 'oh what a happy land we live in' — is as infectious as it is unsettling, embodying the group’s knack for turning critique into pop gold.
The track’s structure is equally compelling. Opening with Russell Mael’s delicate, almost hymnal vocal, it builds into a choral swell before plunging into a groove-heavy electronic beat. Albarn, as 2D, delivers scratchy yet magnetic vocals that simultaneously soothe and demand attention. His verses, laced with promises of 'no more bad news', glide effortlessly into a soaring chorus, where Sparks’ bright harmonies play against darker lyrical undertones.
What keeps 'The Happy Dictator' fresh is its constant evolution. Each shift — choral, electronic, melodic — keeps the listener on edge, while Sparks’ playful contributions balance Albarn’s heavier intent. The closing bridge, with Mael’s probing questions — 'Are you not better off than ever?' — lands with both humour and discomfort, driving home the song’s political core.
As the first taste of The Mountain, the single sets a dauntingly high bar. Rumoured collaborations with IDLES and Johnny Marr suggest even more experimentation to come. But if 'The Happy Dictator' is any indication, Gorillaz have no intention of slowing down. Twenty-seven years on, they remain masters of creating politically sharp, festival-ready anthems that resonate across generations.