Empire Ants

Album: Plastic Beach (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This track features Little Dragon, an electronic music quartet based in Sweden on which their Swedish/Japanese vocalist Yukimi Nagano sings about her "little dream working the machines." Gorillaz bassist Murdoc explained on the band's website: "It was actually 2D who got me into Little Dragon. He played me this lovely song of theirs called 'Twice,' which he first heard on the TV show Grey's Anatomy."
  • Yukimi Nagano recalled to Q magazine March 2010: "Walking into their studio was like walking into a playground-there were instruments from all around the world and an ocean of synthesizers. We were in awe of it all, hungry to try them all out. We worked on a couple of different things, writing and coming up with ideas. Everything was very spontaneous and playful."
  • The song samples from the theme music to the BBC's long running science and technology program, Tomorrow's World.

Comments: 2

  • Jdfromfla from Florida2020 and another polyphonic prayer is here, its all around us....this time its not plastic making islands out to sea, its a disease stacking up bodies like cordwood and humanity haunted by memories of life before it....Damen and Yukimi and the boys from The Clash made, in my opinion one of the very best arrangements in history and a classic for the ages.
  • Daniel from Indianapolis, InThis song is absolutely incredible. It’s sad that it’s 2019 and this is the first comment.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.