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"Rhinestone Eyes"
Song by Gorillaz
from the album Plastic Beach
Released	3 March 2010
Recorded	2009
Genre	Electro-funk
Length	3:20
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Damon Albarn
Producer(s)	Gorillaz
Music video
"Rhinestone Eyes" (Storyboard) on YouTube

"Rhinestone Eyes" is a song from British virtual band Gorillaz featured on their third studio album, Plastic Beach.

Background

The song was initially intended to receive a full release as the fourth single from Plastic Beach, with copies of the physical single being sent to radio stations across the United States. However, just days after the copies were issued, the band made the decision to issue non-album single "Doncamatic" instead.

The song is featured in the video game FIFA 11.

Live performances

The band performed the song live for the first time at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, on 21 March 2010. The song was performed at all the shows of their Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour, held between October and December 2010. The band recorded a live set for the Late Show with David Letterman on 8 October 2010. The set was released on the show's webcast, with "Rhinestone Eyes" being played on the main show.

Gorillaz also performed the song at the shows of their subsequent tours Humanz Tour (2017–2018) and The Now Now Tour (2018).

Music video

A storyboard version of a possible music video for the song was released on 4 October 2010 to the band's official YouTube channel. The storyboard begins by telling the story of how all four of the band members reunite on Plastic Beach, with the return of Russell and Noodle. The opening scene shows Russell and Noodle heading to Plastic Beach, with Noodle riding on the top of Russell's head, as he eats a hammerhead shark. The Boogieman then appears at the top of Plastic Beach, with Murdoc and Cyborg Noodle discovering him. Cyborg Noodle begins to shoot at the Boogieman, as he hides behind a statue of Pazuzu (the one on the cover of the band's album D-Sides). The Boogieman then jumps into the ocean, with 2-D noticing him from his room, and lands on an empty ship. The Boogieman then points to Murdoc and remembers a flashback in which what appear to be the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse passing by in a desert setting, possibly Mexico, where Murdoc used to be an arms dealer, while the Boogieman is left behind on a donkey. A mysterious man approaches him and holds his hand out as a sign of friendship. As the Boogieman stretches out his hand, the man grabs his hand and the man is revealed to be Murdoc. The scene returns to normal with the Boogieman feeling outwitted as Murdoc grins. Cyborg Noodle blows up the entrance while holding a complete arsenal of weapons, surprising all of the fellow people who collaborated on Plastic Beach as her eyes start to water, similar to the Stylo video. The Boogieman then summons his own army to attack Plastic Beach while Cyborg Noodle and the collaborators try to defend the island. A whale begins to bite the bottom of Plastic Beach, scaring 2-D who is afraid of whales and puts his clown mask on his face, until Russel grabs its tail and tosses it into the sky, hitting a plane. Cyborg Noodle is startled to see Russel while Russel opens his mouth, revealing Noodle to be inside. Noodle takes off her mask and reveals some scars around her right eye.

A fan-made video featuring a fully animated, full-colour rendering of the aforementioned official storyboard was released on 31 August 2017 by South African-born Dutch American freelance animator Richard Van As, having been in production since 2011. The video was received positively by the official Gorillaz YouTube channel in the comments section of the video.

Track listing

1. "Rhinestone Eyes" – 3:20
2. "Rhinestone Eyes" (instrumental) – 3:20

Personnel

• Damon Albarn – vocals, synthesizers, guitar, sampled loops, drum programming
• Jason Cox – mixing, recording
• Stephen Sedgwick – recording, programming
• Gabriel Manuals Wallace – additional drums
• Howie Weinberg – mastering

Charts

Certifications

References

1. "The 15 Best Gorillaz Songs". Billboard. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
2. Murray, Robin (18 January 2011). "Jamie Hewlett Talks Gorillaz". Clash. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
3. "FIFA 11 Soundtrack". FIFPlay. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
4. "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - CBS All Access". CBS. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
5. "The Boogieman returns - Rhinestone Eyes film now on Youtube!". Gorillaz News. 4 October 2010.
6. Gorillaz Rhinestone Eyes Fully Animated Music Video (Fan Made). Richard Van As. 31 August 2017.
7. "It took this Gorillaz fan 6 years to make this amazing video". Buzz.ie. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017.
8. "Gorillaz Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
9. "Gorillaz Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
10. "Gorillaz Rhinestone Eyes Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
11. "Gorillaz Rhinestone Eyes Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
12. "Canadian single certifications – Gorillaz – Rhinestone Eyes". Music Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
13. "British single certifications – Gorillaz – Rhinestone Eyes". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 September 2022.

• Gorillaz songs
• 2009 songs
• Electro songs
• Songs written by Damon Albarn
• Environmental songs