Gorillaz latest song ‘The Tired Influencer’ – which features on the band’s latest album Cracker Island – explores the influencer marketing trade.
The new album – released by the band founded by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett – premiered today (24 February) on all major music streaming platforms.
The third track of the ten-song album titled ‘The Tired Influencer’ explores the life of a content creator living in a fictional futuristic realm called Cracker Island. While the song is certain to be a critique of the influencer marketing sector, the tune could be interpreted as displaying feelings of sympathy towards the 21st century influencer.
The lyrics explore the mind and experience of an independent content creator, with lines in the chorus reading “the tired influencer is sleeping deep, waiting for an answer”.
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In the second verse the cartoon front-man of the band 2-D sings: “Just trying to keep my head up. Nothing real anymore. In the world of the Tired Influencer.”
The song ends with the line “Wear your love” repeated over ten times, suggesting that the fictional influencer character in question is interrogating their own profession.
The release of the Gorillaz song comes as the influencer marketing trade continues to dominate a larger proportion of brands’ marketing budgets. Deinfluencing – the act of telling followers what not to buy – is also the newest form of online social engagement that is being embraced by influencers and followers alike.
