The Valley Of The Pagans (feat. Beck)

Gorillaz's song 'The Valley Of The Pagans,' featuring Beck, is a vivid exploration of the superficiality and artificiality of modern life, particularly in the context of Los Angeles and Hollywood. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where everything seems perfect on the surface, but there's an underlying emptiness and lack of genuine substance. The 'land of the permanent Sun' and 'flowers are melted' suggest a place where natural beauty is distorted by artificial means, reflecting the often superficial nature of the entertainment industry.

The repeated lines 'I feel so good to have a perfect soul' and 'It feels so good to be in total control' highlight the obsession with perfection and control in modern society. However, this perfection is an illusion, as indicated by the line 'It's so convincing, but something's missing.' The song suggests that despite the appearance of having everything, there's a deeper sense of dissatisfaction and a lack of true fulfillment. The reference to 'one hundred million Viagra tablets stored in a warehouse in a valley' is a metaphor for the artificial means people use to maintain a facade of vitality and happiness.

The imagery of 'a plastic Cleopatra on a throne of ice' and 'candy-colored fingers and schadenfreude eyes' further emphasizes the theme of artificiality. These characters are emblematic of the hollow, manufactured personas that populate this 'valley of mirrors,' where everything is a reflection of a constructed image rather than reality. The song's chorus, 'In the valley where you wake up every beautiful day, and the world you created in your image is golden,' underscores the idea that this world is a self-made illusion, a place where people can feel like 'pagans'—detached from traditional values and immersed in a hedonistic, self-indulgent lifestyle.

Ultimately, 'The Valley Of The Pagans' is a critique of the modern pursuit of perfection and control, revealing the emptiness that lies beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect world. It challenges listeners to look beyond the facade and question the true value of the artificial lives we often strive to create.