Left Hand Suzuki Method is a song by Gorillaz and the ninth track from the band's first compilation album, G-Sides. It originally appeared as a B-side track to the single 19-2000 in 25 June 2001 and just a few days prior as a bonus track on the US editions of the band's self-titled studio album, Gorillaz. It is also entirely sung by Noodle, voiced by Miho Hatori, who alternates between speaking Japanese and English.

The song was also included as a bonus track on the French double CD and Malaysian double CD & AVCD editions of the debut album. On the Brazilian edition of G-Sides, it was moved to the twelfth spot on the tracklist, and is entirely absent from the US American and Canadian editions of the compilation.

Information

The song's title is a combination of two different elements: the Suzuki method^W, a method of music education described by the lyrics of the song created by Japanese musician and pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki^W in the mid 20th century, which was studied by both co-creator Damon Albarn and bassist Junior Dan, and the two musicians being left-handed (hence Dan's nickname of "Left Hand Dan").

The full expression also began to be used to describe an unconventional way of applying this method, which consisted of listening to the recording and attempting to play along while also being high from smoking large quantities of weed (which most likely also took place during the song's recording sessions in Jamaica, as Albarn notoriously brought two suitcases full of cannabis with him to consume during their stay).

Left Hand Suzuki Method was initially picked for inclusion on the self-titled album. However, its inclusion was barred by record label Parlophone over concerns that the bong sounds at the beginning of the track would not be well received in international markets. As such, when it eventually made its way to the US, a "clean version" of the track had to be made with the bong sounds edited out.^[1]

Its place on the album's tracklisting was most likely taken by either Rock The House or Starshine; the first one was included under request of the label for its more radio-friendly nature, despite Damon Albarn's initial objections, and the latter is the only song on the standard edition of the debut album to have not been produced by Dan the Automator, possibly intended to have been a B-side instead.

Left Hand Suzuki Method also contains the highest number of known samples out of any Gorillaz song:

• "Mannish Boy", by Muddy Waters (drums and chopped-up vocals);
• "Long, Long Ago", written in 1833 by English composer Thomas Haynes Bayly (the violin);
• "What The...", by George Duke (the background humming);
• "No Tricks", by Latee (the "Feel the impact!" line);
• "Desert Sunrise" by Joe Simon and Millie Jackson (multiple instruments).

"Long, Long Ago" is also one of the songs featured in the Suzuki Method of violin education and the Suzuki book 1 for stringed instruments, hence its inclusion in this song.

Exhumation

Exhumation is the original working title of the song, included on the Un-mastered Tracks and Instrumentals promo CDs, before being re-named to "Left Hand Suzuki Method" on later releases. It is much longer than the well-known one, with a length of 5:16 instead of 3:12, and without the fade-out in the end. The lyrics remain the same on both versions.

Lyrics

Videos

Left Hand Suzuki Method

Left Hand Suzuki Method

Gorillaz - Left Hand Suzuki Method (Unmastered)

Exhumation

Gorillaz Monks Montage

Monk's Montage

Availability

• 19-2000 single^{[notes 1]} (eCDs & UK 12");
• Gorillaz^{[notes 2]} (US & Canadian eCDs, French bonus disc);
• G-Sides^{[notes 2]} (all non-US/CA releases & digutal formats).
  • Included on the Gorillaz 20th Anniversary Box Set.

Other Versions

• Clean Edit - on the US Edited Version of the debut album.
• Un-mastered Mix (Exhumation) - on the Gorillaz Un-mastered Tracks promo CD.
• Instrumental (Exhumation) - on the Gorillaz Instrumentals promo CD.
• Exhumation Vox - on the Gorillaz.com website as an MP3 file.

Notes

Trivia

• The song retained the name "Exhumation" as short, vocal-only version available in Noodle's Room on the Kong Studios website during Phase One, named "Exhumation Vox".
  • Another song featuring lead vocals by Noodle in Japanese was also present on the un-mastered and instrumental promos before being cut from the album: Faust, which was later released as a B-side to the Rock the House single, also had its own short version available on Noodle's Room, also titled "Faust Vox".
    • Interestingly, 2-D's backing vocals are not present on this version of the song, only Noodle's.
• This track was once referred to as "Suzuki Left Hand Method" by the Cafe Cat in the cafeteria during MEL's Kong Studios tour.
• The song was eventually given a music video in 2006 titled "Monk's Montage" on the Phase Two: Slowboat To Hades DVD which paired it with several clips of music videos, G-Bitez, visuals and idents from Phases 1 and 2.

References

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