Cat Power Sings as a Sad Gorilla on Adult Swim’s Animated Show "China, IL"

Photo by Will Deitz

Cat Power has offered up her voice for the season finale of the Adult Swim animated show “China, IL”, singing the part of a sad gorilla named Kei-ko. Below, watch a clip from the season finale, in which Cat Power voices Kei-ko’s woeful song “I’m Starting to Lose Hope Again”. The full, hour-long episode airs this Sunday, June 14 at 11:30 PM ET/PT. Cat Power sings three songs in the episode.

“I’m Starting to Lose Hope Again” was written by “China, IL” creator Brad Neely, who also arranged and performed the music. The clip also features the voices of Hulk Hogan (yes, Hulk Hogan) as the Dean and Jeffrey Tambor (“Arrested Development”, “Transparent”) as Professor Leonard Cakes.

“China, IL” takes place at the University of China, Illinois, “the worst college in America.” 

You may be wondering: Why is this gorilla so sad? 

According to Neely, “Well, for one she was bread in captivity and has never been free. Now she finds herself in a school (UCI) where The Dean (Hulk Hogan) is turning living animals into fuel, skipping the “fossil part.” She has never fully lived and soon her life will be over. We based her character, and speaking device off the gorilla in Congo.”

In the same episode, the character Frank Smith also sings a song about sexual frustration. “This song has the same melody as Frank’s sad song of realization,” Neely adds. To me, it’s funny that later Frank will feel on the same level with Kei-ko, equating their misfortune. She, a doomed and abused slave, and he, a man who just has trouble getting sex.

Watch the clip below:

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