Daft Punk

Posted in MusicWorld on January 31, 2001 by Bruce Britt

Though popularly considered an electronica act, Daft Punk's fluid dance rhythms and burbling analog synthesizers recall the groundbreaking disco recordings of '70s producer Giorgio Moroder. But dance music is a mere fraction of the Daft Punk equation. Renowned for their conceptual music videos, the clip for Daft Punk's popular single "Da Funk" relates the tale of a sad sack that reunites with an attractive school chum. Though the protagonist is dressed in an uproarious dog costume, the video is performed with a deadpan sincerity that recalls the classic films of Frank Capra.

With its subtly stated themes of alienation and despair, the "Da Funk" video affirms Daft Punk's status as multimedia masters. Their current single, "One More Time," recently landed the number one spot on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Play Chart and debuted at number one in France - the first time a single has premiered at the top of the French chart since Elton John's 1997 tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind."

The warm reception bodes well for Discovery, Daft Punk's follow up to their debut release, Homework. To date, the 1996 album has sold over two million copies worldwide and yielded the dance staples, "Da Funk," "Around the World," "Burnin','" and "Fresh." Moreover, the album resulted in two acclaimed videos. Working with directors Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry, the group's video for the song "Da Funk" garnered a U.S. Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording and an MTV Europe Video Music Award nomination for Best International Video. "Da Funk" also captured an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Alternative Video, while Daft Punk's clip for "Around The World" was nominated for Best International Video.

Comprising composer/DJs Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel De Homem Christo, Daft Punk was formed from the ashes of a Parisian band called Darlin'. In 1994, Bangalter and De Homem Christo teamed to record "New Wave," their auspicious first single as Daft Punk. It's been nothing but international renown and critical hosannas ever since.

SOURCEMusicWorld TAGS Dance New Age International Musicworld Hitmaker Artists Daft Punk Elton John