Around the World (Daft Punk song)
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| "Around the World" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Daft Punk | ||
| from the album Homework | ||
| Released | March 17, 1997 | |
| Format | CD, 12" | |
| Recorded | Unknown | |
| Genre | House | |
| Length | 7:07 | |
| Label | Virgin Records | |
| Writer(s) | Thomas Bangalter Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo |
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| Producer(s) | Daft Punk | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Daft Punk singles chronology | ||
| "Da Funk" (1995) |
"Around the World" (1997) |
"Burnin'" (1997) |
| Music sample | ||
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"Around the World" (file info) |
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"Around the World" is a song by the electronic music duo Daft Punk. It appeared on the duo's debut album, Homework (1997) and was released as a single the same year. It subsequently became a major club hit throughout the world and arrived at #1 in dance charts. The song is particularly known for its repeated phrasing of its title. It is also known for its music video, which was directed by Michel Gondry.
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[edit] Structure
The key hook is a steady bassline and a talk box-processed voice singing "Around the world" in continuous chains. In the album version of "Around the World", the phrase occurs 144 times in total.
Upon analysis of the song, Michel Gondry noted its distinctive structure: "I realized how genius and simple the music was. Only five different instruments, with very few patterns, each to create numerous possibilities of figures. Always using the repetition, and stopping just before it's too much."[1]
[edit] Music video
Michel Gondry's music video for the song features robots walking around in a circle on a platform (which represents a vinyl record), tall athletes walking up and down stairs, women dressed like synchronized swimmers (described by Gondry as "disco girls")[1] moving up and down another set of stairs, skeletons dancing in the center of the "record," and mummies dancing in time with the song's drum pattern.
This is meant to be a visual representation of the song; each element in the video represents a different instrument. According to Gondry's notes,[1] the androids represent the singing robot voice; the physicality and rapidity of the athletes symbolizes the ascending/descending bass guitar; the femininity of the disco girls represents the high-pitched keyboard; the "itchy" skeletons serve for the guitars; the mummies represent the drum machine.
"Around the World" was Gondry's first attempt at bringing organized dancing to his music videos. "I was sick to see choreography being mistreated in videos like filler with fast cutting and fast editing, really shallow. I don't think choreography should be shot in close-ups."[2] The sequence, initially developed by Gondry, was further expanded and streamlined by choreographer Blanca Li. Costumes for the video were designed by Florence Fontaine, the mother of Gondry's son. The flashing lights were operated by the the director's brother, Olivier "Twist" Gondry. As Michel Gondry stated, "It all came down to a family affair."[1]
[edit] Track listing
- Around the World (Radio Edit) (3:59)
- Around the World (Album Version) (7:07)
- Teachers (Extended Mix) (5:51)
- Around the World (Motorbass Vice Mix) (6:39)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d The Work of Director Michel Gondry companion book (2003)
- ^ "Around the World" director-file.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2006.
[edit] External links
| Daft Punk |
|---|
| Thomas Bangalter • Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Albums: Homework • Discovery • Alive 1997 • Daft Club • Human After All • Musique Vol. 1 1993-2005 Singles: "The New Wave" • "Da Funk" • "Around the World" • "Burnin'" • "Revolution 909" • "One More Time" • "Aerodynamic" • "Digital Love" • "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" • "Robot Rock" • "Technologic" • "Human After All" • "The Prime Time of Your Life" Film and VHS/DVD: D.A.F.T. • Interstella 5555 • Electroma |
