Top 10 Daft Punk songs to cry to over their disbanding
Fabian Robertson delves deep into his heart to commemorate one of the great names in electronic music.
Art by Gabrielle Lydon and Anthony Giannopoulos
Daft Punk split up on Monday last week, ending a 28-year career in which they released 8 albums and over 100 songs. The duo’s retro-futuristic sound was unique in its ability to resonate with people from all walks of life, whether that be diehard music connoisseurs, casual radio listeners or teenage MDMA enthusiasts.
This universal appreciation for Daft Punk is somewhat incongruous with their harsh and experimental style. Yet this contradiction perhaps best sums up what makes Daft Punk so special. They were able to communicate unmistakeable humanity in even the most foreign and robotic sounds, as if by pushing the boundaries they were uncovering what it means to be human. Such humanity transcends the varying genres of the duo’s many albums. From hip-hop-inspired funk to house and pop, Daft Punk have always seemed to be masters of deeply connecting to the listener.
In the hours I spent re-listening to their discography, attempting to rank their songs, one thing became obvious. Daft Punk are artists. And art really shouldn’t be ranked. Although this article was an attempt to honour the disbanded duo, capturing 28 years in a 10-song list is undoubtedly reductive. Alas, KPIs and the state of modern journalism have given virality priority above all else - and listicles typically do pretty well.
So, the following is one fan’s humble attempt to rank Daft Punk’s best ever songs. Let them breathe life into your house party, your commute to USyd, your study session. For although Daft Punk’s career has ended, their music will live on as long as their fans do.
10: Around The World - Homework (1997)
‘Around The World’ is a horribly catchy house song with a killer baseline. A fair warning though, the track’s only lyrics - “Around the world” - are repeated 120 times, ensuring they are implanted firmly in your subconscious whether you like it or not. You may find yourself zoning out in a tutorial, nodding your head methodically as the robotic lyrics reverberate in your subconscious. Perhaps that’s why so many of us love to travel.
9: Lose Yourself To Dance - Random Access Memories (2013)
A departure from their experimental house, the poppy funk song ‘Lose Yourself To Dance’ is the kind of track that everyone enjoys - a good indicator being that your mum probably likes it. Daft Punk retains their signature robotic vocals that cut through Pharell Williams’ and Nile Rodgers’ funk sounds, urging you to “Come on, come on, come on, come on” and dance with them.
8: Contact - Random Access Memories (2013)
‘Contact’ is an epic and ethereal musical odyssey that would not be out of place in the Interstellar soundtrack. The song begins with dialogue of an astronaut identifying a UFO, before masterfully building to a spacey crescendo reminiscent of ‘Opus’ by Eric Prydz. ‘Contact’ is an excellent budget-friendly alternative to intergalactic travel. Some people (not this author) may recommend smoking something, putting this on and charging some cream. See you among the stars kiddos.
7: Starboy - Starboy (2016)
Daft Punk teamed up with The Weeknd for a ludicrously successful track that combines smooth instrumentals with angelic vocals. 1.5 billion plays on Spotify, what more needs to be said?
6: Instant Crush - Random Access Memories (2013)
‘Instant Crush’ is a mellow, groovy love song with Daft Punk’s signature retro-futuristic sound and robotic-sounding lyrics. You may not recognise his voice but the song features the vocals of Julian Casablanca, lead singer-songwriter of American Rock band The Strokes. The collab typifies Daft Punk’s breadth of genres and their appreciation for artists outside of electronic music.
5: Get Lucky - Random Access Memories (2013)
Another ridiculously catchy hit with Pharell Williams and Nile Rodgers. In the car, in the club, in your earphones - ‘Get Lucky’ is good for any occasion. While the shortened radio edit potentially reached a wider audience, listen to the original for the full extent of their instrumentals.
4: Alive 2007 (Entire Album)
A DJ friend of mine scolded me for not initially including the ‘Alive 2007’ album in this listicle. “The album was literally ground-breaking,” he said, “it deserves heavy emphasis, you idiot”. So here we are. Alive 2007 was released as a live album recording of Daft Punk’s 2007 performance in Paris. Notably, Alive 2007 mixes 2-4 of their songs into individual tracks, culminating in an album that is immersive, transportive and influential.
3: Tron: Legacy Soundtrack - (2010)
Daft Punk teamed up with Disney for Hollywood’s take on the classic arcade game Tron. In what was a critical and box office flop, the duo’s ethereal sounds shone as one of the film’s few high points. Daft Punk’s soundtrack evokes a sense of struggling humanity and revolution in a high-tech, dystopian society. The duo even makes an on-screen and helmeted appearance as futuristic DJs in a night club. Play this for escapism or when you’re driving through the city at night.
2: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Discovery (2001)
Iconic, ingenious and influential, ‘Harder, Better, Faster Stronger’ is firmly implanted in the minds of anyone who has been lucky enough to have heard it. The bouncy funk style, rambunctious percussion and demanding lyrics call on humanity for fundamental betterment. This sentiment was reiterated when Kanye West used a sample of the original in his hit single ‘Stronger’, winning the approval of Daft Punk and resulting in their unlikely live collaboration at the 2008 Grammys.
1: One More Time - Discovery (2001)
The ultimate party anthem combining signature Daft Punk sounds with mainstream palatability to comprehensively hook the listener’s mind and soul. The kind of song that makes you smile from nostalgia when it comes on, then run to the dance-floor as it crescendos. The kind of song you could cry to in the club while jumping up and down in delirium. The kind of song that will make you wish that Daft Punk were still together, to release just one more album, just one more set, just one more time.