"Da Funk" | ||||
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Single byDaft Punk | ||||
from the albumHomework | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 8 May 1995 (1995-5-8) | |||
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Daft Punk | |||
Daft Punk singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Da Funk" | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Da Funk" onYouTube | ||||
"Da Funk" is aninstrumental track by French electronic music duoDaft Punk, initially released as a 12-inch single in May 1995 bySoma andVirgin and later included on their debut album,Homework (1997). Prior to its inclusion on the album, "Da Funk" received little attention and was limited to 2,000 copies. The song and its accompanying music video directed bySpike Jonze are considered classics of 1990shouse music.[3] It went on to sell 30,000 copies in 1997. A reversed clip of the song was also released onHomework as "Funk Ad", which is the final track on the album.
Daft Punk produced "Da Funk" after listening to American G-funk records: the bass was composed using aRoland TB-303 synthesizer. A siren was originally going to be the riff before later being replaced to reflect the style the duo were going for. They wanted to make a song in the style similar to that of gangsta rap and electro. Bangalter also stated that the song's melody is meant to be reminiscent of Italian producer and composerGiorgio Moroder. The song received acclaim from music critics and has been listed as one of the greatest dance songs of all time byRolling Stone.
"Da Funk" was initially released as a 12-inch single on 8 May 1995 under theSoma Quality Recordings label, with the B-side "Rollin' & Scratchin'".[4][5] The pressing was limited to 2,000 copies and was "virtually ignored" according to aMuzik magazine feature at the time. The single received a boost in popularity whenthe Chemical Brothers incorporated it into their live shows. Subsequently, the British duo's song "Life Is Sweet" was remixed by Daft Punk for a single release in August 1995.[6] The track also received early support from veteranBBC Radio 1 DJAnnie Nightingale.[7]
Daft Punk eventually signed withVirgin Records after a bidding war amongst several labels. "Da Funk" was re-released in early 1997 by Virgin with the B-side[8] "Musique", a track that later appeared on the anthologyMusique Vol. 1 1993–2005. The duo's debut albumHomework features "Da Funk" as well as a reversed excerpt titled "Funk Ad". Daft Punk expressed that they wanted to make the album balanced by distributing tracks evenly across each of the four vinyl sides.[9] TheHomework release of "Da Funk" sold 30,000 copies.[10]
In an interview with Fredrik Strage for Swedish magazinePop #23, Bangalter said that "Da Funk" was made after listening to AmericanG-funk for weeks. He stated that the duo wanted to make a song in the style ofgangsta rap. They tried to "murk [...] sounds" as much as possible. However, Bangalter said that "no one has ever compared it to hip hop." According to him, the melody and the synthesizers used in the song are reminiscent of music producerGiorgio Moroder and genres such aselectro.[11]
Theriff was originally asiren sound, but was changed to reflect the "gangsta rap" aesthetic they were trying to achieve. Thebassline was created with aRoland TB-303 synthesizer[12] Bangalter purchased in 1993. He had created several patterns with the 303 beforehand: "When we were looking for a bassline, we listened to some of [the] ones I'd already programmed and took the one that fit best."[6] Da Funk is written in the key ofG minor,[13] and composed with atempo of 111 beats per minute.[14]
Larry Flick fromBillboard described the track as a "wriggling instrumental combination of cutting-edgeelectronic dance andCameo-styledfunk".[15] Andy Beevers fromMusic Week'sRM Dance Update rated it five out of five, adding that "this single is a bit of a refresher for those who have been wondering why there is so much hype surrounding the French duo." He explained further, "'Da Funk' still sounds incredibly fresh with its huge distorted synth riffs, thumping rhythm and scratchy guitar mashed up to create a mutantdisco gem."[16]
Andy Crysell fromNME wrote, "Two young Parisians abduct the insane lovechild of a one-night stand shared byHardfloor's fittest 303s and a '70s superfly jam to devise a title track rich in troubled funk and wiggly acid and a flip of murderous hammeringhouse."[17] Dave Fawbert fromShortList declared it as "sensational", stating that it "manages to combine about six different outrageously funky parts over the top of an unyielding, solitary, bass note. When the 303 finally kicks in, it's electro ecstasy."[18] David Sinclair fromThe Times commented, "Anotherrave standard goes overground."[19]
"What was special was seeing the streets of New York City react in real time to the character of Charles the Dog Boy as if he was real. Because of the location and the nature of how it was put together, aside from a few knowing smiles, most people just accepted it as reality and that was kind of amazing. Half the people totally ignored Charles, as if he was just any other character on the streets, and that was part of what made it so magic. I was laughing to myself all the time."
The track's music video was directed bySpike Jonze in February 1997 and titledBig City Nights. It focuses on the character Charles (Tony Maxwell, drummer of the bandThat Dog), ananthropomorphic dog in a leg cast with a crutch. Charles, who has lived inNew York City for only one month, is shown walking around with aboombox blasting "Da Funk" at a high volume. His hobbled walk is mocked by a pair of children. He is turned down when he attempts to participate in a public survey. His boombox annoys a bookseller on the sidewalk from whom Charles buys a paperback novel titledBig City Nights.
Charles meets a woman named Beatrice (Catherine Kellner), who was once his childhood neighbor. They agree to have dinner together at her home, traveling by way of a city bus. Beatrice boards the bus, but Charles is startled by a sign stating "NO RADIOS". As he is unable to turn off his boombox (which is earlier indicated to have a broken/missing volume button) he reluctantly remains at the bus stop, as the bus drives off with Beatrice. Although the video has drawn several interpretations, Bangalter has stated that the music video has no story or meaning.[21]
The prominent French club magazineCoda named "Da Funk" the number one single with 33 percent of the vote.[6] In 2003,Q ranked it number 670 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[22] In September 2010,Pitchfork Media included the song at number 18 on their "Top 200 Tracks of the 90s".[3] In 2011, it was featured in the video gamesTop Spin 4 andUbisoft'sJust Dance 3.[23][24] Same year,Slant Magazine listed it at number 93 in their ranking of "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s".[25]
In 2012,NME listed it in their "100 Best Songs of the 1990s", at number eight.[26] In 2021,Mixdown featured "Da Funk" in their list of "The 13 most iconic TB-303 basslines of all time".[12] In 2022,Classic Pop ranked it number 17 in their list of the top 40 dance tracks from the 90's.[27] Same year,Rolling Stone ranked "Da Funk" number 23 in their list of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".[28]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Da Funk" (Side A) | 5:33 |
2. | "Musique" (Side B) | 6:52 |
Total length: | 12:25 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
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1. | "Da Funk" (Short Edit) | 2:41 | |
2. | "Da Funk" (Long Edit) | 3:48 | |
3. | "Da Funk" (LP Version) | 5:32 | |
4. | "Da Funk" (Ten Minutes of Funk Mix) | Armand van Helden | 10:08 |
5. | "Da Funk" (Callout Research Hook) | 0:10 | |
Total length: | 22:19 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Da Funk" (Long Edit) | 3:48 |
2. | "Da Funk" | 5:33 |
Total length: | 9:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Da Funk" (Side A) | 5:28 |
2. | "Rollin' & Scratchin'" (Side B) | 7:26 |
Total length: | 12:54 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Da Funk" (Radio Edit) | 5:33 |
2. | "Musique" | 6:52 |
3. | "Da Funk" (Ten Minutes Of Funk Mix) | 10:08 |
Total length: | 22:28 |
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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France (SNEP)[53] | Silver | 125,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United Kingdom | 8 May 1995 | 12-inch vinyl | Soma | [4] |
Europe | 10 January 1997 | CD | Virgin | [30] |
United Kingdom | 3 February 1997 |
| [55] | |
United States | 15 April 1997 | Alternative radio | [56] | |
24 March 1998 | [57] |
The singles are among the most potent dance music gateway drugs we've got: One moment you're digging "Around the World" [with its] hooky persistence and "Da Funk"...
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link)Going for adds April 15th!