Aerodynamic (song)
Encyclopedia
"Aerodynamic" is an instrumental
track by Daft Punk
featuring a prominent guitar solo. The track was released on March 28, 2001 as the second single from the Discovery
album.
once described the Discovery album as "A mix between the past and the future, maybe the present." Thomas Bangalter
also elaborated in a 2001 interview that "A lot of house music
today just uses samples from disco
records of the '70s and '80s... While we might have some disco influences, we decided to go further and bring in all the elements of music that we liked as children, whether it's disco, electro, heavy metal
, rock
, or classical
."
This is reflected in the structure of "Aerodynamic", which is said to build up a funk
groove, halt for a solo
consisting of "metallic, two-hand tapping on electric guitar", combining the two styles and ending with a separate "spacier" electronic segment. The solo elements were described playfully as "impossible, ridiculous Yngwie guitar arpeggio
s", which reflect the fast arpeggiation common with violin parts in classical music. Bangalter acknowledged that "Some people might think that the guitar solos on 'Aerodynamic' are in bad taste, but for us, it's all about being true to ourselves and not caring what other people would think. We really tried to include most of the things we liked as kids, and bring that sense of fun to it." He also commented that the end of the track "is completely baroque music
, a classical composition we put into synthetic form."
The "Aerodynamic" single contained a B-side remix titled "Aerodynamite". Another remix of "Aerodynamic" features Detroit-based hip hop
group Slum Village
. The creation of the Slum Village remix resulted after Slum Village used an uncredited sample of Bangalter's "Extra Dry" in their song "Raise It Up
". Instead of asking for compensation for using the sample, Pedro Winter
suggested to Daft Punk that they ask Slum Village to remix one of their tracks.
Both "Aerodynamite" and the Slum Village remix were later included in the album Daft Club
. The album also contains a longer remix of "Aerodynamic" featuring elements of "One More Time
". A live version coupled with "One More Time" is featured in the album Alive 2007
. "Aerodynamic" was later sampled for the Wiley
song "Summertime" from the album See Clear Now.
".
The song was used in the French film L'Auberge espagnole. "Aerodynamic" was also performed by Myleene Klass
on piano for a Pantene
commercial.
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
track by Daft Punk
Daft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
featuring a prominent guitar solo. The track was released on March 28, 2001 as the second single from the Discovery
Discovery (Daft Punk album)
Discovery is the second studio album by the French house duo Daft Punk, released in March 2001. It marks a shift in the sound from Chicago house, which they were previously known for, to disco, post-disco and synthpop-inspired house...
album.
Composition
Guy-Manuel de Homem-ChristoGuy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Guillaume Emmanuel "Guy-Manuel" de Homem-Christo; is a founding member of the French house music duo Daft Punk, along with Thomas Bangalter. He has also produced several works from his record label Crydamoure with label co-owner Éric Chedeville. He and Chedeville formed the musical duo Le Knight...
once described the Discovery album as "A mix between the past and the future, maybe the present." Thomas Bangalter
Thomas Bangalter
Thomas Bangalter is a French electronic musician best known as a member of the French house music duo Daft Punk. He has also recorded and released music as a member of the trio Stardust, the duo Together, and as a solo artist including compositions for the film Irréversible.Thomas Bangalter owns a...
also elaborated in a 2001 interview that "A lot of house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
today just uses samples from disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
records of the '70s and '80s... While we might have some disco influences, we decided to go further and bring in all the elements of music that we liked as children, whether it's disco, electro, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, or classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
."
This is reflected in the structure of "Aerodynamic", which is said to build up a funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
groove, halt for a solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
consisting of "metallic, two-hand tapping on electric guitar", combining the two styles and ending with a separate "spacier" electronic segment. The solo elements were described playfully as "impossible, ridiculous Yngwie guitar arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
s", which reflect the fast arpeggiation common with violin parts in classical music. Bangalter acknowledged that "Some people might think that the guitar solos on 'Aerodynamic' are in bad taste, but for us, it's all about being true to ourselves and not caring what other people would think. We really tried to include most of the things we liked as kids, and bring that sense of fun to it." He also commented that the end of the track "is completely baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
, a classical composition we put into synthetic form."
The "Aerodynamic" single contained a B-side remix titled "Aerodynamite". Another remix of "Aerodynamic" features Detroit-based hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
. The creation of the Slum Village remix resulted after Slum Village used an uncredited sample of Bangalter's "Extra Dry" in their song "Raise It Up
Raise It Up
"Raise It Up" is a single by Slum Village. It was the last single to be released from their album, Fantastic, Vol. 2.- Structure :The song uses a sample from the song "Extra Dry" by Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk...
". Instead of asking for compensation for using the sample, Pedro Winter
Pedro Winter
Pedro Winter aka Busy P is a French electrohouse DJ, producer, manager and owner of the Ed Banger Records label. Pedro Winter manages Cassius, Cosmo Vitelli, artists on his Ed Banger Records label, and managed Daft Punk from 1996 to 2008.-Life:...
suggested to Daft Punk that they ask Slum Village to remix one of their tracks.
Both "Aerodynamite" and the Slum Village remix were later included in the album Daft Club
Daft Club
Daft Club is an album by Daft Punk featuring numerous remixes of tracks from their 2001 album Discovery and one from Homework. It was released in 2003 .-History:...
. The album also contains a longer remix of "Aerodynamic" featuring elements of "One More Time
One More Time (Daft Punk song)
"One More Time" is a song by Daft Punk first released as a single on 13 November 2000 and later included in the 2001 album Discovery. The song's vocal performance by Romanthony is heavily auto-tuned and compressed. As part of the album, the track is featured in the introduction to the film...
". A live version coupled with "One More Time" is featured in the album Alive 2007
Alive 2007
Alive 2007 is a live album by Daft Punk, first released on November 19, 2007. It is the second album recorded live by the duo, following Alive 1997...
. "Aerodynamic" was later sampled for the Wiley
Wiley (rapper)
Richard Kylea Cowie , better known by his stage name Wiley is a prolific British music producer, MC and recording artist, and rapper with roots from Trinidad...
song "Summertime" from the album See Clear Now.
Reception
"Aerodynamic" hit the U.S. dance charts through club play as the B-side to "Digital LoveDigital Love
"Digital Love" is a song by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk. It was released as the third single from the album Discovery. As part of the album, the song is featured in the film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem....
".
The song was used in the French film L'Auberge espagnole. "Aerodynamic" was also performed by Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
on piano for a Pantene
Pantene
Pantene is a brand of hair care products owned by Procter & Gamble. The product line was first introduced in Europe in 1947 by Hoffman-LaRoche of Switzerland, which branded the name based on panthenol as a shampoo ingredient...
commercial.