Pon de Floor
Encyclopedia
"Pon de Floor" is a song by Major Lazer
, which is made up of Diplo and Switch
. It was released in 2009 by Mad Decent
and Downtown Records
as the second single from Major Lazer's first studio album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
(2009). The duo wrote the song and produced it with Afrojack
, while Vybz Kartel
provided its vocals. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall
and funk carioca
song and was positively received by music critics. It appeared on the UK Singles Chart
in 2010, where it reached number 125. Eric Wareheim
directed the music video
for "Pon de Floor", which shows people dry humping, and incorporates daggering
choreography.
The song has been sampled in Chiddy Bang
's "Shooter" (2009) and Beyoncé Knowles
' "Run the World (Girls)
" (2011).
, made up of Diplo and Switch
. It features vocals from Vybz Kartel
, and Afrojack
provided additional production and mixed
the song. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall
and funk carioca
song. The song uses a rapid marching snare drum
s beat and synth riffs. Its hook
is a chopped-up vocal line, and according to Josh Heller of Drowned in Sound
Kartel's input is "laughing and occasionally shouting 'Major Lazer!'".
Pete Cashmore called the song "shitfacedly loopy", while Andy Freivogel from Dusted Magazine noted it as one of the best tracks from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
. "Pon de Floor" is used during the video game DJ Hero 2
. "Pon de Floor" entered the UK Singles Chart
of 17 April 2010 at number 187. It later peaked at number 125.
for "Pon de Floor" was directed by Eric Wareheim
, and shows people dry humping against a cartoon background depicting suburbia. It incorporates daggering
choreography. Ted Maider from Consequence of Sound
wrote "This song is already fucking whacked, but the video takes it to a whole other level ... 'Pon de Floor' seems equally as offensive as watching porn on hallucinogenic substances." Major Lazer performed "Pon de Floor" at the Go! music festival at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore in September 2010.
in Chiddy Bang
's "Shooter", a song on their mini-mixtape
, Air Swell (2010). In 2011, Beyoncé Knowles
released "Run the World (Girls)
", which contains a sample of "Pon de Floor". "Run the World" was produced by Switch and The-Dream
, and co-produced by Knowles and Shea Taylor.
"Pon de Floor" is also used by indie rock
band Matt and Kim
on their 2011 Block after Block tour for Kim's "Bootie Dance". Kim is held up by the crowd as she dances.
Major Lazer
Major Lazer is a collaborative musical project from DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch.-Background:Made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced after working with M.I.A.. The duo's first album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009, on Downtown Records. It was...
, which is made up of Diplo and Switch
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
. It was released in 2009 by Mad Decent
Mad Decent
__FORCETOC__Mad Decent is the name of the Philadelphia via Los Angeles based record label spearheaded by Thomas Wesley Pentz, who's better known as Diplo, the Grammy-nominated producer of M.I.A’s “Paper Planes”, and one half of the collaborative music project Major Lazer...
and Downtown Records
Downtown Records
Downtown Records is a record label owned and operated by Downtown Music LLC. Music on the Downtown label is distributed by Universal Music's Fontana Distribution and, for certain releases, as a joint venture with Atlantic Records and also for select releases, by Alternative Distribution Alliance...
as the second single from Major Lazer's first studio album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do is the debut full-length album by Major Lazer, collaborative music project from DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch. The album is heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall music and features guest appearances from Jamaican artists on every track.-Reception:Rhapsody...
(2009). The duo wrote the song and produced it with Afrojack
Afrojack
Nick van de Wall, born 9 September 1987, commonly known by his stage name Afrojack, is a Grammy Award winning Dutch music producer and DJ. Born and raised in Spijkenisse, Netherlands, He was listed as number 7 on DJ Mags top 100 DJs of 2011...
, while Vybz Kartel
Vybz Kartel
Adidja Palmer , better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall artist, songwriter and businessman. He has many nicknames, including Addi Teacher and Gaza Emperor.-Biography:...
provided its vocals. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
and funk carioca
Funk carioca
Funk carioca , favela funk and, elsewhere in the world, baile funk, is a type of dance music from Rio de Janeiro, derived from Miami bass....
song and was positively received by music critics. It appeared on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 2010, where it reached number 125. Eric Wareheim
Eric Wareheim
Eric Wareheim is an American actor, comedian, writer and director. He is one half of the comedy team of Tim and Eric. Wareheim, along with Tim Heidecker, created the television shows Tom Goes to the Mayor, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Check It Out! with Dr...
directed the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Pon de Floor", which shows people dry humping, and incorporates daggering
Daggering
Daggering’ is a form of dance originating from the Caribbean which incorporates sexual and other forms of frantic movement.- History :The activity of 'daggering' has been present in Jamaica's dancehalls for many years, but just recently accepted the name of 'daggering'. Some argue that it's roughly...
choreography.
The song has been sampled in Chiddy Bang
Chiddy Bang
Chiddy Bang is an American alternative hip hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group consists of Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege and Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin. The duo was introduced through former band member Zachary Sewall in late 2008 during their freshman year at Drexel University, in...
's "Shooter" (2009) and Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
' "Run the World (Girls)
Run the World (Girls)
"Run the World " is a song performed by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Knowles, Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor, and Adidja Palmer and produced by Switch, The-Dream, Knowles and Shea Taylor...
" (2011).
Composition
"Pon de Floor" was written and produced by Major LazerMajor Lazer
Major Lazer is a collaborative musical project from DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch.-Background:Made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced after working with M.I.A.. The duo's first album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009, on Downtown Records. It was...
, made up of Diplo and Switch
Switch (DJ)
Switch is a UK-based DJ, songwriter, sound engineer and record producer. He is best known for his work with M.I.A. and Santigold.In the fidget house genre, Switch runs his own music label "Dubsided", as well as the label Counterfeet, established in 2006 with fellow producer Sinden...
. It features vocals from Vybz Kartel
Vybz Kartel
Adidja Palmer , better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall artist, songwriter and businessman. He has many nicknames, including Addi Teacher and Gaza Emperor.-Biography:...
, and Afrojack
Afrojack
Nick van de Wall, born 9 September 1987, commonly known by his stage name Afrojack, is a Grammy Award winning Dutch music producer and DJ. Born and raised in Spijkenisse, Netherlands, He was listed as number 7 on DJ Mags top 100 DJs of 2011...
provided additional production and mixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
the song. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
and funk carioca
Funk carioca
Funk carioca , favela funk and, elsewhere in the world, baile funk, is a type of dance music from Rio de Janeiro, derived from Miami bass....
song. The song uses a rapid marching snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
s beat and synth riffs. Its hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
is a chopped-up vocal line, and according to Josh Heller of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
Kartel's input is "laughing and occasionally shouting 'Major Lazer!'".
Reception
John Bush of Allmusic lauded the production of "Pon de Floor" and named it a tour de force. NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
Pete Cashmore called the song "shitfacedly loopy", while Andy Freivogel from Dusted Magazine noted it as one of the best tracks from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do is the debut full-length album by Major Lazer, collaborative music project from DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch. The album is heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall music and features guest appearances from Jamaican artists on every track.-Reception:Rhapsody...
. "Pon de Floor" is used during the video game DJ Hero 2
DJ Hero 2
DJ Hero 2 is a rhythm video game and a sequel to DJ Hero, a spinoff of the Guitar Hero series. DJ Hero 2 uses a special turntable-controller, the same as introduced in DJ Hero, to simulate turntablism, the act of creating a new musical work from one or more previously recorded songs using record...
. "Pon de Floor" entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
of 17 April 2010 at number 187. It later peaked at number 125.
Music video and live performance
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Pon de Floor" was directed by Eric Wareheim
Eric Wareheim
Eric Wareheim is an American actor, comedian, writer and director. He is one half of the comedy team of Tim and Eric. Wareheim, along with Tim Heidecker, created the television shows Tom Goes to the Mayor, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Check It Out! with Dr...
, and shows people dry humping against a cartoon background depicting suburbia. It incorporates daggering
Daggering
Daggering’ is a form of dance originating from the Caribbean which incorporates sexual and other forms of frantic movement.- History :The activity of 'daggering' has been present in Jamaica's dancehalls for many years, but just recently accepted the name of 'daggering'. Some argue that it's roughly...
choreography. Ted Maider from Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound
Consequence of Sound, also known often as CoS, is a Chicago-based music website featuring news, album and concert reviews, and editorials. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook micro-site, which serves as an on-line database for music festival news and rumors...
wrote "This song is already fucking whacked, but the video takes it to a whole other level ... 'Pon de Floor' seems equally as offensive as watching porn on hallucinogenic substances." Major Lazer performed "Pon de Floor" at the Go! music festival at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore in September 2010.
Cover versions
"Pon de Floor" was sampledSampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
in Chiddy Bang
Chiddy Bang
Chiddy Bang is an American alternative hip hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group consists of Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege and Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin. The duo was introduced through former band member Zachary Sewall in late 2008 during their freshman year at Drexel University, in...
's "Shooter", a song on their mini-mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
, Air Swell (2010). In 2011, Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
released "Run the World (Girls)
Run the World (Girls)
"Run the World " is a song performed by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles. It was written by Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Knowles, Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor, and Adidja Palmer and produced by Switch, The-Dream, Knowles and Shea Taylor...
", which contains a sample of "Pon de Floor". "Run the World" was produced by Switch and The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, and co-produced by Knowles and Shea Taylor.
"Pon de Floor" is also used by indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Matt and Kim
Matt and Kim
Matt & Kim are a dance punk duo residing in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. The group was formed in 2005 and is composed of Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino...
on their 2011 Block after Block tour for Kim's "Bootie Dance". Kim is held up by the crowd as she dances.
Track listing
- 12-inch single
- "Pon de Floor" – 3:33
- "Pon de Floor" (Drop the Lime Remix) – 4:06
- "Pon de Floor" (Ninjasonik Remix)
- "Pon de Floor" (Blue Bear Remix) – 4:15
- Digital EP 1
- "Pon de Floor" (radio edit) – 3:05
- "Pon de Floor" (The Streets Remix) – 3:07
- "Pon de Floor" (Drop the Lime Remix) – 4:06
- "Pon de Floor" (Blue Bear Remix) – 4:15
- "Pon de Floor" (Camo UFOs Jungle Edit) – 4:32
- Digital EP 2
- "Pon de Floor" – 3:33
- "Pon de Floor" (The Streets Remix) – 3:07
- "Pon de Floor" (Drop the Lime Remix) – 4:06
- "Pon de Floor" (Blue Bear Remix) – 4:15
- "Pon de Floor" (Mike B vs. Nate Day Remix) – 4:32
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2009 | 12-inch single 12-inch single The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality... |
Mad Decent Mad Decent __FORCETOC__Mad Decent is the name of the Philadelphia via Los Angeles based record label spearheaded by Thomas Wesley Pentz, who's better known as Diplo, the Grammy-nominated producer of M.I.A’s “Paper Planes”, and one half of the collaborative music project Major Lazer... , Downtown Records Downtown Records Downtown Records is a record label owned and operated by Downtown Music LLC. Music on the Downtown label is distributed by Universal Music's Fontana Distribution and, for certain releases, as a joint venture with Atlantic Records and also for select releases, by Alternative Distribution Alliance... , V2 Records V2 Records V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI.... |
| Austria | 19 April 2010 | Digital EP 1 | |
| Belgium | |||
| Denmark | |||
| Finland | |||
| France | |||
| Germany | |||
| Ireland | |||
| Italy | |||
| Netherlands | |||
| Norway | |||
| Portugal | |||
| Spain | |||
| Sweden | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| Australia | 16 July 2010 | Digital EP 2 | Downtown Records |
| New Zealand |