On January 22 2021, world famous, multi-talented, French music duo Daft Punk announced their split silently in a video titled “Epilogue“. Music fans watched in sadness, confusion, and gratitude for the 28 years of musical reinvention. Daft Punk’s exploration and expansion of genres pioneered an entirely unique sound, in the wake of their breakup I began to reflect on their work and the revolutionary ways in which they made music.
I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about my personal favorite Daft Punk song, “Giorgio by Moroder” from their Grammy award winning 2013 album Random Access Memories. It feels right to reflect on now especially as it’s a celebration of music, and electronic music specifically.
One of Daft Punk’s trademarks was their collaborative work, they’ve made songs with Kanye West, Panda Bear and Paul Williams, their top songs being with Pharrell Williams and The Weekend. “Giorgio by Moroder”, a collaboration with Giovanni Giorgo Moroder who is an Italian producer and composer known as the “Father of Disco”, is one of their most unique partnerships.
“Giorgio by Moroder” takes us through the sonic timeline of electronic music, beginning with disco and ending with house. Woven throughout the song is Girogio telling the story of how he found his sound, the “sound of the future” as he refers to it.
Giorgio speaks about his youth as a musician, going from a restaurant ambiance into a seventies funk as he begins to speak about the discotheques in Germany.
“I didn’t have any idea what to do but I knew I needed a click so we put a click on the 24-track which then was synced to the Moog modular. I knew that could be a sound of the future, but I didn’t realize how much the impact would be.”
As Giorgio narrates, the instrumentals mimic his words, clicking and keeping time with his story, then busting into a groove that carries us wordlessly through the progression of techno. Jazz breaks and synths wash in and out of the beat, then we hear again Giorgio’s voice echoing:
“Once you free your mind about a concept of harmony and of music being correct you can do whatever you want. So nobody told me what to do, and there was no preconception of what to do.”
Strings swell to match the power of his words, and then the melody snaps back in at full force. A triumphant concoction of synths, bass, strings, and record scratches zoom through the track at a soaring speed, eventually pulling away and dipping down into the bare bones of a modern house song, a steady thumping beat.
The musical storytelling is as impactful as the narrative. Small details, like separate microphones dating from each decade in Giorgio’s life being used to record his monologue, showcase Daft Punk’s sonic brilliance in almost undetectable ways. The explosive variety of instruments, genres and eras make “Giorgio by Moroder” a true celebration of musical freedom, and a testament to the talent of Daft Punk and their appreciation for stories and musicians.
It’s never easy to let go of a musician or band that you love, but sometimes even your favorite robots run out of battery. In the wake of this ending, let’s take the time to look back on the work of Daft Punk and say: “Thank you for the music!”
