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Carter’s Record Reviews: Daft Punk call it quits after 28 years – a recap of their illustrious career

Carter Jones, sports editor|March 23, 2021

Photo used with permission from Google Commons

Daft Punk is comprised of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (left) and Thomas Bangalter (right). Their 28-year career, beginning in 1993, has come to an end eight years after their most recent studio release.

The infamous French house music duo Daft Punk have officially called it quits on their career that began in 1993. The duo originated in Paris, and were well known for their image of wearing robotic helmets. Additionally, they have worked with artists such as Nile Rodgers, Pharell Williams, Kanye West, and Super Bowl LV halftime performer The Weeknd.

Daft Punk drew from a wide range of influences, notably the genres electronic, disco, and dance. Their 1997 debut album ‘Homework’ was an emphatic introduction. It features the widely-acclaimed hit, ‘Around the World’, which is sure to make the listener dance with a memorable bassline, funky digital vocals and instrumentals. Moreover, ‘Da Funk’ experiments with glitchy and digital synthesizer sounds, which are held together by a rhythmic drum beat.

Next, on 2001’s ‘Discovery’, the group released more dance and club-worthy hits such as ‘One More Time’, a sensational burst of energy that centers around a repeating instrumental hook and entertaining robotic vocals. Moreover, ‘Hardest, Better, Faster, Stronger’ further exemplifies what makes the group legendary, with simple yet effective vocals interspersed with a sparse range of sonic and rhythmic elements that would later be sampled on Kanye West’s hit song ‘Stronger’.

Later down the line—in 2013—Daft Punk released ‘Random Access Memories’, which saw the duo offer songs from a diverse range of styles. These spanned from more electronic-based songs, such as ‘Doin’ it Right’ or ‘Instant Crush’, to exploring new frontiers in genre fusion with the popular ‘Get Lucky’. This funky pop hit features Pharell Williams and Nile Rodgers, and offers funky guitar and Pharell’s classic awe-inspiring vocal melodies. This Daft Punk essential is a staple of 2010’s music that remains a legendary classic for years to come.

Throughout Daft Punk’s illustrious career, they have experimented with many genres and managed to stay fresh and relevant. The duo even produced hits such as ‘Starboy’ and ‘Feel It Coming’ for musical sensation the Weeknd. This pioneering and adeptness in crossing musical frontiers greatly speaks to the duo’s sonic innovations and contribution to musical history.

In the end, Daft Punk’s legacy is not only in house and electronic music, but also in pop and disco. They will long be remembered for the versatility and entertainment factor that the group always strived for. From their inception up until their breakup, they remained ambitious and eager to find new ways to push sonic limits, a testament to their creativity and passion. Rest in peace, Daft Punk.