What was I doing ten years ago? Well, I can tell you one thing for sure… I was a lot younger than I am now. I was about to turn 21, my birthday is November 29. I was in the early semesters of college, studying art and education, and I was not even fully aware, even though I suspected it, that I was pregnant… God, how does time move this fast? That was my life back then, but in 2013 something else happened too. An album was released that would change everything, for good: Random Access Memories by Daft Punk. A masterpiece of electronic music.
That year, and let’s remember we are talking about 2013, the song of the summer was without a doubt Get Lucky. It was one of five singles released from the album, but none of them hit as hard or as widely as that one. With Pharrell Williams on vocals, and a beautiful music video that brings back the soul and magic of the 70s, the album started carving out its place in everyone’s memory right from the beginning.
I know it is easy to fall into nostalgia and start glorifying the past, and yeah, it can sound like a cliché. But I am not exaggerating when I say this album is beautiful from start to finish. I am actually listening to it while writing this, and it is impossible not to feel pulled in, like it takes you somewhere else. Back to a time that felt lighter, happier, almost magical. Back to days where your knees and your back did not complain about everything.
God, it sounds so smooth. The samples the French duo used to build the harmonies and melodies feel like a love letter to funk, to that golden era of Black music in the 70s and early 80s, and of course to disco, which is all over their sound. That is why songs like Get Lucky and Lose Yourself to Dance were instant hits. They dropped right when smartphones were booming, YouTube was everywhere, and they ended up dominating the Grammys.
I cannot even sit still while writing this. I catch myself moving my shoulders, smiling without noticing. Their music does that to me. Only artists at that level can create something that sticks with you like that. And the funny thing is, it was Daft Punk’s official Instagram account that reminded me of the anniversary of Random Access Memories, with a reel that brought back the feeling of Instant Crush, featuring Julian Casablancas from The Strokes.
The title of this post says it all. It reflects exactly how I feel about Daft Punk and their music. They were masters. They took heavy analog influences and turned them into something completely new, powerful, addictive, and unforgettable. They were the best of their generation, no real competition. And anyone who truly loves music, electronic, house, whatever you want to call it, knows the impact they had, still have, and always will have. I love them. I really do.
