GOODBYE DAFT PUNK
Their Electric Career + Best Collaborative Work
After decades of breaking musical barriers and releasing soundtracks to some of our wildest nights, the legendary duo Daft Punk is retiring.
The French pair announced they were calling it quits in February via a theatrical video. Their publicist confirmed later that day that the two were hanging up their space helmets for good.
We’ve been reminiscing about the many standout Daft Punk tracks that shaped the way we listen to electronic music, from “One More Time” to “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” to “Digital Love.”
We also remember other artists Daft Punk influenced and collaborated with to make unique music, unlike anything created before. So, in honor of their retirement, we’ve broken down Daft Punk’s most memorable works.
KANYE WEST
Kanye West was always open about drawing inspiration from Daft Punk. His stellar 2007 single “Stronger” samples the aforementioned Daft Punk track of a similar name. Not long after that release, Kanye and Daft Punk made their working relationship official.
Daft Punk produced multiple tracks on Yeezus. Kanye’s “Black Skinhead” is a rowdy hip-hop track with a perfect beat. “On Sight,” “I Am A God,” and “Send It Up” are equally impressive.
PHARRELL WILLIAMS
R&B legend and fellow producer-extraordinaire Pharrell Williams is another frequent collaborator with Daft Punk. Pharrell is a featured vocalist on two of the duo’s most popular singles: “Get Lucky” and “Lose Yourself to Dance.” Both songs are the perfect blend of Pharrell’s silky smooth R&B style and Daft Punk’s high-energy electronic flare.
THE WEEKND
Daft Punk was credited as a featured artist on two singles, and both are from The Weeknd. They collaborated with The Weeknd the tracks from his 2016 album Starboy. Both “Starboy” and “I Feel It Coming” are now multi-platinum records that reached or came close to the top of the U.S. charts.
JULIAN CASABLANCAS
Daft Punk enlisted The Strokes frontman’s vocals for one song on its last release Random Access Memories. “Instant Crush” has a beautifully nostalgic rock feel, and Julian Casablancas’s digitally distorted voice is the musical cherry on top of a great single.
FRANZ FERDINAND
The alt-rock group Franz Ferdinand‘s biggest song to date, remains its 2004 single “Take Me Out.” The year of its release, Daft Punk took the iconic rock track and made it their own via a remix. The slight distortion makes the song just a little bit grittier and a lot more like something you’d hear at a club known for playing house music.
BONUS: JAY-Z
Though never officially released, Daft Punk recorded a song with the rap giant Jay-Z in the early 2010s. The track was leaked and is heard on YouTube, SoundCloud, and the likes. Even unfinished, the song is still a delight, as it fuses the sounds of the group and a solo artist whose impact on music will affect generations.
