THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

140-Daft Punk-Da Funk.

1996-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.00. Ever wondered how Daft Punk got their name? (probably not) well now you can find out.

Daft Punk were the French electronic House music duo of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, they formed in Paris, France, in 1993, and remained active until they went their separate ways in 2021. Bangalter, and Homem-Christo first met in 1987 while attending the Lycee-Carnot secondary school in Paris. In 1992 they formed a Rock band along with Laurent Brancowitz called ‘Darlin,’ taking the name from the 1967 Beach Boys song of the same name. ‘Darlin’ was to prove a short lived project with Brancowitz leaving after six months, and Bangalter and Homem-Christo changing musical direction and starting to experiment with drum machines and synthesizers. It was a negative review in ‘Melody Maker’ magazine by the journalist Dave Jennings who called the music of ‘Darlin,’ ‘A daft punky thrash,’ this amused Bangalter and Homem-Christo who decided it was a good name for their new project. The discography of Daft Punk consists of four studio Albums released between 1997-2013, and 23 singles issued between 1994-2016. In France 14 of those singles reached the top 40, with four of those songs making Number 1, while in the UK they have made the top 40 on 11 occasions, with ‘Get Lucky’ from 2013 reaching the top spot. In America on Billboard they have charted on three occasions, with their collaboration with ‘The Weeknd,’ Starboy,’ in 2016, being a Number 1 hit. Thomas Bangalter who was born on January 3rd, 1975, in Paris, France, is the son of Daniel Bangalter who works under the name of Daniel Vangarde. Vangarde is a songwriter and producer, and his best known compositions include co-writing Bananarama’s debut single ‘Aie a Mwana,’ ‘D.I.S.C.O.’ which made Number 2 in the UK in 1980 for Ottowan, and ‘Cuba’ for the Gibson Brothers, which made Number 12 also in 1980.

‘Da Funk’ is one of four singles released from Daft Punk’s critically acclaimed debut Album ‘Homework’ from 1997, this song and the Album are considered to be very important in the development of Dance Music, and particularly ‘French House Music.’ ‘Da Funk’ was initially released in 1995 to little success, but it did receive a boost when ‘The Chemical Brothers’ (see also best songs 300 and 53) incorporated the song into their live shows. This led to a bidding war amongst several record labels, with ‘Virgin’ signing them, and releasing their debut Album ‘Homework.’

‘Da Funk’ has a very memorable video which was directed by Spike Jonze, it focuses on the character Charles, played by Tony Maxwell, as a anthropomorphic dog in a leg cast with a crutch. Charles, who has lived in New York City for only one month, is shown walking around with a boombox blasting out “Da Funk” at a high volume. Many have tried to find a hidden meaning as to what the video’s story is about but Thomas Bangalter has stated,’There’s no story. It is just a man-dog walking with a ghetto blaster in New York. The rest is not meant to say anything. People are trying to explain it: Is it about human tolerance? Integration? Urbanism? There’s really no message. There will be a sequel someday.’