A Thank You Note to Daft Punk

Every morning after I take my kids to school, I sit down, have some coffee, eat some breakfast and read the news from the night before. To be clear, since the inauguration, by "news", I mean sports, pop culture, entertainment and music news. This is the stuff I am keeping an eye on for the most part. I do still read up on the vaccines, and when they may become available in Saint Louis by where I live. But outside that, it is all pop culture and sports.

This morning I read some pop culture news, specifically music news, that made me upset. But, after sitting on it all day, it actually makes sense, although I will miss any new music they could have, and possibly might still make. The news you ask? Daft Punk is splitting after 28 years together.

A few things to unpack here. I did not realize they have been together that long. I am, admittedly, a late comer fan of their music. But to think that they have been at this since I was my son's age is wild to me. They are also extremely prolific. They have recorded tons of songs, both for themselves and others. They may have only put out, officially, five total albums, but they are all classics. They toured sporadically, but their live shows were things of legend. The stories being told about them are tall tales that get bigger, and more crazy every single year. I remember seeing a DVD of a show they did at, I believe it was Coachella, in the early 2000's, that absolutely blew my mind. That was on DVD, imagine the people who saw it live. They have influenced countless musicians. Almost too many to name. They were one of the first bands to really take the whole imagery, literally and figuratively, and make it mainstream. No one was wearing helmets and dressing super nice until Daft Punk did it. Their imprint on electronic music may be second only to their idol, Giorgio Moroder. Hell, they may have even passed him. But for me, what was most important, they showed that electronic music wasn't just raves and pacifiers with drugs laced into them and glow sticks.

Electronic music became good, at least to me, when I first heard Daft Punk. My intro was the soundtrack to "Tron: Legacy". I did not like the movie at all, but the music was so awesome. I went out and bought the soundtrack immediately after watching the movie. I devoured it. Then I saw a documentary about them. Sure they are pretentious and kind of arrogant. But to see them make the music, it was amazing. They worked hard at their craft and were perfectionists as a duo. Then, like millions of other people, I went out and bought "Random Access Memories". That album is a triumph. It is a classic for a reason. Every song is great, and everything about every song is perfect. It is not only one of the best electronic albums of all time, quite possibly the best, but one of the greatest overall albums of all time, no matter the genre. They followed that up with one of the best Grammy performances I have ever seen. That was to be their last record, and why not go out on top. I know it came out eight years ago, but it is still played in heavy rotation everywhere. I hear "Get Lucky" about five to ten times a month to this day.

Let’s get back to the sadness, then realizing that it was the right move. I was bummed when I read the news. I figured they were working on something else. That they were going to make a really good record. They were just being overly critical because "Random Access Memories" is so beloved and great. But, pulling back on it, and really thinking about it, they do not have to do anything else. They already achieved greatness. They have already cemented themselves as an all time great duo. They will be Rock and Rock Hall of Fame members. They will influence even more people. Their music will live on forever. What else do they really owe their fans? Honestly? In this day and age, where everyone's a critic, you know some asshole would have panned a new record just to be a jerk. Daft Punk is above criticism at this point, as far as their music goes. So I get it. Walk away on top. Go out knowing you were one of the best ever. Don't make anymore. Leave behind that wanting. And the video announcement they made, it was pure Daft Punk, and simply perfect in every way.

So instead of being grumpy about it, I just want to thank Daft Punk for the music they gave all of us. They rule, and they are one of the best bands ever. Enough said.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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