Kelly Watch the Stars

Last updated
"Kelly Watch the Stars"
Air - Kelly Watch the Stars.png
Single by Air
from the album Moon Safari
B-side "Remember"
Released4 May 1998 (1998-05-04)
Recorded1997
Genre
Length3:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jean-Benoît Dunckel
  • Nicolas Godin
Air singles chronology
"Sexy Boy"
(1998)
"Kelly Watch the Stars"
(1998)
"All I Need"
(1998)

"Kelly Watch the Stars" (also written "Kelly, Watch the Stars!") is a song by French electronic music duo Air from their debut studio album, Moon Safari (1998). It was released on 4 May 1998 as the album's second single.

Contents

Critical reception

The song was well received by music critics. AllMusic called the song "accessible pop." [1] Drum 'n' Bass: The Rough Guide described the song as "retro-electronics". [2] The song was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [3]

Chart performance

The song was commercially successful in the United Kingdom, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 18 on the chart dated 16 May 1998 and spending a total of three weeks in the top 50. [4] The song remains their second highest-peaking single in the UK. [4]

Music video

The music video, directed by Mike Mills, [5] drew attention due to its surreal concept. [3] It depicts a girl named Kelly playing table tennis. She is knocked unconscious, and floats into the night sky. She eventually regains consciousness, and continues to play, eventually winning the table tennis match. [6] Meanwhile, the members of Air seem to be simulating her game while playing Pong on a TV.


This song is actually about the Charlie's Angels character Kelly Garrett. The names on the score cards are 'Kelly' (Kelly Garrett) and 'Smith' (Jaclyn Smith who played Kelly on Charlie's Angels).

Live performances and media usage

The group performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2016, to promote the release of their retrospective collection Twentyears . [7] [8]

A remix of the song was featured on the soundtrack for the 1999 film Splendor . [9] The song was also featured on the 2012 electronica retrospective collection "Electrospective". [10] The song was also featured in an episode of TV shows Daria and Back in Time for Dinner . [11]

Track listings

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Kelly Watch the Stars"
Chart (1998)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [18] 77
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [19] 12
Scotland (OCC) [20] 18
UK Singles (OCC) [4] 18

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References

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  16. "Kelly Watch the Stars" (French 12-inch single). Air. Source. 1998. 7243 8 95072 6 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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