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.

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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  2. 1 2 Shapiro, Pete (1999). Drum 'n' Bass: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. ISBN   9781858284330 . Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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