"Midnight City" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by M83 | ||||
from the album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming | ||||
Released | 16 August 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2010–2011 | |||
Studio | Creekside River Studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:03 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
M83 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Midnight City" (Official) on Vimeo |
"Midnight City" is a song by French electronic music band M83. The track was first released in France on 16 August 2011, as the lead single from the group's sixth studio album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011). The song was written by Anthony Gonzalez, Yann Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby and Justin Meldal-Johnsen. The track saw international success, peaking at number eight in France and charting on Billboard Alternative Songs and Rock Songs charts. Due to French network TF1's use of the song as the closing theme after the UEFA Euro 2012 football matches, the song topped the digital French chart. [3] Elsewhere, "Midnight City" rose to acclaim in the United Kingdom in 2012, following its selection as the theme to reality TV show Made in Chelsea and prominent usage for the BBC's London 2012 Olympic Games coverage; it peaked at number thirty-four on the UK Singles Chart. [4]
Gonzalez's observations of Downtown Los Angeles at night helped inspire "Midnight City"'s lyrics. [5] Gonzalez created the song's opening riffs by heavily distorting his own voice. [6] The song ends on a saxophone solo played by Fitz and the Tantrums' James King. [7] Regarding the solo, Gonzalez said: "Sometimes a song needs an element to be finished. You know that this element has been overused in the past and is considered clichéd or cheesy, but the song needs it." [8]
Going with Hurry Up, We're Dreaming's theme of childhood, the artwork for the "Midnight City" single was meant to reflect the fascination a kid experiences while watching a fantasy, mystery, or science fiction film. Gonzalez described the single's cover as "a crazy looking alien, a sort of mix of owls and E.T. and science fiction and fantasy movies like The Neverending Story." [9]
The song premiered online on 19 July 2011 as an MP3 download, [10] [11] and was officially released on 16 August 2011. [12]
M83's vocal range spans from B3 to the high note of F♭5. [13]
"Midnight City" received universal acclaim, and was hailed as one of the best songs of 2011. Pitchfork Media's Brandon Stosuy wrote: "'Midnight City' comes off like Gonzalez's '1979.' The parallels are there, from the instantly memorable riff to the gentle sense of longing". [14] Ryan Reed of PopMatters also praised the song, writing: "On this transcendent standout [...] Anthony Gonzalez and co-synth-scientist Justin Meldal-Johnsen build layer upon layer of keys, arena-sized drums, and vocal atmospherics (not mentioning one of the tastiest sax solos this side of a Springsteen record). The result? The synth Sistine Chapel." [15] Josh Jackson of Paste wrote that the song "[...] sees Anthony Gonzalez at his spacey, dramatic best," while Spin's Charles Aaron described the song as "[...] Korg synths set to 'stunned.'" [16] [17]
The track was ranked fifth on Triple J's Hottest 100 listing for 2011. [18]
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pitchfork Media | US | Top 100 Tracks of 2011 [14] | 2011 | 1 |
Paste | US | 50 Best Songs of 2011 [16] | 2011 | 9 |
PopMatters | US | 75 Best Songs of 2011 [15] | 2011 | 1 |
Spin | US | 20 Best Songs of 2011 [17] | 2011 | 12 |
Triple J | Australia | Triple J Hottest 100, 2011 [18] | 2011 | 5 |
The Village Voice | US | Pazz & Jop's critics' poll of 2011 | 2011 | 4 [19] |
A music video for "Midnight City", directed by Fleur & Manu, was released on 17 October 2011. [20] The video features telekinetic children who escape a federal facility and test their powers in an abandoned factory. [21] The video is the first part of a trilogy which continues in the video for "Reunion" and is concluded in the video for "Wait".
According to M83, the video is a tribute to Akira , Village of the Damned , and Close Encounters of the Third Kind . [22]
The orphanage from which the children escape was filmed at the Orphelinat Saint-Philippe in Meudon.
The warehouse where they try their power is the Hangar Y, also in Meudon.
The final scene where the children hold hands together as they watch the sun sets was shot on a rooftop of the "Indy bowling Paris La chapelle" in Porte de la Chapelle, in Paris.
The video has over 452 million views on YouTube as of April 30, 2024. [23]
M83 performed the song live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 21 November 2011. [24] In December 2011, the song was performed live on Last Call with Carson Daly . [25]
"Midnight City" has appeared in several commercials, TV shows, games and movies after its release. The song was featured in a Victoria's Secret commercial, an advertisement for Renault Captur, a Gucci perfume commercial featuring Blake Lively, an advertisement for Ariel 3-in-1 Pods and a video commercial for Polish beer Lech. [24] [26] [27] It served as the theme song to Made in Chelsea , something Gonzalez said was "an opportunity for people to hear my music who'd never listen to it otherwise." [8] It was also featured in the final scene and closing credits of the HBO television series How to Make It in America. [28] In 2020, the song was used in the beginning of the first episode of the Danish-Norwegian television show Ragnarok . The song was used in the feature films Young & Beautiful (2013), [29] Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) [30] and Warm Bodies (2013). [31] In 2013 the song was used in the first-season finale of The Mindy Project. [32]
The song was also used in several sports broadcasts. On 21 December 2011, "Midnight City" was used in the final moments of the second episode of HBO's television series, 24/7 Flyers-Rangers: The Road to the Winter Classic . [33] The BBC used "Midnight City" as the theme music to their trail for the BBC coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The trail was first broadcast just after midnight on the morning of 1 January 2012. [34] ESPN used the song in its trailer for the second season of 30 for 30. [35] In its home country, the song was used by French network TF1 as the closing theme following the UEFA Euro 2012 football matches, which helped the song to top the digital chart. [3]
In 2012, the song was used as the soundtrack for a campaign video of Julien Rochedy, the President of the youth electoral support committee of Front National. Gonzalez objected to the song's usage in the video, writing in a Facebook post that the Front National did not ask permission from him for use, and that M83 did not associate with any political parties. [36] [37]
On May 10, 2012, Pitbull's artist Jamie Drastik released the official video for his song titled "Sun Comes Up" which heavily samples M83's "Midnight City". The song serves as the second track to Jamie's mixtape September. [38]
In 2014, the song was used on Non Stop Pop FM in the Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One and PC update of Grand Theft Auto V .
The song was used in a YouTube video of Air Malta's first flight with the A320 painted retro aircraft, made by Nin Productions
The song has been streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify as of January 2024. [39]
In 2024, the song was used during the final scene and credits of the For All Mankind season 4 finale.
In 2024 the song was used in Illumination's animated short film "Midnight Mission".
In 2024 the beginning of the song was used during the opening of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Some dancers on a boat on the Seines danced to it.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Midnight City" | 4:04 |
2. | "Midnight City" | 4:01 |
On 27 September 2011, M83 released a remix EP in advance of the album. The following tracks were on the EP: [40]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Midnight City" | 4:05 |
2. | "Midnight City" (Man Without Country Remix) | 4:13 |
3. | "Midnight City" (Team Ghost Remix) | 3:58 |
4. | "Midnight City" (Trentemøller Remix) | 7:29 |
5. | "Midnight City" (Big Black Delta Remix) | 3:41 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [61] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [62] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [63] | Gold | 66,666‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [64] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [65] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [66] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [67] | Platinum | 1,000,000 [68] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
M83 are a French electronic music group formed in Antibes in 1999. Initially the duo of multi-instrumentalists Nicolas Fromageau and Anthony Gonzalez, Fromageau parted ways shortly after touring for their second album Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. Gonzalez remains the sole constant member of the project, as the primary songwriter and lead vocalist.
"Say My Name" is a song by American group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, and Rodney Jerkins, featuring production by the latter. While the song and single artwork features the group's original line-up consisting of Luckett and Roberson, the music video for the single marked the introduction of the group's second line-up with replacement members Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. "Say My Name" was released as the third single from The Writing's on the Wall on October 14, 1999, by Columbia Records.
"Music Sounds Better with You" is the only record by the French house trio Stardust, released on 20 July 1998. Stardust comprised the producer Thomas Bangalter, the DJ Alan Braxe and the vocalist Benjamin Diamond.
British rapper and singer M.I.A. has released six studio albums, two extended plays, three mixtapes, forty singles and twenty-nine music videos. Born Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, M.I.A. began her career as a visual artist and film-maker, and moved into making music after filming a documentary on the band Elastica in 2001. The band's lead singer, Justine Frischmann, lent her a Roland MC-505 sequencer/drum machine which she used to make a demo tape that secured her a contract with British label XL Recordings.
"Don't Stop the Music" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was released worldwide on September 7, 2007, as the album's fourth single. The song was written by Tawanna Dabney and its producers StarGate. Michael Jackson also received a songwriting credit for the sampling of the line "Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-koosa" from Jackson's 1983 single "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Both Rihanna and Jackson were sued by Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango, who asserted that the hook originated in his 1972 song "Soul Makossa". "Don't Stop the Music" is a dance track that features rhythmic devices used primarily in hip hop music.
Saturdays = Youth is the fifth studio album by French electronic music band M83, released on 11 April 2008 by Virgin Records. The album was produced by Ken Thomas, with co-production by Ewan Pearson and M83 frontman Anthony Gonzalez.
The discography of French electronic music project M83. It consists of nine studio albums and thirty-four singles. Their debut studio album, M83, was released in April 2001. Their second studio album, Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, was released in April 2003. The album peaked at number 116 on the French Albums Chart. Their third studio album, Before the Dawn Heals Us, was released in January 2005. The album peaked at number 103 on the French Albums Chart. Their fourth studio album, Digital Shades Vol. 1, was released in September 2007. Their fifth studio album, Saturdays = Youth, was released in April 2008. The album peaked at number 173 on the French Albums Chart. Their sixth studio album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, was released in October 2011. The album peaked at number 38 on the French Albums Chart. Their seventh studio album, Junk, was released in April 2016. The album peaked at number 26 on the French Albums Chart. Their eighth studio album, DSVII, was released in September 2019. The album peaked at number 98 on the French Albums Chart. The group released their ninth studio album, Fantasy, on 17 March 2023.
"Hello" is a song performed by French DJ and record producer Martin Solveig and Canadian synth-pop band Dragonette, taken from Solveig's fifth studio album, Smash (2011). The song was released as the album's lead single on 6 September 2010 by Mercury Records.
"Party Rock Anthem" is a song by American electronic dance music duo LMFAO, featuring singer Lauren Bennett and producer GoonRock. It was released as the first single from their second and final studio album Sorry for Party Rocking in 2011.
"One More Time" is a song by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk, released as the lead single from their second studio album, Discovery (2001), on 13 November 2000. It was shipped to radio in January 2001. It is a French house song featuring an auto-tuned vocal performance by Romanthony and a sample of "More Spell on You" by Eddie Johns. The music video forms part of the 2003 anime film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. "One More Time" reached number one on the French Singles Chart, number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Skinny Love" is a song written by American musician and songwriter Justin Vernon. It was originally released by indie folk band Bon Iver, of which Vernon is a member, in 2007. A cover version by the British vocalist Birdy was released in 2011. Both versions charted internationally and have been featured in multiple television and film soundtracks. The song has since become a popular tune for various singing competition shows around the English-speaking world.
"Rain Over Me" is a song by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull from his sixth studio album, Planet Pit. It features vocals from Puerto Rican-American singer Marc Anthony. The song was written by Pitbull, RedOne, Marc Anthony, Bilal "The Chef" Hajji, AJ Janussi and Rachid "Rush" Aziz. It was also produced by RedOne, Rush and Jimmy Joker. It was released on June 10, 2011, as the third promotional single from the album and received a full release as the album's third official single on June 8, 2011.
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is the sixth studio album by French electronic music band M83. The album was released on 18 October 2011, by Naïve Records in France and by Mute Records in the United States. The album was the last M83 album with keyboardist Morgan Kibby and the band's first full double album.
"Graveyard Girl" is a song by French electronic act M83. Written by Anthony Gonzalez with his brother Yann, it was released in April 2008 as the second single from M83's fifth studio album, Saturdays = Youth.
"Sexy and I Know It" is a song by American duo LMFAO from their second and final studio album, Sorry for Party Rocking. It was released as the third single from the album on September 16, 2011. The song was written by Stefan Kendal Gordy, GoonRock, Erin Beck, George M. Robertson and Kenneth Oliver, and it was produced by Party Rock. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 7, 2012, and remained there for two weeks.
"212" is the debut single by American rapper Azealia Banks. The song features "Lazy Jay", an alias for Belgian DJ Jef Martens and his brother Toon. Their song "Float My Boat" provided the musical base of the track and they also produced Banks' version. The song title is a reference to area code 212, which covers Manhattan, New York City, where Banks grew up. It was first released on December 6, 2011, in the United Kingdom as the lead single from her 2012 EP 1991, and is also included on her debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste (2014).
"I Love It" is a song by Swedish synth-pop duo Icona Pop featuring vocals from British singer Charli XCX. It was released as a single in May 2012 as a digital download in Sweden, where it peaked at number two on the singles chart. The song was added to their debut studio album, Icona Pop, as well as their EP Iconic and their debut international album, This Is... Icona Pop. "I Love It" was written by Charli XCX, Patrik Berger, and Style of Eye, with production handled by the latter two.
"You Know You Like It" is a song by English electronic music duo AlunaGeorge from their debut studio album, Body Music (2013). The track was released in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2012 as the album's lead single. The song peaked at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2013 after being used in a Tesco advert.
"Shot at the Night" is a song by American rock band The Killers. The song serves as the lead single from the band's second compilation album, Direct Hits. The track was unveiled on September 16, 2013, the tenth anniversary of the band's first London show, and sent immediately to mainstream radio.
DSVII is the eighth studio album by French electronic music band M83, released on 20 September 2019 through Naïve and Mute Records. It is a sequel album to Digital Shades Vol. 1, released in 2007.