Touch (Daft Punk song)

Last updated
"Touch"
Song by Daft Punk featuring Paul Williams
from the album Random Access Memories
Released17 May 2013 (2013-05-17)
Genre
Length8:19
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Touch" is a song written and recorded by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American singer-songwriter Paul Williams. "Touch" serves as the seventh track from the group's fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013). The song was featured in the American thriller TV series, Mr. Robot, [1] and Daft Punk's farewell video, "Epilogue". [2]

Contents

Composition

While working with Chris Caswell, Daft Punk mentioned they had been heavily influenced by the 1974 film Phantom of the Paradise , starring Paul Williams. Caswell offered to arrange a meeting between Williams and the duo, leading to Williams singing on the track and writing lyric treatments for a few tracks on the album. Daft Punk had an initial melody for the song, but, when Caswell arranged a counter-melody for string accompaniment, Daft Punk preferred Caswell's. This became the melody Williams sang to and led to Caswell receiving a songwriter credit for the track. [3]

"Touch" is a multi-part ballad in common time. [4] [5] [6] The track is performed in the key of F-sharp minor, with tempos of 91 BPM between 0:00-2:31 and 4:12-8:18 and 116BPM between 2:31-4:12 . [7] [8] It has a minute-long intro before Williams starts singing at 1:50. Music journalists described the song musically as disco, [5] progressive rock, [6] and jazz fusion. [9] Mark Richardson of Pitchfork described the track as "over-the-top" and ambitious, with a "Cluster-fied spacey intro, some showtune balladry, a 4/4 disco section complete with swing music trills, and a sky-scraping choir, all in service of a basic lyrical idea: love is the answer and you've got to hold on." [10] Nick Decosemo of Mixmag compared "Touch" to rock ballads heard in musicals similar to Jesus Christ Superstar , additionally calling it "part Brian Eno ambient experimentation, part musical theatre, part gospel epic". [11]

"2021 Epilogue" version

"Touch (2021 Epilogue)"
Song by Daft Punk featuring Paul Williams
from the album Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition)
Released22 February 2021
Length3:00
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Thomas Bangalter
  • Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo

In February 2021, a version of "Touch" was featured in Daft Punk's eight-minute video announcing the group's disbandment, entitled "Epilogue". The video shows a part of the ending from the group's 2006 film Electroma in which one member of Daft Punk explodes while the other walks away, after which a rendition of "Touch" is played, [12] featuring an orchestra and a choir. The video has amassed over 29 million views on YouTube. [2] The version from the epilogue video was released as part of the 10th anniversary edition reissue of the album. [13]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Random Access Memories liner notes. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daft Punk</span> French electronic music duo

Daft Punk were a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 in Paris by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They achieved early popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement, combining elements of house music with funk, disco, techno, rock and synth-pop. The duo garnered further acclaim and commercial success and are now regarded as one of the most influential acts in dance music history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Bangalter</span> French musician (born 1975)

Thomas Bangalter is a French musician, record producer, singer, songwriter, DJ and composer. He is best known as one half of the former French house music duo Daft Punk, alongside Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. He has recorded and released music as a member of the trio Stardust, the duo Together, as well as a solo artist. Bangalter's work has influenced a wide range of artists in various genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo</span> French musician (born 1974)

Guillaume Emmanuel "Guy-Manuel" de Homem-Christo is a French musician, record producer, singer, songwriter, DJ and composer. He is known as one half of the former French house music duo Daft Punk, along with Thomas Bangalter. He has produced several works from his now defunct record label Crydamoure with label co-owner Éric Chedeville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daft Punk discography</span>

French electronic music duo Daft Punk released four studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, one soundtrack album, five remix albums, two video albums, twenty-two singles and nineteen music videos. Group members Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo met in 1987 while studying at the Lycée Carnot secondary school. They subsequently recorded several demo tracks together, forming Daft Punk in 1993. Their debut single "The New Wave" was released the following year on the Soma Quality Recordings label. Daft Punk first found commercial success with the release of their second single "Da Funk", which peaked at number seven in France and topped the United States Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Face to Face (Daft Punk song)</span> 2003 single by Daft Punk

"Face to Face" is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk, featuring vocals and co-production by American house music producer Todd Edwards. It was released as the fifth single from their 2001 album Discovery. Promotional 12" singles were released for those who pre-ordered the 2003 remix album Daft Club, and a CD single containing a remix of the song by French producer Demon was released commercially. As part of Discovery, the song appears in the film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, and the section of the film in which the song appears serves as its music video. The song topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Falcon</span> French DJ, record producer, and photographer

Stéphane Quême, known as DJ Falcon, is a French DJ, record producer and photographer. He is the brother of Delphine Quême (Quartet) and a cousin of Alan Braxe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Time (Daft Punk song)</span> 2000 song by Daft Punk

"One More Time" is a song by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk, released as a 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.

<i>Random Access Memories</i> 2013 studio album by Daft Punk

Random Access Memories is the fourth and final studio album by the French electronic duo Daft Punk, released on 17 May 2013 through Columbia Records. It pays tribute to late 1970s and early 1980s American music, particularly from Los Angeles. This theme is reflected in the album's packaging, as well as its promotional campaign, which included billboards, television advertisements and a web series. Recording sessions took place from 2008 to 2012 at Henson, Conway and Capitol Studios in California, Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and Gang Recording Studio in Paris, France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Lucky (Daft Punk song)</span> 2013 single by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

"Get Lucky" is a song written and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk featuring American singer Pharrell Williams and American guitarist Nile Rodgers. Daft Punk released the song as the lead single from their fourth and final studio album, Random Access Memories, on 19 April 2013. Before its release as a single, "Get Lucky" was featured in television advertisements broadcast during Saturday Night Live, after which Rodgers and Williams announced their involvement in the track. "Get Lucky" is a house-inspired disco, funk, and pop track with lyrics that, according to Williams, are about the good fortune of connecting with someone, as well as sexual chemistry. "Get Lucky" has since received acclaim from critics, with a number of them praising Williams's vocals and Rodgers's guitar riffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doin' It Right</span> 2013 single by Daft Punk featuring Panda Bear

"Doin' It Right" is a song written and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Panda Bear of the band Animal Collective. It is a track on Daft Punk's fourth studio album Random Access Memories (2013), and was the last to be recorded for the album. The song was distributed to American alternative radio stations on 3 September 2013 as the third single from Random Access Memories. Prior to this, it appeared on record charts in France, the United States and the United Kingdom due to digital downloads of the album. "Doin' It Right" received a positive critical reception, with some reviewers opining it as the group's best work out of the entire LP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lose Yourself to Dance</span> 2013 single by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams

"Lose Yourself to Dance" is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Pharrell Williams. Like their previous collaboration with fellow American musician Nile Rodgers, "Get Lucky", the song was written for Daft Punk's fourth studio album Random Access Memories (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Life Back to Music</span> 2014 single by Daft Punk

"Give Life Back to Music" is a song written and recorded by French electronic music duo Daft Punk for their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories. It is the opening track on the album. The song features lyrics performed by Daft Punk using vocoders. "Give Life Back to Music" also features album collaborators Nile Rodgers on guitar and Chilly Gonzales on keyboards. The song includes guitar work by Paul Jackson, Jr. and additional keyboards by Chris Caswell, with drums by John "J.R." Robinson and bass by Nathan East. The song was distributed to radio stations on 31 January 2014 as the album's fifth overall single and the final single from the album in 2014. Before this, it charted in France, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

"Giorgio by Moroder" is a song written and recorded by French electronic music duo Daft Punk for their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013). It is the third track on the album. The song features a monologue by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, who speaks about his early life and musical career. "Giorgio by Moroder" charted in France and Sweden due to downloads of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darkside (band)</span> American electronica band

Darkside is an American band based in New York City. The band was formed in Providence, Rhode Island in 2011 by electronic musician Nicolás Jaar and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington, both of whom were students at Brown University at the time. Their debut studio album, Psychic, was released in 2013 and was followed up by Spiral, released in 2021 after a hiatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Instant Crush</span> 2013 single by Daft Punk featuring Julian Casablancas

"Instant Crush" is a song written, produced, and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk featuring American musician Julian Casablancas. It was released as the fourth single from Daft Punk's fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013), on 22 November 2013. It was number 58 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Best Songs of 2013 list.

"Fragments of Time" is a song by written, produced, and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Todd Edwards. It is included in the duo's 2013 album Random Access Memories. "Fragments of Time" charted in France and the United States due to digital downloads of the album.

"Infinity Repeating" is a demo written, produced, and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Julian Casablancas, along with Casablancas' band The Voidz handling additional instrumentation. Included as part of the 10th anniversary edition of Random Access Memories, it was released the same day as the reissue on 12 May 2023. It is considered by Daft Punk to be their "last song ever."

<i>Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition)</i> 2023 compilation album by Daft Punk

Random Access Memories is the third compilation album by French electronic duo Daft Punk. It is an anniversary reissue of the duo's final studio album Random Access Memories containing an extra disc with 35 minutes of bonus content, including unreleased demos and outtakes. The reissue was released on 12 May 2023.

Christopher Paul "Kazz" Caswell is an American musician, record producer, composer, songwriter, and arranger. He is a frequent collaborator with Paul Williams and has worked on several productions by The Muppets.

References

  1. ↑ "Mr. Robot Soundtrack". Tune Find. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 Daft Punk - Epilogue , retrieved 2023-04-22
  3. ↑ "Chris Caswell on Playing the GRAMMYs with Daft Punk and The Beatles — SonicScoop". sonicscoop.com. 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Bangalter; Guy-Manuel, de Homem-Christo; Paul, Williams; Chris, Caswell; Punk, Daft (2013-05-31). "Touch". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  5. 1 2 Romano, Tricia (21 May 2013). "Daft Punk Goes Back to the Future With 'Random Access Memories'". The Daily Beast . Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 Reynolds, Simon (15 May 2013). "Daft Punk Gets Human With a New Album". The New York Times . Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "BPM and key for Touch (feat. Paul Williams) by Daft Punk | Tempo for Touch (feat. Paul Williams) | SongBPM | songbpm.com". SongBPM. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  8. ↑ "Key & BPM for Touch (feat. Paul Williams)". Tunebat.
  9. ↑ Hermes, Will (2013-05-13). "Random Access Memories". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  10. ↑ "Daft Punk: Random Access Memories". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  11. ↑ "Mixmag | NICK DECOSEMO: 'RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES' REVIEW". 2013-09-27. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  12. ↑ Daly, Rhian (2021-02-22). "Music world reacts to Daft Punk's split: "An inspiration to all"". NME. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  13. ↑ "Daft Punk Announce New Random Access Memories Reissue With Unreleased Music". Pitchfork. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  14. ↑ "Random Access Memories". albumlinernotes. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.