Around the World (Daft Punk song)
{{Short description|1997 single by Daft Punk}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Around the World
| cover = Aroundtheworld DaftPunk.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Daft Punk
| album = Homework
| released = {{Start date|1997|4|7|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- French house
- funk
- disco
- dance{{cite web |last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s |website= Pitchfork |date= September 28, 2022 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-albums-of-the-1990s/ |quote= The singles are among the most potent dance music gateway drugs we’ve got: One moment you’re digging “Around the World” [with its] hooky persistence and “Da Funk”... |accessdate= April 26, 2023 |archive-date= 29 September 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220929015953/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-albums-of-the-1990s/ |url-status= live }}
| length =
- {{duration|m=7|s=9}} (album version)
- {{duration|m=4|s=1}} (radio edit)
| label = Virgin
| writer =
| producer = Daft Punk
| prev_title = Indo Silver Club
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Burnin'
| next_year = 1997
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Daft Punk - Around The World (LP Version).ogg
| description = Daft Punk – "Around the World" (LP version)}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|K0HSD_i2DvA|"Around the World"}}}}
}}
"Around the World" is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk. It was written by the duo and released in April 1997 by Virgin as the second single from their debut studio album, Homework (1997). The song became a major club hit globally and reached number one on the dance charts in Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also peaked at number one in Iceland and Italy. The song's lyrics solely consist of the words "around the world", repeated on loop for a total of 144 times in the album version. The music video was directed by Michel Gondry and choreographed by Blanca Li. In 2011, NME placed it at number 21 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years",{{cite web |title=150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years |url=http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118103153/http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/13 |archive-date=18 January 2012 |access-date=28 January 2012 |website=NME}} and in 2025, Billboard magazine ranked it among "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|first1=Andrea|last1=Domanick|first2=Andrew|last2=Unterberger|first3=Elias|last3=Leight|first4=Eric|last4=Renner Brown|first5=Jason|last5=Lipshutz|first6=Joe|last6=Lynch|first7=Kat|last7=Bein|first8=Katie|last8=Bein|first9=Krystal|last9=Rodriguez|first10=Lily|last10=Moayeri|first11=Melinda|last11=Newman|first12=Thomas|last12=Smith|first13=Zei|last13=McCarthy|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-dance-songs-all-time/|title=The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time: Staff List|magazine=Billboard|date=28 March 2025|access-date=6 April 2025}}
Composition
The key hook is a steady bassline and a robotic voice singing "around the world" in continuous chains. Daft Punk recalled that the song "was like making a Chic record with a talk box and just playing the bass on the synthesizer".{{cite journal|last=Torres|first=Andre|date=April 2013|title=Quantum Leap|journal=Wax Poetics|url=https://www.waxpoetics.com/article/daft-punk-go-from-sampling-disco-records-to-creating-a-dance-masterpiece|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102120302/https://www.waxpoetics.com/article/daft-punk-go-from-sampling-disco-records-to-creating-a-dance-masterpiece/|url-status=live}} The phrase occurs 144 times in the album version and 80 times in the radio edit. It is composed in the key of E minor and a tempo of 121.3 BPM.
Upon analysis of the song, Michel Gondry noted its distinctive structure: "I realized how genius and simple the music was. Only five different instruments, with very few patterns, each to create numerous possibilities of figures. Always using the repetition, and stopping just before it's too much." He also noted the similarity between the bassline of "Around the World" and that of the Chic song "Good Times".The Work of Director Michel Gondry companion book (2003) In 2017, computer scientist Colin Morris analyzed 15,000 Billboard Hot 100 hits for repetitiveness, based on compression algorithms. "Around the World" was found to be the most repetitive of the songs analyzed.Colin Morris, [https://pudding.cool/2017/05/song-repetition Are Pop Lyrics Getting More Repetitive?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511221221/https://pudding.cool/2017/05/song-repetition |date=11 May 2017 }}, ThePudding
A cover version of "Around the World" was released in 2006 as "Around the World Again" by Nicky Van She and Dangerous Dan.{{Discogs release|name="Around the World Again"|id=817600}}. Retrieved on August 30, 2007. A remix of the will.i.am song "I Got It from My Mama" included a sample from "Around the World", but Daft Punk did not approve use of the sample, however, and as such subsequently refused will.i.am permission to release the remix. A music video was produced with the sample included, however.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071002200025/http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/daft-punk-william-not-my-momma/ Daft Punk to Will.i.am: Not from my Momma] The Daily Swarm. Retrieved on September 27, 2007 A song titled "Around the World" was released by rapper P.M. that contains a sample of Daft Punk's. Señor Coconut released a cover of "Around the World" on his 2008 album, Atom™ presents: Around the World with Señor Coconut and his Orchestra.
"Around the World" was featured in one episode of first season of MTV animated series Daria.{{Cite web|url=https://tunefind.com/show/daria/season-1/65084|title=Daria Soundtrack|website=Tunefind|access-date=2024-12-30}} It was also used in the video games Dance Central 3, NBA 2K13 and the trailers for Ubisoft E3 2007 Rayman Raving Rabbids 2.
Critical reception
In a retrospective review, Rayna Khaitan from Albumism noted "all its axon-activating joy". She added further, "Indulgently repetitious, echoing the phrase “around the world” precisely 144 times like some soothing vocoded mantra, the song rallies the collective as together we teetered toward the turn of the millennium."{{cite web|url=https://albumism.com/features/daft-punk-debut-album-homework-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|date=18 January 2022|first=Rayna|last=Khaitan|title=Daft Punk's Debut Album 'Homework' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective|publisher=Albumism|accessdate=3 February 2022|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118150018/https://www.albumism.com/features/daft-punk-debut-album-homework-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|url-status=live}} Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote that with this "tasty slice of disco/funk, dynamic electronica outfit Daft Punk looks well positioned to build upon the momentum generated by its recent breakthrough hit, 'Da Funk{{' "}}. He noted that the group "does an exemplary job of communicating a hum-along chorus without the aid of a vocalist, opting instead for a stream of caustic key-boards and blippy sound effects".{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-08-02.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=2 August 1997|access-date=6 February 2020|page=79|archive-date=3 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603114946/https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-08-02.pdf|url-status=live}} Another American music magazine, Blender put "Around the World" at 172nd place on their list of "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" in 2007. They wrote, {{blockquote|This bubblegum robo-disco mantra was the song that made LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy fantasize about Daft Punk playing at his house. "I liked how wimpy 'Around the World' was," he explains. "It was really everything I hated, and I couldn't resist it. What a fucking track." Recorded in a bedroom, and boosted by director Michel Gondry's freaky-dancing video clip, "Around the World" made Paris hip again and left house music hooked on retro."{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1764 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born|access-date=20 June 2018|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217055432/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1764|archive-date=17 December 2007}}}} A writer from Complex stated that "its simplicity made it one of the most catchy", and also noted the "unforgettable" music video, "with all kinds of creatures frolicking around a colorful stage."{{cite magazine |date=5 August 2013 |title=The 15 Best Songs From the Electronica Era |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/the-15-best-songs-from-the-electronica-era/daft-punk-around-the-world |magazine=Complex |access-date=8 April 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407214739/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/the-15-best-songs-from-the-electronica-era/daft-punk-around-the-world |url-status=live }} Andy Beevers from Music Week's RM rated "Around the World" five out of five, picking it as Tune of the Week. He added that it "brings together the punchiest of boogie basslines, trademark crunchy beats, chirpy synths and the vocodored up title line that is repeated ad nauseum [sic] just in case you should forget which tune you're listening to."{{cite magazine|first=Andy|last=Beevers|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-04-12.pdf|title=Hot Vinyl|magazine=Music Week, in RM|date=12 April 1997|page=6|accessdate=16 May 2022|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607225157/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-04-12.pdf|url-status=live}}
Tomorrowland included "Around the World" in their official list of "The Ibiza 500" in 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Tomorrowland Ibiza Top 500 (2020)|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6RrALk1ve62YYLcyrForW0|publisher=Spotify|access-date=5 May 2022|archive-date=26 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426124008/https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6RrALk1ve62YYLcyrForW0|url-status=live}} In March 2025, Billboard magazine ranked it number 78 in their list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time".
=Accolades=
(*) indicates the list is unordered.
Music video
Michel Gondry's music video for the song features five groups of characters on a platform representing a vinyl record: four robots walking around in a circle; four tall athletes (as described by Gondry) wearing tracksuits with small prosthetic heads walking up and down stairs; four women dressed like synchronized swimmers (described by Gondry as "disco girls") moving up and down another set of stairs; four skeletons dancing in the center of the platform; and four mummies dancing in time with the song's drum pattern.
This is meant to be a visual representation of the song; each group of characters represents a different instrument. According to Gondry's notes, the robots represent the vocals; the physicality and small-minded rapidity of the athletes symbolizes the ascending/descending bass guitar; the femininity of the disco girls represents the high-pitched keyboard; the skeletons dance to the guitar; and the mummies represent the drum machine.
"Around the World" was Gondry's first attempt at bringing organized dancing to his music videos. "I was sick to see choreography being mistreated in videos like filler with fast cutting and fast editing, really shallow. I don't think choreography should be shot in close-ups."[http://www.director-file.com/gondry/daft.html "Around the World"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019051906/http://www.director-file.com/gondry/daft.html |date=19 October 2006}} director-file.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2006. The sequence initially developed by Gondry was further expanded and streamlined by choreographer Blanca Li. The costumes for the video were designed by Florence Fontaine, the mother of Gondry's son. The flashing lights were operated by Gondry's brother, Olivier "Twist" Gondry. As he stated, "It all came down to a family affair."
Elements of the music video appear in the video for the LCD Soundsystem song "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House". The overall design has also been replicated for the Freemasons' "Rain Down Love" video.
Track listings
{{Track listing
| title1 = Around the World
| length1 = 4:01
| headline = 12-inch single (V25D-38608){{Cite web|title=Daft Punk – Around The World (1997, CD)|website=Discogs |date=12 August 1997 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/28816-Daft-Punk-Around-The-World|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116032446/https://www.discogs.com/release/28816-Daft-Punk-Around-The-World|archive-date=16 January 2022|access-date=16 January 2022}}
| title2 = Around the World
| note2 = Tee's Frozen Sun mix
| length2 = 7:56
| title3 = Around the World
| note3 = Motorbass Vice mix
| title4 = Around the World
| note1 = radio edit
| length3 = 6:39
| music3 = Philippe Zdar (later of Cassius) and Étienne de Crécy
| length4 = 7:07
| total_length = 25:43
}}{{Track listing
| title1 = Around the World
| length1 = 4:01
| note1 = radio edit
| title2 = Around the World
| length2 = 7:07
| title3 = Teachers
| note3 = extended mix
| length3 = 5:51
| title4 = Around the World
| note4 = Motorbass Vice mix
| length4 = 6:39
| music4 = Philippe Zdar (later of Cassius) and Étienne de Crécy
| total_length = 23:38
}}
Charts
=Original version=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Chart (1997) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|11|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|15|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|15|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|4|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|24|chartid=3260|access-date=27 November 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Canadadance|1|chartid=3270|access-date=27 November 2019}} |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-06-07.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=23|page=17|date=7 June 1997|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=24 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824181232/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-06-07.pdf|url-status=live}}
|align="center"|5 |
| {{single chart|Finland|9|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|France|5|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012|refname="fra"}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|16|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|songid=3466|access-date=10 October 2021}} |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2954331#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (08.05.1997 – 14.05.1997)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=9 May 1997|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728201852/https://timarit.is/page/2954331#page/n1/mode/2up|url-status=live}}
|align="center"|1 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|8|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=30 January 2020}} |
| Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/history.kl#/history|title=History|language=it|publisher=FIMI|access-date=1 June 2022|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142431/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/history.kl#/history|url-status=live}} Set "Ricerca per" on "Titolo", then search "Around the World" and click "Classifiche".
|align="center"|1 |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|21|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|28|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=14 June 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|20|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|7|date=19970426|access-date=28 May 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|20|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|14|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|refname=swiss_original|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|UK|5|date=19970426|access-date=28 May 2020}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|1|date=19970426|access-date=28 May 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|61|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|12|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=16 October 2021}} |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2021) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceelectronic|12|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World|access-date=2 March 2021}} |
=''Alive 2007'' version=
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2007) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|47|artist=Daft Punk|song=Around the World (Alive 2007)|refname=swiss_2007|access-date=21 May 2012}} |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=20 February 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Daft Punk|title=Around the World|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1997|certyear=2023|id=12189|access-date=2 March 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Daft Punk|title=Around the World|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|source=archive|access-date=20 February 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Daft Punk|title=Around the World|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1997|certyear=2019|access-date=18 November 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Daft Punk|title=Around the World|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1997|certyear=2022|id=575-1040-1|salesamount=478,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/daft-punks-top-10-biggest-songs-on-the-official-chart__32518/|title=Daft Punk's Top 10 biggest songs on the Official Chart|last=Ainsley|first=Helen|date=23 February 2021|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=23 February 2021|archive-date=23 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223204504/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/daft-punks-top-10-biggest-songs-on-the-official-chart__32518/|url-status=live}}|access-date=7 June 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"|Netherlands
|7 April 1997 |CD |rowspan="5"|Virgin |
|---|
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|14 April 1997 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=41|date=12 April 1997}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States
|12 August 1997 |Rhythmic contemporary radio |{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1209|page=42|date=8 August 1997}} |
| 18 August 1997
|{{cite magazine|title=Be on the Lookout|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2168|page=16|date=15 August 1997}} |
| 14 October 1997 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs release|name="Around the World"|id=45129}}
- [http://www.mtvmusic.com/video/?id=8421 "Around the World" music video]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at MTV Music
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vemkhYYb16w|Official Music Video Making Of] at YouTube
{{Daft Punk singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Michel Gondry
Category:Number-one singles in Iceland
Category:Number-one singles in Italy
Category:Song recordings produced by Daft Punk
Category:Songs written by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo