Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" is built around a "bouncy" keyboard riff sampled from the 1979 track "Cola Bottle Baby" by the funk musician Edwin Birdsong.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46971610|title=Funk musician sampled by Daft Punk dies|last=Savage|first=Mark|date=2019-01-23|work=BBC News|access-date=2019-08-19|language=en-GB|archive-date=19 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819002944/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46971610|url-status=live}} In 2016, Birdsong said: "I recorded ['Cola Bottle Baby'] 30 years ago, and here come some guys from France. I asked them, 'Where did you find the music?' And they said, 'I was going through bins and it popped out.' ... I'm blessed and I continue to be blessed by opening my arms to God every day." The track also features vocoded vocals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/daniel-jeakins/daft-punk-harder-better-faster-stronger-kanye-west_b_12527238.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623095954/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/daniel-jeakins/daft-punk-harder-better-faster-stronger-kanye-west_b_12527238.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-06-23|title=Harder Better Faster Stronger: The Song That Proved Daft Punk's Genius {{!}} HuffPost UK|date=2017-06-23|access-date=2019-08-19}} It is set in the key of F{{sharp}} minor.{{Cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Bangalter|last2=Edwin|first2=Birdsong|last3=Punk|first3=Daft|date=2014-02-18|title=Harder Better Faster Stronger|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0129902|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Musicnotes.com|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609090620/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0129902|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Daniel Jeakins wrote for HuffPost: "For all the gifts electronic deities Daft Punk have bestowed upon pop music, no track feels quite as iconic or ingenious as 'Harder Better Faster Stronger' ... Fifteen years on from its release and it’s hard to think of a dance track that’s as prominent in popular culture or influential to modern electronic music." In 2021, Billboard ranked the song number two on its list of the 20 greatest Daft Punk songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/daft-punk-best-songs-7573567/|title=Daft Punk's Best Songs (Updated 2021)|first=Kat|last=Bein|magazine=Billboard|date=February 22, 2021|accessdate=February 21, 2022|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215191733/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/daft-punk-best-songs-7573567/|url-status=live}}

The animated music video for "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" was produced by Daft Punk and directed by Kazuhisa Takenouchi, director for Toei Animation, under the supervision of Leiji Matsumoto. It features the four alien characters shown on the single cover in a vast electronic facility. There, they are cosmetically changed by various machines to resemble humans, and have their memories replaced. The video was first released as an individual episode in promotion for the single release. It later appeared as a scene in the feature film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.

A music video for the live version of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" was directed by Olivier Gondry. It contains footage shot by the audience on 250 cameras at Daft Punk's Brooklyn performance in KeySpan Park (now called Maimonides Park) in Coney Island. The video was inspired by the Beastie Boys concert film Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!. The video had its world premiere online on 26 October 2007, at Webcastr.[http://www.webcastr.com/videos/music/daft-punk-harder-better-faster-stronger-6.html webcastr.com - Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208201640/http://www.webcastr.com/videos/music/daft-punk-harder-better-faster-stronger-6.html |date=2007-12-08 }}

A live version of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" was recorded at Bercy in Paris from 14 June 2007. It was released as a download single on 15 October 2007, for the live album Alive 2007. The track also contains a part of the "Television Rules the Nation / Crescendolls" segment of the Bercy performance that features elements of the songs "Around the World", "Steam Machine", "Television Rules the Nation".[http://www.ilikemusic.com/dance/Daft_Punk_Alive_2007-4118 Daft Punk Alive 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206081154/https://web.ilikemusic.com/ |date=6 February 2023 }} ilikemusic.com. Retrieved on 14 October 2007. This version of the song won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/20090208/story.jhtml|title=Grammy 2009 Winners List|author=MTV News Staff|date=2009-02-08|access-date=2009-02-09|publisher=MTV|archive-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629104136/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/grammy-2009-winners-list.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

Diplo released a remix of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" titled "Work Is Never Over". It appeared in his compilation album Decent Work for Decent Pay. The title of the song was also parodied in an episode of The Cleveland Show called '"Harder, Better, Faster, Browner", which was a part of season two. Neil Cicierega used the "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" instrumental, along with Smash Mouth's songs "Walkin' on the Sun" and "All Star", for the mashup "Daft Mouth" as part of Cicierega's Mouth Sounds album.

Philippe Uminski of the band Circus released a cover version of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" in 2004.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePpoiYQ084 Uminski - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509050655/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePpoiYQ084 |date=9 May 2019 }} - YouTube Mike Tompkins released an a cappella version of the song in May 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoDejbmJxxs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/aoDejbmJxxs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Harder Better Faster Stronger - Daft Punk - Mike Tompkins - A Capella Cover|publisher=YouTube|date=22 May 2012|access-date=6 September 2015}}{{cbignore}}

Kanye West's song "Stronger" from the album Graduation prominently features a sample of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger". Two actors who wore the robotic Daft Punk costumes in the film Daft Punk's Electroma appear in the music video for "Stronger". It was performed live at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards with Daft Punk in their trademark pyramid while West was on stage rapping.[http://www.nme.com/news/daft-punk/34231 Daft Punk Make Surprise Grammy Appearance with Kanye West] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402011212/http://www.nme.com/news/daft-punk/34231|date=2016-04-02}} nme.com. Retrieved on 10 February 2008. Daft Punk member Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo said that "Stronger" was "not a collaboration in the studio, but the vibe of the music we do separately connected in what [West] did with the song".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049888/exclusive-live-album-to-chronicle-daft-punk-tour|title=Exclusive: Live Album to Chronicle Daft Punk Tour|author=Cohen, Jonathan|date=2007-08-14|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=August 27, 2007|archive-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821150125/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049888/exclusive-live-album-to-chronicle-daft-punk-tour|url-status=live}} He later clarified that the live version was "truly a collaboration from the start. We really did it all hand in hand."Blurt, [http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=wqrqgt#/page28/ "Encounters of the Daft Kind"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718155411/http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=wqrqgt|date=2011-07-18}} (September 2008) pgs. 28-29. Retrieved on July 26, 2009.

Norwegian YouTube singer Per Fredrik Pellek Asly, or "PelleK", released a power metal version of the song in July 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKESu1y4HPM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/DKESu1y4HPM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Metal Cover)|publisher=YouTube|date=10 July 2013|access-date=6 September 2015}}{{cbignore}} Steam Powered Giraffe covered the song in May 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05-jeYSPQZ0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/05-jeYSPQZ0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Cover by Steam Powered Giraffe)|publisher=YouTube|date=13 May 2014|access-date=4 September 2015}}{{cbignore}}

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" is featured in the 2007 YouTube viral video Daft Hands, which shows a pair of hands moving to reveal each word of the song's lyrics.{{YouTube|K2cYWfq--Nw|"Daft Hands" video}}. Retrieved on 1 December 2007.{{Cite web |title=The 100 Greatest YouTube Videos of All Time, Ranked |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-youtube-videos-of-all-time |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Thrillist |date=14 June 2018 |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826195308/https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-youtube-videos-of-all-time |url-status=live }} The video was performed by Austin Hall, who later appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=2021-02-23 |title='Daft Bodies' Was TikTok Before Trend Dances Were a Thing |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9aqy/daft-bodies-was-tiktok-before-trend-dances |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Vice Motherboard |language= |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206094742/https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9aqy/daft-bodies-was-tiktok-before-trend-dances |url-status=live }} In 2010, Time magazine included Daft Hands in a list of "YouTube's 50 Best Videos".{{Cite magazine |last=Fletcher |first=Dan |date=2010-03-29 |title=YouTube's 50 Best Videos - TIME |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1974961_1974925_1971154,00.html |access-date=2023-02-06 |issn=0040-781X |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627144600/https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1974961_1974925_1971154,00.html |url-status=live }} The video inspired numerous remakes including the variant Daft Bodies; both videos, along with other viral videos, were referenced in Weezer's "Pork and Beans" music video.{{Cite web |last=Willmott |first=Ben |date=2008-08-04 |title=The DIY Daft Punk video craze |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/aug/04/thediydaftpunkvideocraze |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207195842/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/aug/04/thediydaftpunkvideocraze |url-status=live }} It also appeared in the trailers for Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and the 2025 film adaptation of Dog Man.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

| length1 = 3:43

| total_length = 22:47

| headline = CD Maxi-Single (Virgin 7243 8979682 7){{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/86501-Daft-Punk-Harder-Better-Faster-Stronger|url-status=live|title=Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger|website=Discogs|access-date=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103045449/https://www.discogs.com/release/86501-Daft-Punk-Harder-Better-Faster-Stronger}}

| title2 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

| note2 = Breakers Break remix

| length2 = 4:38

| music2 = Dominique Torti

| title3 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

| note3 = The Neptunes remix

| length3 = 5:12

| title4 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

| note4 = Pete Heller's stylus mix

| length4 = 9:14

}}{{Tracklisting

| title1 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007)

| length1 = 3:34

| total_length = 11:42

| note1 = radio edit

| title2 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007)

| note2 = extended

| length2 = 4:43

| title3 = Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007)

| note3 = video

| length3 = 3:25

| headline = CD Single – Alive 2007 version (5 099951 928803){{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1196269-Daft-Punk-Harder-Better-Faster-Stronger-Alive-2007|url-status=live|title=Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger (Alive 2007)|website=Discogs|access-date=3 January 2022|archive-date=3 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103045449/https://www.discogs.com/release/1196269-Daft-Punk-Harder-Better-Faster-Stronger-Alive-2007}}

}}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|type=single|artist=Daft Punk|title=Harder Better Faster Stronger|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|id=12983-1040-1|access-date=1 June 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{reflist|3}}

• {{Discogs release|name=Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger|id=86501}}

{{Daft Punk singles}}

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Category:2001 singles

Category:2001 songs

Category:2007 singles

Category:Animated music videos

Category:Daft Punk songs

Category:Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording

Category:Live singles

Category:Songs written by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo

Category:Songs written by Thomas Bangalter

Category:Virgin Records singles