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Robot Rock (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Robot Rock
| cover = RobotRock.DaftPunk.single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Daft Punk
| album = Human After All
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = * Electronic rock
* dance-rock
| length = * 4:47 (album version)
* 3:06 (radio edit)
| label = * Virgin
* Astralwerks "Daft Punk - Robot Rock Label: Astralwerks - ASW 68769 Format: Vinyl, 12 " Country: US Liberado: 2005 Genre: Electronic Estilo: House, Electro"
| writer = * Thomas Bangalter
* Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
* Kae Williams
| producer = * Daft Punk
* Cdric Hervet
* Gildas Loac
| prev_title = Something About Us
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Technologic
| next_year = 2005
| misc =
}}
"'Robot Rock'" is the lead single from Daft Punk's third studio album 'Human After All'. The single was released initially on 11 April 2005 with a music video, directed by and featuring the duo, preceding the single's release. While the single reached a moderately high chart position, many critics found the song overly repetitive when compared to songs from their other studio albums at the time. It features a sample of "Release the Beast" performed by Breakwater.
Composition
Musically, "Robot Rock" has been described as electronic rock ""Ohio" is the least heavy of the rock-esque tracks, and has one of the highest potentials for being spun at clubs. It's also a bit reminiscent of Daft Punk's "Robot Rock."" "riff-heavy rock ("Robot Rock")" and dance-rock. It contains a sample of the Breakwater song "Release the Beast"."Robot Rock" (liner notes). Daft Punk. Virgin Records, a division of Universal Music Group. 2005. The sample features a synthesizer riff with an oscillator sync timbre, as well as percussion and power chords on an electric guitar. Daft Punk incorporated a vocoder into the production, repeating the title phrase of "Robot Rock". Aside from the sampling, Thomas Bangalter noted that the duo used a Moog synthesizer with guitar pedals for the song. thedaftclub.com. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
The Breakwater sample is credited on the single's sleeve and on the liner notes of the parent 'Human After All' album.'Human After All' (liner notes). Daft Punk. Virgin Records, a division of Universal Music Group. 2005. Bangalter explained that on his Roul label, "we've been doing records that are 9 minutes with only [a single] one second loop, with even less foundation than there is on 'Robot Rock'. It's always been a way to reinterpret thingssometimes it's using [an] element from the past, or sometimes recreating them and fooling the eyes or the ears, which is just a fun thing to do." He elaborated that the song "is a tribute to the power of heavy rock chords. In a way I think we were exploring if you can take the essence of rockthat powerand mix it with dance. But to take a riff and loop it is to explore the core of rock.""A Round with Daft Punk". 'Q', issue 257 (December 2007).
The Breakwater synthesizer riff is absent from the "Maximum Overdrive" remix of "Robot Rock", which consists of the song's other elements for a duration of nearly six minutes. A music video for this remix has been shot and included on the Daft Punk 'Musique Vol. 1 19932005' compilation CD and DVD.
Music video
The music video for "Robot Rock" consists of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk performing the song on a stage decorated with several televisions and lights, and filmed on VHS, to achieve an aged look. This is the first video to feature the duo as themselves exclusively. This pattern continues for the rest of the 'Human After All' videos except for "The Prime Time of Your Life", where they only make a cameo appearance. Bangalter plays the Gibson EDS-1275 double neck guitar shown on the "Robot Rock" single cover while de Homem-Christo performs on a drum set.
Critical reception
Though it reached moderate positions in UK and U.S. dance charts, the single encountered criticism for its general structure. A review in 'Stylus Magazine' expressed that the track "does nothing, means nothing and goes nowhere for an unconscionably long time."Matthew Weiner, [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/daft-punk/human-after-all.htm 'Human After All' review at 'Stylus Magazine Online'] (March 14, 2005) References to earlier Daft Punk singles were also mentioned, as 'Rolling Stone' declared "nothing builds to achieve the prior glories of 'Da Funk' or 'One More Time'"Barry Walters, [https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7072263/human_after_all 'Human After All' review] 'Rolling Stone' (April 7, 2005) and 'Pitchfork Media' noted that the single "is a poor man's 'Aerodynamic'."Mark Pytlik, [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16834/Daft_Punk_Human_After_All 'Human After All' review] Pitchfork Media (March 15, 2005) However, a 'Sputnikmusic' review noted that "although annoying in nature, [it] is also very rewarding to listen to."Daniel Incognito, [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=2258 'Human After All' review] 'Sputnikmusic'. Retrieved on June 26, 2007.
Track listings
Charts
Notes
References
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