Nicolas Godin studied architecture at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Versailles, and Jean-Benoît Dunckel studied mathematics, before forming a band in 1995. Before founding Air (erroneously considered as an acronym of Amour, Imagination, Rêve, which translates to Love, Imagination, Dream), Dunckel and Godin played together in the band Orange with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Jean de Reydellet. The former two subsequently contributed to remixes of tracks recorded by Air.
Initially Godin worked alone, recording a demo with members of Funkadelic as his backing band before releasing his first entirely solo effort, "Modular Mix", which featured production by Étienne de Crécy.
Career
After making several remixes for other acts in the first half of the 1990s, Air recorded its first EP, Premiers Symptômes, in 1995. The band released its first album, Moon Safari, in 1998. Its first single, "Sexy Boy", was heavily played on alternative radio stations. The album received universal acclaim and became an international success. In 1999, Air composed the score The Virgin Suicides to Sofia Coppola's debut film of the same name; in 2012, Air wrote its second score to Georges Méliès' Le voyage dans la lune.
Other works
Air has often collaborated with Coppola. Air drummer and former Redd Kross member Brian Reitzell put together the soundtrack to 2003's Lost in Translation, including one original contribution by Air titled "Alone in Kyoto". The soundtrack for Coppola's October 2006 film Marie Antoinette featured a track by Air ("Il Secondo Giorno"). Air wrote and played the music of the album 5:55 by Anglo-French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, which was released in August 2006. Air has recorded a DJ mix album, Late Night Tales: Air, for Azuli Records' Late Night Tales series. The release was initially scheduled for October 2005, but was delayed several times. It finally was released, complete with a new sleeve design, in September 2006. Darkel, a solo album by Dunckel, was released that same year.
City Reading (Tre Storie Western) (2003) started as an idea for a collaboration with contemporary Italian writer Alessandro Baricco, known for his unusual characterizations and lyrical, poetic style. Baricco contacted Air in summer 2002 with the idea to marry narration of texts from his book City with live original musical accompaniment. The performance premiered live in November 2002 at Rome's Teatro Valle and was deemed such a success that both parties resolved to make a full studio recording.
Influences and musical style
Air is associated with a variety of musical styles: electronica, space pop, dream pop, progressive rock, downtempo, chillout, trip hop, ambient, electronic pop and space rock. Dunckel grew up listening to both classical and electronic music, especially Kraftwerk. He later took an interest in what he called the "English dark rock" of Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division, while being a fan of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. Brian Eno and Cluster were two of the electronic acts who inspired him the most. He cites among his favorite artists: Maurice Ravel for classical music, François de Roubaix for music soundtracks and Siouxsie and the Banshees for pop music. Dunckel shared with Godin a special liking for the music of Michel Legrand, Philip Glass and Grace Jones. During his childhood, Godin was fascinated by the Beatles before later discovering the soul of Sly and the Family Stone. The duo were influenced by progressive rock pioneers Pink Floyd.
Air uses many of its studio instruments (like Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder) on stage, where their ability to improvise is more clearly highlighted. The band performs the well-known tracks from the albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often collaborates (both in the studio and live) with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy ("Jeanne"), Jean-Jacques Perrey ("Cosmic Bird"), Gordon Tracks ("Playground Love" and "Easy Going Woman" – Gordon Tracks is a pseudonym of the French singer Thomas Mars from Phoenix), Beck (10 000 Hz Legend) and Jean-Michel Jarre ("Close Your Eyes" from Jarre's Electronica 1: The Time Machine). They also invited Dave Palmer on their 2004 tour and drummer Earl Harvin, Vincent Taurelle and Steve Jones on their 2007 tour.
Studio albums
Moon Safari (1998)
10 000 Hz Legend (2001)
Talkie Walkie (2004)
Pocket Symphony (2007)
Love 2 (2009)
Le voyage dans la lune (2012)
Soundtrack albums
The Virgin Suicides (2000)
Music for Museum (2014)
Extended plays
Premiers Symptômes (1997)
Collaborative albums
City Reading (Tre Storie Western) (2003)
Mix and remix albums
Everybody Hertz (2002)
Late Night Tales (2006)
Compilation albums
Twentyears (2016)
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Air is one of the many aliases of Pete Namlook. He has been releasing ambient music under this name since the release of an eponymous album in 1993.
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Japanese noise rock, Air is an alias of Koji Kurumatani first released album Wear Off in 1996.
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Air is a late 90s Indonesian Pop band that became popular with their "Bintang" song.
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Air was a jazz trio with its roots steeped in Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), and was formed originally in 1971. The jazz trio Air formed from within the Muhal Richard Abrams Sextet, which was active on the Chicago scene contemporaneously with the birth and growth of the AACM and groups such as the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Henry Threadgill on reeds, hubcaphone, and percussion; Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve McCall on drums formed the trio when Threadgill was commissioned by Columbia College to score and adapt Scott Joplin's work for a performance honoring Joplin's centenary (Joplin's birth has been established now as sometime in 1868) and a rebirth of interest in the noted ragtime composer. All three men were Air signs in the zodiac, and so adopted the name.
They performed first around Chicago, while maintaining residency with Muhal Abrams group, which also featured Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre and Wallace McMillan, both reed players. The Air "brand" remained a side project until all three reunited in New York in 1975, and began recording under that name for India Navigation, Nessa, Black Saint, and Novus. The trio broke up when Steve McCall left in the early 1980s, and when Pheroan Aklaff joined in 1982, they recorded as New Air, and recorded several albums under that name, including Air Show No. 1 in 1986, which featured Cassandra Wilson on vocals. Andrew Cyrille ultimately replaced akLaff before the band eventually was superceded by the burgeoning careers of its members: Threadgill with his groups Sextett and Very Very Circus, and Hopkins as the go-to bassist for Threadgill, David Murray, and Hamiet Bluiett. McCall's health forced his retirement from touring around 1980, and the dynamic drummer and effusive and gracious man who was a cofounder of the AACM with Muhal Abrams and Fred Anderson, died of a stroke in 1989.
This Air is listed as Air (4) on Discogs and is also been identified on last.fm as Air (Fred Hopkins, Steve McCall, Henry Threadgill) and Air with Fred Hopkins, Steve Mccall, Henry Threadgill (sic: McCall's name misspelt), and possibly also other alternative spellings of the group's name exist.
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Air was a psychedelic folk rock band featuring Googie and Tom Coppola, John Siegler and Mark Rosengarden. They released their first self titled album in 1971.
Alpha Beta Gaga
Air Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, we gonna do it, uh, Rhymefest and Air
How you feel there?
Rhymefest breathe this to 'em like fresh air
On my Vespa looking like a real playa
I could roll up to the club in a wheelchair
Look, he's still there
I walk up with your girl with the harpoon
Take her to the V.I.P, this is our room
Now you know that it's a shame
'Cause you in your PJs watching cartoons
As I walk down the street whistlin' this
Lookin' for a place, 'cause boy do I miss
A place that I can chill away from fake shit
I can't play 'cause I am not complacent
My spot at the top will not be vacant
I whistle as I walk the pavement to pay rent
To the B, to the G, here we go
To the B, to the G
And the beat goes ka-tah ka-tah
Alpha Beta Gaga, could you feel it now?
And the bells go ga-ding ga-ding
Alpha Beta Gaga got you thinkening
Can you smell that?
Inhale fresh air, exhale that
From the 'burbs to the rich upscale flats
To the Paris 94 where they sell crack
Where the drums, where them ooh, we bells at
And all the noise you was kickin', you could kill that
The dance floor on E we can feel that, still black, this is the real rap
Something you can feel, when you move you're still trapped
Realize Alpha Beta Gaga got the real vibe
Everybody throw your hands in the sky-sky
Sippin' by the beach, sippin' on a Mai Tai
This is my time
I'm not a referee but the track is so official
If you rappers out of bounds I'ma blow the whistle
Blow the whistle?
To the B, to the G, here we go
To the B, to the G
A, B, G, okay, A, B, G
A, B, G
A, B, G, Alpha Beta Gaga
Yeah, welcome to the fraternity of Alpha beta gaga
You will be hazed, you will be amazed
We are coming through and this is our anthem
When you hear the whistle (gaga, gaga)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
To the A, to the B, to the G, here we go!
A, to the B, to the G, here we go!
To the B, to the G, here we go!
To the B, to the G
Underground from the Alpha
Wait a minute don't bother
Homeboy get harder
If you wanna go gaga
If you wanna go gaga
Wait a minute on the Alpha
Well, my guess is the father, why would you bother?
Bring my rap a little harder
Get-get a little smarter
Everybody in the world, gaga
There is no university for this
There is no higher learning
But there will be a higher feelin' right here
Mark Ronson
Air, Rhymefest
Okay
A, B, G, now you're elite
A, B, G
Yeah
All right now, ha ha ha!
The lyrics to "Alpha Beta Gaga" by Air featuring Rhymefest are about living in the moment and being present in the now. The opening lyrics indicate that the song will be a collaboration between Rhymefest and Air, two different artists from different parts of the world (Chicago and France). Rhymefest talks about his ability to roll up to the club looking like a "real playa" and how he can take anyone's girl with ease, showing off his charming personality. He then contrasts this with a scene of someone staying at home, watching cartoons in their pajamas instead of enjoying life's opportunities.
The chorus of the song, "Alpha Beta Gaga," is a repetition of a catchy three-word phrase that blurs the lines between nonsense and meaning. The beat of the song is repetitive and simple, which ultimately creates a hypnotic and trance-like effect. The lyrics ask the listeners to "throw your hands in the sky-sky" and enjoy themselves with no worries, which emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment.
Overall, this song is about enjoying life, being in the moment, and living without regrets. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but the message is universal: enjoy life, don't take it too seriously, and be present in the now.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, from Chi-town to France
We are taking our music from Chicago to France
How you feel there?
Rhymefest is asking the audience how they feel
Rhymefest breathe this to 'em like fresh air
Rhymefest will give the audience fresh new lyrics
On my Vespa looking like a real playa
I am cruising on a Vespa and looking cool
I could roll up to the club in a wheelchair
My style is so great that I could go to the club in a wheelchair and still look cool
Look, he's still there
I'm still working and improving my craft
Get in our room
Come with us to our exclusive room
I walk up with your girl with the harpoon
I am stealing your girl, and it's effortless
Take her to the V.I.P, this is our room
We are taking your girl to an exclusive room
Now you know that it's a shame
It's unfortunate that you are missing out
'Cause you in your PJs watching cartoons
You are at home, in your pajamas, and not experiencing the nightlife
As I walk down the street whistlin' this
I am walking down the street and whistling my tune
Lookin' for a place, 'cause boy do I miss
I am searching for a place to chill away from fake people and situations
A place that I can chill away from fake shit
I want to go to a place where I can relax and be myself
I can't play 'cause I am not complacent
I can't settle because I'm always looking for ways to improve
My spot at the top will not be vacant
I have reached the top, and I won't be losing my position anytime soon
I whistle as I walk the pavement to pay rent
I am whistling as I walk because I'm happy with what I'm doing, and I'm making money doing it
To the B, to the G, here we go
Going from the Beta to the Gamma level as we continue our journey
And the beat goes ka-tah ka-tah
The beat of the music is steady and rhythmic
Alpha Beta Gaga, could you feel it now?
Can you feel the energy and vibe of our music?
And the bells go ga-ding ga-ding
The bells in the music go off, adding more depth to the sound
Alpha Beta Gaga got you thinkening
Our music is making you think about life and aspects of it in a different way
Can you smell that?
Rhymefest is asking if the audience can smell the freshness of the air
Inhale fresh air, exhale that
Take a deep breath and let it out, feeling the freshness of the air
From the 'burbs to the rich upscale flats
Our music is for everyone, from the suburbs to the rich
To the Paris 94 where they sell crack
Our music is for all areas, including places where drugs are common
Where the drums, where them ooh, we bells at
The music has different elements, including drums and bells
And all the noise you was kickin', you could kill that
Negativity can be ignored, and we can focus on our music to bring happiness to others
The dance floor on E we can feel that, still black, this is the real rap
We can feel the energy on the dance floor, and this is the real rap music
Something you can feel, when you move you're still trapped
The music has deep beats that make you move, and you feel trapped in the rhythm
Realize Alpha Beta Gaga got the real vibe
Our music has an authentic vibe
Everybody throw your hands in the sky-sky
Everyone should raise their hands in the air to celebrate the music
Sippin' by the beach, sippin' on a Mai Tai
We can enjoy a Mai Tai by the beach while listening to our music
This is my time
It is a great time for our music and us personally
I'm not a referee but the track is so official
I'm not a referee, but the music is so legitimate and well-made
If you rappers out of bounds I'ma blow the whistle
If other rappers are stepping out of line, we will put them back in their place
To the A, to the B, to the G, here we go!
Going from the Alpha to the Beta level as we continue our journey
Underground from the Alpha
Starting at the underground Alpha level
Wait a minute don't bother
Hold on and don't worry
Homeboy get harder
Step up your game, man
If you wanna go gaga
If you want to reach the next level with us
Wait a minute on the Alpha
Hold up and master the Alpha level first
Well, my guess is the father, why would you bother?
We are the ones who created this music, so you can't compete
Bring my rap a little harder
I will make my raps stronger
Get-get a little smarter
I will work harder and become more intelligent
Everybody in the world, gaga
Everyone should come together and get into our music
There is no university for this
Our music can't be taught, it's something you either have or don't
There is no higher learning
You can't learn this level of music anywhere else
But there will be a higher feelin' right here
But listening to our music will give you a higher feeling
A, B, G, okay, A, B, G
We are repeating the Alpha to Beta journey
A, B, G
We are chanting Alpha Beta Gaga
Yeah, welcome to the fraternity of Alpha beta gaga
Welcome to the group of people who love and appreciate our music
You will be hazed, you will be amazed
Our music will challenge you, but you will also be impressed by it
We are coming through and this is our anthem
We are bringing our music and this song represents it
When you hear the whistle (gaga, gaga)
When you hear our music, you hear the whistle of greatness
All right now, ha ha ha!
We're happy and celebrating our music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jean Benoit Dunckel, Nicolas Godin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind