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.
Gentle on My Mind
Air Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't help but think about what I left behind
I'll take the blame, it's about time
I wish the decision was never mine
Wish I was wakin' up on my dock
The bay looks like a mirror covered in fog
Wish I was sittin' there, the sun shines through
'Cause oh, maybe baby it's true
That I never got over you
Yes I do still love you
I always will, I told you
You always wanted me to write you a song
I can't believe it took me this long
Now the circumstances are all wrong
And maybe it's comin' out cause I'm alone
Came up here, shook me to my bones
I just couldn't love you through the phone
I hurt you so much, I know
But sometimes, I just miss you so
Oh, maybe baby it's true
That I never got over you
Yes I do still love you
I always will, I said to you
Oh, what can I do
I miss you
Oh, there's nothing I do
So I will just remember you
I'm standin' here, lookin' over this city skyline
I can't help but think about what I left behind
I'll take the blame, it's about time
Can't believe you're still on my mind
Can't believe you're still on my mind
The lyrics to Air's song "Gentle on My Mind" express the singer's longing for a past love and the regret of leaving that person behind. The song begins with the singer reflecting on their current location, looking over a city skyline, and feeling a sense of loss and nostalgia for what they left behind. They acknowledge that they are at fault for the decision they made, but wish that they didn't have to bear the responsibility.
The second verse brings forth the imagery of the singer wishing they were waking up at their dock, observing the bay covered in fog. This scene represents a peaceful and intimate moment shared with their loved one. The mention of sitting with them, feeling the warmth of the sun shining through, further emphasizes the yearning for that sense of connection and love.
The chorus reveals the depth of the singer's emotions, admitting that they have never gotten over their former partner, and they still love them. Despite whatever mistakes were made in the past, this love remains constant and strong. The singer acknowledges that their partner always wanted them to write a song, and they regret not doing it sooner. The circumstances are now unfavorable, and being alone brings out their suppressed emotions.
The bridge of the song reflects on the impact of the separation, confessing that being away shook the singer to their core. They recognize that loving their partner from a distance was not enough and, in the process, hurt them deeply. However, the singer admits that the longing for their former love sometimes becomes overwhelming and they cannot help but miss them.
The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the singer's persistence in their love for their past partner and their struggle to move on. They express disbelief that they are still thinking about them and having them on their mind even after everything that has happened.
Overall, "Gentle on My Mind" portrays the internal battle of a narrator who yearns for a lost love and regrets the decisions they made, while also accepting the lasting impact that person has had on their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm standin' here, lookin' over this city skyline
I am currently standing here, gazing at the beautiful urban landscape of this city
I can't help but think about what I left behind
I cannot prevent my mind from reflecting on the things I have abandoned in my past
I'll take the blame, it's about time
I am willing to accept responsibility for my actions, as it is long overdue
I wish the decision was never mine
I deeply regret having the burden of making such a choice in the first place
Wish I was wakin' up on my dock
I yearn to wake up in the morning on my personal pier
The bay looks like a mirror covered in fog
The bay appears like a reflective surface cloaked by a layer of mist
Wish I was sittin' there, the sun shines through
I desire to be seated there, with the radiant sunlight penetrating through
Wish I was sittin' there with you
I long for the company of your presence beside me in that place
'Cause oh, maybe baby it's true
Because, oh, perhaps my dear, it is indeed the truth
That I never got over you
That I have never fully recovered from the emotional attachment I had towards you
Yes I do still love you
Indeed, I still hold profound affection for you
I always will, I told you
I made it clear that my feelings for you will endure indefinitely
You always wanted me to write you a song
You always had a desire for me to compose a musical tribute dedicated to you
I can't believe it took me this long
It is astonishing to me that it has taken me this much time
Now the circumstances are all wrong
Currently, the circumstances are completely unfavorable for that to happen
And maybe it's comin' out cause I'm alone
Perhaps it is emerging now because I am in solitude
Came up here, shook me to my bones
Coming up here has deeply unsettled me, affecting me to the core
I just couldn't love you through the phone
I simply could not express my love for you adequately through distant communication
I hurt you so much, I know
I am fully aware of the immense pain I caused you
But sometimes, I just miss you so
However, there are moments when I intensely yearn for your presence
Oh, what can I do
Oh, what actions can I possibly take
I miss you
I deeply long for you
Oh, there's nothing I do
Oh, there is nothing I can do
So I will just remember you
Therefore, I will simply keep the memory of you alive in my heart
Can't believe you're still on my mind
I am astonished that you still occupy my thoughts
Can't believe you're still on my mind
I cannot fathom that you continue to linger in my mind
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Philip Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind