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.
MEWE.
Air Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
終わりにここで振り返る悲しみと
(Standing)
今ここに立てる喜び
悲惨という言葉をなくす
21th century
蝶のように舞い蜂のように剌す
彼の思いいまだ色褪せずに
ME, WE.
足取り軽く吠えるさDancing
ME, WE.
同じ空を 同じ空気を今
ME, WE.
同じ時間を 同じ目と目で
ME, WE.
同じ血の色 同じ手と手で
ME, WE.
同じ血 同じ涙を持っている
意味履き違えた自由に
甘える輩の大行進にK.O
したり顔して批判で安心
隙を見せたら強権政治
Nationalism 風速50m
ゆえに大地を蹴る足音はい
まだ鳴り止まずに前進
我ら前進 さらに前進
ME,WE.
Against animal testing.
ME,WE.
Freedom! Free child soldiers.
ME,WE.
無鉄砲な美しさ眩しい
ME,WE.
これで散るなら望むところだ
1,2 1,2 1,2 3,4
1,2 1,2 Left, Right Left, Right
Dancing! Standing!
ME,WE.
同じ空を 同じ空気を今
ME,WE.
同じ血の色 同じ涙を
ME,WE.
Against animal testing.
ME,WE.
Freedom! Free child soldiers.
ME,WE.
The lyrics of Air's "MEWE" is a poignant commentary on the state of the world at the dawn of the 21st century. The opening lines, "In the era where blood was washed with blood/ Here at the end, looking back at the sadness and standing in the joy that we can stand here," evoke overtones of violence, loss, and transition, which further highlights the paradoxical nature of life. The lyrics then go on to denounce the bittersweet nature of humankind's progress, praising the beauty of nature while condemning the neglect and harm inflicted on it. The lyrics ask for unity in the face of adversity, ignoring nationalism and the self-serving nature of politics, urging people to advance forward as one.
The chorus, "ME, WE," calls for solidarity in the struggle against injustice and cruelty against defenseless beings, be it humans, animals or nature. The urgency of the message is reinforced by the marching beats and the command to dance and stand tall throughout the song, a call to action that asks individuals to become more involved and conscientious to make a difference.
Overall, the lyrics of "MEWE" are a powerful and timely reminder of the need to strive for a better world that is united, inclusive, and compassionate, a sentiment that is apt for our time.
Line by Line Meaning
血で血を洗う時代の 終わりにここで振り返る悲しみと (Standing) 今ここに立てる喜び 悲惨という言葉をなくす 21th century
Looking back on the sadness of a time when violence was commonplace, we stand here and feel the joy of a future where such misery will no longer exist. We seek to eliminate the word 'tragedy' in the 21st century.
蝶のように舞い蜂のように剌す 彼の思いいまだ色褪せずに 今日さらに意味を増してる ME, WE.
We dance gracefully like butterflies and yet sting like bees, as his legacy lives on vividly in our actions, gaining even more significance today. Me and you, together we stand.
足取り軽く吠えるさDancing ME, WE.
We dance with joy and bark with freedom, as Me and You stand together in solidarity.
同じ空を 同じ空気を今 ME, WE.
We breathe the same air under the same sky, united as Me and You.
同じ時間を 同じ目と目で ME, WE.
We share the same moments and lock eyes with each other, as Me and You stand together in unity.
同じ血の色 同じ手と手で ME, WE.
We share the same blood color and grasp hands with each other, as Me and You stand together in solidarity.
同じ血 同じ涙を持っている ME, WE.
We share the same blood and tears in our struggles, as Me and You stand together in support.
意味履き違えた自由に 甘える輩の大行進にK.O したり顔して批判で安心 隙を見せたら強権政治 Nationalism 風速50m ゆえに大地を蹴る足音はい まだ鳴り止まずに前進 我ら前進 さらに前進
We reject the notion of freedom that misunderstands its true meaning. We challenge those who blindly follow those in power, and refuse to settle for mere criticism. We are aware of the dangers of authoritarianism and nationalism, and therefore we march onward, stomping with our feet and never stopping. We move forward, always forward.
Against animal testing.
We fight against animal testing, as Me and You stand together for the rights of all creatures.
Freedom! Free child soldiers.
We demand freedom for all, including an end to the use of child soldiers, as Me and You stand together for the rights of children to live freely.
無鉄砲な美しさ眩しい ME, WE.
The reckless beauty is dazzling, as Me and You stand together in awe.
これで散るなら望むところだ
If we fall to this cause, then it is a desirable end, one that honors and respects what we have fought for.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-me5fi1po5l
くはーっ、かっこええー！！
当時の想いが一気に蘇りました😆
確か腱鞘炎で腕を痛めてたからギター持つ高さを上げてたんですよね。
「同じ空を 同じ空気（AIR）を今」
20年経ってもいまだ色褪せない Me, We✨
@nyokb
アルバムだと、この後に間髪入れずにKJとやったRihgt Riotが始まる
それがまたかっこいい！
@atsumu311
かっこよすぎる！！！ライブでこの曲見たかったー😢
@itoyuuichi
キメのとこまじくそかっけー❗️
@3kooooooooon
かっこいいわ
@tt-wz1kn
いいねえ
@kumawako
この帽子、お気に入りだったなぁ。いつぞらのLIVEで紛失し、返して～って言ってた思い出。
@nabsata0008
この後くらいに、ギターにsophのシールが貼られてる記憶、、、服真似してたなーw深めに被るニット帽とかw
@ppptpp4213
佐野さんのドラム切れっキレ
@user-yz9mx2hs5t
レイジとair同時に聴いてた青春時代w