David Guetta Group Essay

1

David Guetta Group Essay

Affeltranger, Mark

Clemens, Spencer

Gibbs, Natalie

McCowan, Vanessa

Moli, Mele

Simpson, Tim

Music 1010

Professor Craig Ferrin

1

1. Biography

David Guetta was born as Pierre David Guetta on November 7th, 1967 in Paris France. He was born into a family of Moroccan Sephardi Jewish descent. His father was a restaurateur. He started his musical passion early, mixing his first vinyls when he was only 13 years old. At 14 he was organizing parties in his basement. At the age of 17 he quickly moved on to DJing in popular nightclubs throughout Paris, starting with a club called Club Broad with another DJ named DJ Kien. While he was performing at Club Broad, he started mixing his own music and showcasing it during the evenings. In 1987 he heard a Farley Jackmaster Funk track on the radio and it inspired him. He recorded the track and brought a copy of it with him to one of the clubs to play. This was a breaking point in the popularity of the artist David Guetta.

About one year later Guetta and Kien decided that Club Broad was too small to gain the attention that they yearned, so they moved to larger venues which included Rex Club, Central World, and Wunderland Boy. During this time, Guetta met with Robert Owens, a Chicago native legend in house music, while he was on tour in France in 1992. Guetta shared some of his music with Owens, and Owens picked one and sang over it. This song, “Up and Away” ended up being a minor hit in the house-music scene for the next several years. In 1992 he also met and married his wife Cathy Guetta. He spends a lot of his time working with his wife on promoting the legendary “F**k Me I’m Famous” dance parties which started in 1995 and go on to this day. These parties are now held all over the world in places like Miami, Las Vegas, New York, and Ibiza. For the majority of the 90’s Guetta did not have anything significant happen in his music career other than hosting parties at several nightclubs in France. He did become the artistic manager at a club called Le Palace.

Things started picking up for Guetta in 2001 when he released the track, “Just a Little More Love” with singer Chris Willis. This track ended up being popular for several years throughout the house-music scene and resulted in his first debut album also titled “Just a Little More Love” in 2002 on Virgin Records which sold over 300,000 copies. During 2002 along with his first released album he co-founded GUM Productions Record Label. In the meantime, Guetta released a bootleg remix of David Bowie’s song, “Heroes” and renamed his version to “Just for One Day.” Shortly after he received permission from Bowie to release the track officially and it shortly became a major hit. Now, having several major hits on his hands, Guetta finally released a compilation in 2003 entitled, “F**k Me I’m Famous” named after his parties he threw in Ibiza.

With the success of this compilation he released a second album in 2004 titled “Guetta Blaster” which contained four singles and included some vocals by Chris Willis. Willis would show up again with Guetta in 2007 when Guetta released his third debut album titled “Pop Life.” The album was a big hit throughout Europe and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. This led him to winning the World Music Award in 2007 for World’s Best Selling DJ. During these years Cathy and David had their 2 children, their son Tim Elvis Eric who was born in 2004 and their daughter Angie born in 2007. In 2006 he was nominated at the DJ Awards for Best House DJ but did not win this year. However he did go on to win it in 2008, only to be nominated again in 2009 for Best House DJ. In 2007 he was nominated for Best International DJ and Best Ibiza Night, both of which he won. In 2008 he was nominated as Best French Act in the MTV EMA’s but lost to Zaho.

It wasn’t until 2009 that David Guetta became very popular internationally. He made it to the 3rd spot on the top 100 DJ’s in DJ Magazine. In August 2009 he released his fourth debut album titled “One Love.” This album had several hit singles including “When Love Takes Over” with Kelly Rowland, “Gettin’ Over” with Chris Willis, “Sexy Bitch” with Akon, and “Who’s That Chick?” featuring Rihanna among others. The album sold over 3 million copies by May 2011 and reached platinum record status. Guetta won his first Grammy in 2009 in the category of Best Remixed Recording, non-classical for the track “When Love Takes Over.” Guetta won his second Grammy the next year in 2010 after being nominated for 4 different categories including; Best Dance Record, Best Remixed Recording non-classical, Best Dance Electronic Album, and Record of the Year. His 2010 win was in the same category as his first win but for the track “Revolver,” a remix of Madonna’s song that he did with the DJ Afojack.

On August 30th, 2011 Guetta would release his 5th studio album, “Nothing But the Beat.” This album would feature 17 all-star cast including Akon, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Chris Brown, and others. Some versions of the album even go back to the root of Guetta being a DJ and even include a second disc that is electronic music only. The album has already been awarded platinum certification in Europe for selling over 1 million albums according to IFPI. If “One Love” sold over 3 million copies in just two years, imagine how many this album will sell if it has already broken 1 million sales in less than a year. Guetta had this to say about the album, “I produced about 40 songs to get these 13 records together. I wanted every song to be huge, phenomenal.” According to the record sells he has lived up to his hopes.

In 2010 at the World Music Awards David won 3 awards. He was nominated for and won World’s Best DJ, World’s Best Producer, and Best Selling Artist from France. Also In 2010 he brought home the award for Best International Album of the Year for his album “One Love” at the NRJ Music Awards. In 2011 he hit the number one spot on the top one hundred for DJ Magazine. When being interviewed for the magazine he had this to say about his music, “I’ve had amazing success as a producer but I always saw myself first of all as a DJ… As much as I want to speak to a wider audience, I still want to speak to my original audience- the clubbers, party people and the DJ’s. Those who encouraged me, and are my roots.” In 2011 at the International Dance Music Awards he won Best Commercial Dance Track and Best Music Video for “Gettin’ Over You,” along with Best Producer. He was also again nominated at the MTV EMA’s for Best Male.

David Guetta has successfully crossed the bridge in America and brought together dance style music and rap bringing the Euro-pop sound to America. He has created a whole new sound that is at the top of the charts around the world. During an interview with The Vine, David expressed his love for music, “for me it’s about the music; I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink or smoke. I just do what I love to do which is making and playing music.” He also went on in a different interview to say, “It doesn’t matter if I make a beat that’s going to be a song on the radio, or if I make a record that’s meant to please DJ’s,” “I always just think of making people dance- that is my priority.” With over 5 million sales worldwide since his first release in 2001, David Guetta has made a tremendous mark on the world’s music industry. While still looking for a new and upcoming sound for his next album, he is still basking in the success of “Nothing But the Beat,” performing around the world. Guetta stated that he would be working on more up and coming singles with Akon and a new album that he is working on with Madonna. Needless to say Guetta has come a long way from where he started and now he is at the top, doing what he loves, making and playing music.

2. Composition History

Just a Little More Love 3:45

Composition History: David Guetta

By Vanessa McCowan

“Just a Little More Love” was released June 10, 2002 by Gum Prod, EMI France & Virgin Records France. It’s from David Guetta’s first studio album released, Just a Little More Love. Chris Willis and Barbara Tucker are the main vocalists. Chris Willis is an American Gospel singer whom Guetta met by “accident” through friends while in Paris. David had invited Willis to the studio; they ended up recording their first song together, “Just a Little More Love”, which only took thirty minutes to record. “Just a Little More Love” has “hints of Ibiza house and deep soul”, and in 2001 it was a “huge dance hit”. It was later remixed by Wally Lopez.

Titanium 4:05

Composition History: David Guetta

By Vanessa McCowan

The song “Titanium,” written by David Guetta, Australian pop singer-songwriter, Sia Furler, Giorgio Tulnfort and Afrojack was released on August 8, 2011. It was one of three promotional songs used from David Guetta’s fifth studio album, Nothing but the Beats. The original version of this song was sung by Mary J. Blige, however when Guetta heard Sia’s version he felt her voice was “so incredible”, he wanted her to sing it. Katy Perry was offered to sing it however she turned it down. Sia had wanted to give this song to someone else so she could focus more on her song writing. Sia uses an acoustic element with “Titanium,” which isn’t the “norm” for Guetta. The lyrics are about Inner Strength. “Titanium” has been in the top ten positions in several major music markets, Australia, France, Sweden just to name a few. It was number one in the United Kingdom, making it David’s fifth number one single and Sia’s first.

Turn Me On 3:31

Composition History: David Guetta
By Mele Moli

Just like David Guetta’s single “Without You,”“Turn Me On” also derives from his fifth studio album named Nothing but the Beat. The song was written by David Guetta, Ester Dean, and Giorgio Tuinfort. The vocals in this record though, were created by one of the most popular female hip-hop and rap artist Nicki Minaj. Nicki also uses this song in her second studio album called Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, as a bonus song in its deluxe version. The song was released in January of 2012. This song peaked at 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 which makes it tie with his earlier single, “Without You!”

Even though this song wasn’t used in GLEE like “Without You,” it was used to promote WWE WrestleMania XXVIII which is just as huge of a deal as the show GLEE. Wikipedia states that “Turn Me On” is an “Uptempo club song, with heavy beats and features Minaj on vocals.” Nicki Minaj’s rap is amazing in this song and flows so well that after hearing it at least twice you’ll have most of it memorized! This song was such a great creation and production in the world of music.

Up and Away 5:32

Composition History: David Guetta
By Mele Moli

“Up and Away” is one of David Guetta’s first successful creations. In 1992, David Guetta was promoting his music and having successful club nights. The genre Daft Punk and Electroclash had the biggest influence on his club music and the combinations of the two genres are soaked into “Up and Away.” David Guetta was given the opportunity in 1992 to showcase his tracks for Robert Owens; a successful and now legendary house vocalist. The track that Owen’s considered his favorite was given lyrics and melody related to a girl that was using a boy to get closer to his friend. Owen’s sang over the track. The song was given the title “Up and Away.” In David Guetta’s crate the song would wait. In 1994, “Up and Away” was released in France and immediately become a minor hit! Its genre was of course Electronic with House style. Its label was Dance Pool which is a division of Sony. The song is licensed by R. Owens & XL Promotion. “Up & Away” is still a well-known song to this day and has been remixed 7 times into different Electronic styles. It starts out slow but gets you up to beat and in the mood for electronic music.

3. Listening Guide

Just a Little More Love

Listening Guide: David Guetta

By: Spencer Clemens

0:00- The songs out with just lyrics and after a couple seconds a faint bass noise is found and dragged out giving it a white noise type of feel. You can tell that there is music in the background, but it is unchanging after the initial noise of the beat and the texture of the noise is static-y sounding. I think the lyrics are almost monophonic because it seems like the singer is singing without music to harmonize with.

0:18- Repetitious low beats start at this point adding to the texture because you can still hear the purposeful white noise in the background. At this point in the song it seems like they are building up to something just adding one piece after another. The singer is really giving the song most of its range during the song still because they rhythm seem almost background right now, but as I said are noticeable and seem as if they are building up to something.

0:32- At this point in the song the lyrics turn into part of the rhythm or beat as the last syllable of the last word is dragged out, and changed to a higher pitch beat harmonizing with the singer’s voice. The higher pitch adding in with the background type noise and the repetitious beat is the counterpoint of lower beats. The texture feels to reach the climax of what it was building up to, and the song is about to show us what great thing the buildup was leading up to.

0:41- The higher pitch beat quickly turns into three beats descending down into what the texture felt like it was leading up to. The tempo of the song is very fast and the quick repetitious beat is still there acting as the foundation of the song. The melody of the song starts bouncing around and is the melody for a reason, it is catchy. The texture now seems like an electronic type of funk. There are lyrics that are blended into the beat and seem very robotic.

1:12- The same lyrics begin that started the song but the beat is the same that started back around 41 seconds into the song. With the rhythm that needed to be worked up to along with the lyrics now is the high point of the song and harmonizes very will each other.

1:45- The tempo is not changing at this point at moving very fast but the beat seems to fade giving that kind of feeling that the tempo slows down. The singer is still moving very fast which shows that the tempo doesn’t change. The great harmonization found just previously is taken away from as they take the main beat away from this part of the song. This gives the overall song a great contrast. This point wouldn’t be considered dissonance, but it seems like the scale back on the beat they lead up to and lyrics to give the texture of needing resolution.

2:13- The song is repeated to how it was around 32 seconds. The last word’s last syllable is dragged exactly the same and turned into a higher pitch beat.

2:32- Now the song really changes and goes down to just one beat. Shortly after, you can hear almost overtones faintly in the background of the original beat. The main focus of the one beat is an interesting noise and seems like something is moving around.

2:47- The main beat returns with electronic funk texture and robotic lyrics played in with the beat.

3:00- Clear lyrics begin again repeating over and over until the song completely changes and goes into a soft beat with no lyrics. The rhythm is very simple and has a calming texture.

3:25- The beat completely stops while the singer sings the lyrics which happen to be the name of the song. Shortly after the main beat picks up again and continues to the end of the song where the end is very abrupt, and there is silence for the last couple of seconds of the song.

Titanium 4:05

Listen Guide: David Guetta
By Tim Simpson
0:00- Introduction contains the main theme. Main theme comes in quickly. It is a simple quadruple meter, conjunct, loud, moderate tempo and seems to be a mix between a guitar and a piano.Electronically augmented notes harmonize with the main theme. This helps make a smooth transition into the first verse.
0:15- The Augment notes crescendo very loud and stop witch starts the 1st verse. Beat 1 sounds on the quarter note and drives the momentum of the song.
0:17- Sia's vocal melody is really pretty and comes in quickly just like the song starts. Her voice is wet with effects.
0:29- The Augment crescendo returns and stops. Beat 2 starts I can hear 16 notes and is very catchy.
0:42- Augment notes repeat fast, crescendo and stop at the chorus 1. The form of the song is Verse-Chorus.
0:45- Sia is harmonizing with new Augmented notes that make me feel like there is a light mist in the air, new melody from the piano/guitar electronic sound, kick drum that plays sporadically and tapping sound on a ride cymbal.
1:01- The tapping becomes a tight snare sound.
1:12- Snare sound crescendo into the last part of the chorus.