Daft Punk: 5 Groundbreaking Music Videos From The “Get Lucky” Duo

John Hamilton | May 7, 2013 6:43 am

Harder, better, faster, stronger — and arguably more popular than ever before —Daft Punk, electronica’s most innovative duo and France’s funkiest androids, are reaching new heights with their comeback single, the slinky slice of funk known as “Get Lucky.” In only its second week on the chart, the Pharrell-featuring thumper is sitting inside the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, their first ever song to do so. The pair’s forthcoming album, Random Access Memories (out May 21), promises a new sound and a slew of iconic collaborators such as Giorgio Moroder and Nile Rodgers, but we’re surprised that the set’s first hit has yet to be accompanied by an official music video.

For anyone with a passing knowledge of their body of work, a Daft Punk single without an eye-popping, out-of-this-world promo clip is kind of like a Beyonce campaign without a wig…a Justin Bieber tour without a tantrum…a Madonna video without a shirtless male dancer. It just isn’t done!

While the world waits with baited breath to see if an official video will surface in the coming weeks (a teaser played a few weeks ago at Coachella and was glimpsed on SNL), we’re taking a look back at the brilliant clips Daft Punk have given us over the years: five colorful, funny, rhythmic and thought-provoking short films that took the concept of the music video to a whole new level. Smart collaborations with directors Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry and more have shown over the years that Daft Punk aren’t just musical iconoclasts, they’re visual vanguards as well.

So strap on your helmet and blast through our run-down below, and let us know in the comments which Daft Punk videos you think should also be on our list!

“Da Funk” (1996): Undoubtedly the highlight of their early clips, this bold debut follows a human-sized hound (think McGruff the Crime Dog’s hipster little brother) as he navigates his way through the city with nothing but a boombox and a bum leg. A character piece with a beat, “Da Funk” manages to pull off several funny and poignant moments within its compelling, if head-scratching, premise.