Background about the composer and composition – what is its function?
Daft Punk are a French duo and pioneers of the electronic scene, putting it to the forefront of pop culture. This is one of their most well known songs, the opening track from their 2001 album Discovery.
Did you enjoy the composition? If yes, why? If not, why?
I love “One More Time”, it is a fantastic start to the album and works well on its own. It showcases Daft Punk’s affinity for sampling and has the ability to be played at parties just as often as being listened to by people just wanting to relax and listen to some wonderful music.
How did the composition make you feel? Why?
Depending on how loud I am listening to the song it can evoke different emotion; if I am at the gym I may have this playing loud to pump my adrenaline but on another day I may have it playing a little quieter, letting me bask in the work of Daft Punk, relaxed.
What is the purpose of the composition and what do you think the composer is trying to express?
It was intended to be a link between Daft Punk’s prior album “Homework” and the next “Discovery”, and I don’t believe it’s a stretch to say that “One More Time” is in reference to the duo making another album, like saying, “Here we are, listen to us once again.”
What instruments could you hear? When did they occur? What is the texture of the piece and how does it change?
From the start we have the sampled brass, the programmed drums, and a groovy bass, later on we are introduced to more programmed drums, vocals, and the bass is put higher up in the mix. During the breakdown we also hear synths. The texture of the piece is on the higher end thanks to the multiple drum patterns combining. However just before a drop the piece will lose everything but vocals and some drums, this emphasises the drop and makes it feel more explosive.
What dynamics and articulation take place? How do they change throughout the composition?
Firstly, the articulation is rather defined, as you would expect in a dance track, there is little room for humanlike playing to occur. As for the dynamics, this changes in line with the accepted protocols of dance music; lots of steady build-ups followed by consistent loud choruses, as well as a stripped back breakdown.
What is the structure of the piece? Is it repetitive? Does it have set sections, e.g. A and B or Verse and Chorus?
Audio Software company Mixed In Key actually have a good breakdown of the piece’s structure (https://mixedinkey.com/book/visualize-the-structure-of-dance-music/), but a simple version is that we hear an intro which leads into a verse and then a chorus. This is followed by a breakdown which slowly builds back into the chorus, this chorus lasts a while before fading as an outro. It is tough however to label these sections as dance tracks aren’t necessarily built with choruses, verses, etc.
What is the harmony of the piece? Major or Minor key? Are there lots of chord changes (harmonic rhythm)?
The piece flows through the keys of B Minor, E Minor, and G Major throughout and features a steady number of chord changes during the verses with more coming during the chorus.
What melodies occur and on what instruments? Are they simple or memorable?
There are several melodies but the two most memorable ones come from the vocoded vocals and the sampled brass. This sample comes from Eddie Jones’ 1977 track “More Spell On You” and an excellent breakdown of the sample is linked below. Both melodies are simple and are without doubt earworms.
What is the tempo, time signature and rhythmic features of the piece?
It has a BPM of 123 and a time signature of 4/4. Several different percussive beats are put together to create dynamic but constant rhythm.
Are there any noticeable production elements? For example, reverb, delay, programmed drums, filters, EQ, etc.
Heavy usage of a Vocoder and filtering on collaborator Romanthony’s vocals, lending his voice a much more robotic sound, which works well for the digital aesthetic found in Daft Punk’s discography. The drums are also programmed, as is the norm for electronic dance music.