Pon de Floor explained

Pon de Floor
Cover:Pon de Floor.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Major Lazer featuring Vybz Kartel and Afrojack
Album:Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Chronology:Major Lazer
Prev Title:Keep It Going Louder
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Jump Up
Next Year:2010

"Pon de Floor" is a song by Major Lazer, a collaborative musical project consisting of the American DJ Diplo and the British DJ Switch. The single was released in 2009 by Mad Decent and Downtown Records as the second single from Major Lazer's first studio album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do. The duo wrote the song and produced it with Afrojack, Nebat Drums and vocals by Vybz Kartel. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall and baile funk song and was positively received by music critics. It appeared on the charts in the United Kingdom in 2010, where it reached number 125. Eric Wareheim directed the music video for "Pon de Floor", which shows people dry humping, and incorporates daggering choreography. The song has been heavily sampled in Chiddy Bang's "Shooter" and Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)".

Composition

"Pon de Floor" was written and produced by Major Lazer  - whose members at the time were Diplo and Switch. It features vocals from Vybz Kartel, and Afrojack provided additional production and mixed the song.[1] "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall[2] and baile funk song.[3] The song uses a rapid marching snare drums beat and synth riffs.[4] [5] Its hook is a chopped-up vocal line,[6] [7] and according to Josh Heller of Drowned in Sound Kartel's input is "laughing and occasionally shouting 'Major Lazer!'".[8]

Reception

John Bush of Allmusic lauded the production of "Pon de Floor" and named it a tour de force. NME Pete Cashmore called the song "shitfacedly loopy",[3] while Andy Freivogel from Dusted Magazine noted it as one of the best tracks from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do.[5] "Pon de Floor" is used during the video game DJ Hero 2.[9] "Pon de Floor" entered the UK Singles Chart of 17 April 2010 at number 187.[10] It later peaked at number 125.[11]

Music video and live performance

The music video for "Pon de Floor" was directed by Eric Wareheim, and shows people daggering against a cartoon background depicting suburbia.[12] It incorporates daggering choreography.[13] Ted Maider from Consequence of Sound wrote "This song is already fucking whacked, but the video takes it to a whole other level ... 'Pon de Floor' seems equally as offensive as watching porn on hallucinogenic substances."[14] Major Lazer performed "Pon de Floor" at the Go! music festival at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore in September 2010.[15]

Samples and cover versions

"Pon de Floor" was sampled in Chiddy Bang's "Shooter", a song on his mini-mixtape, Air Swell (2010).[16] In 2011, Beyoncé released "Run the World (Girls)", which heavily samples "Pon de Floor". "Run the World" was produced by Switch and The-Dream, and co-produced by Knowles and Shea Taylor.[17]

Track listing

  1. "Pon de Floor" – 3:33
  2. "Pon de Floor" (Drop the Lime Remix) – 4:06
  3. "Pon de Floor" (Ninjasonik Remix)
  4. "Pon de Floor" (Blue Bear Remix) – 4:15
  1. "Pon de Floor" (radio edit) – 3:05
  2. "Pon de Floor" (The Streets Remix) – 3:07
  3. "Pon de Floor" (Drop the Lime Remix) – 4:06
  4. "Pon de Floor" (Blue Bear Remix) – 4:15
  5. "Pon de Floor" (Camo UFOs Jungle Edit) – 4:32
  1. "Pon de Floor" – 3:33
  2. "Pon de Floor" (The Streets Remix) – 3:07
  3. "Pon de Floor" (Drop the Lime Remix) – 4:06
  4. "Pon de Floor" (Blue Bear Remix) – 4:15
  5. "Pon de Floor" (Mike B vs. Nate Day Remix) – 4:32

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United States[18] 200912"
Austria[19] 19 April 2010Digital EP 1
Belgium[20]
Denmark[21]
Finland[22]
France[23]
Germany[24]
Ireland[25]
Italy[26]
Netherlands[27]
Norway[28]
Portugal[29]
Spain[30]
Sweden[31]
United Kingdom[32]
Australia[33] 16 July 2010Digital EP 2Downtown
New Zealand[34]

Notes and References

  1. Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do . . 2009 . . 2011-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003074721/http://www.downtownmusic.com/majorlazer/ . 2011-10-03 . dead .
  2. News: A Farewell (for Now) to Old Selves . Jon . Caramanica . . 27 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160202002345/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/arts/music/on-4-beyonce-bids-farewell-for-now-to-her-old-selves.html?_r=0 . live . 2 February 2016.
  3. Album review: Major Lazer – 'Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do' . Pete . Cashmore . . . 8 July 2009 . 1 May 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100501010322/http://www.nme.com/reviews/10638.
  4. News: Swizz Beatz, Diddy-Dirty Money Get Their 'Ass On The Floor' . https://web.archive.org/web/20110118041200/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653178/swizz-beatz-diddydirty-money-get-their-ass-on-floor.jhtml . dead . January 18, 2011 . Mawuse . Ziegbe . . . 29 November 2010 . 28 June 2011.
  5. Web site: Major Lazer  - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do! . Dusted Magazine . Andy . Freivogel . 8 July 2009 . 29 June 2011.
  6. Diplo . Diplo (DJ) . Eliot Van Buskirk . Diplo Talks Sample of the Millennium, the Return of Fun and Other Musical Secrets . 16 April 2010 . . 28 June 2011 .
  7. Web site: Major Lazer – Guns Don't Kill People… Lazers Do – Album Review . . Roger Woolman . 24 July 2009 . 28 June 2011.
  8. Web site: Major Lazer  - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do . Josh . Heller . 18 December 2009 . Drowned in Sound (Silentway) . https://web.archive.org/web/20120113085209/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14998/reviews/4138719 . live . 13 January 2012.
  9. DJ Hero® 2 Mix List Continues to Expand With Three New Offerings for the Best Soundtrack in Entertainment . . 30 November 2010 . 28 June 2011 .
  10. Web site: Chart Log UK: New Entries Update . Zobbel.de . 17 April 2010 . 28 June 2011.
  11. Web site: Chart Log UK . Zobbel.de . 28 June 2011.
  12. Web site: New Major Lazer Video – 'Pon De Floor' . 5 August 2009 . 29 June 2011 . Stereogum.
  13. Web site: Watch It: Major Lazer 'Pon De Floor' . Steven . Gottlieb . Video Static . 7 August 2009 . 29 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120522085510/http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2009/08/eric-wareheim-of-comedy-duo-tim-and-eric-brings-the-er-sexy-as-director-for-this-new-major-lazer-video-pon-de-floor-essen.html . 22 May 2012 . dead .
  14. Web site: Break Yo TV: Major Lazer – 'Pon de Floor' . Ted . Maider . . 4 February 2010 . 29 June 2011.
  15. News: Singapore swing . 29 October 2010 . Bangkok Post.
  16. Air Swell . . 2010.
  17. 4 . . 2011 . . 2011-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110627044804/http://www.beyonceonline.com/us/albumcredits . 2011-06-27 . dead .
  18. Web site: Pon De Floor – Major Lazer– [Vinyl] 12 . . 28 June 2011.
  19. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . . 28 June 2011.
  20. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  21. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  22. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  23. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . French . 29 June 2011.
  24. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . German. 29 June 2011.
  25. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  26. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . Italian. 29 June 2011.
  27. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . Dutch . 29 June 2011.
  28. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  29. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  30. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . Spanish . 29 June 2011.
  31. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  32. Web site: Pon de Floor – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 29 June 2011.
  33. Web site: Pon de Floor (feat. VYBZ Kartel) – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 28 June 2011.
  34. Web site: Pon de Floor (feat. VYBZ Kartel) – EP . iTunes Store. Apple Inc . 28 June 2011.

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