Why Daft Punk’s ‘Alive 2007’ Is (Still) So Important

Alive 2006/2007 World Tour

The tour that followed spread the word, and gave those in North America, and around the world, a taste of what had those at Coachella buzzing. The Northwest was lucky enough to snag a summer-2007 date, with Seattle featuring as one of eight North American cities on the tour. The duo performed in several stops throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America during 2007. Since then, we, and many others, have been waiting for their return.

The idea for the pyramid set-up, and mind-bending performance at Coachella, was meant to be a one-time thing. Taking such a production on the road was an incredible undertaking. The success of the Alive 2006/2007 world tour proved the concept was worthwhile, and now we have fans who complain when an artist’s full production isn’t available on certain stops of a tour.

Shining a very bright, colorful, and entrancing series of lights on what touring DJs were capable of, the Alive 2006/2007 tour played a major role in the way we enjoy our favorite DJs today. Showcasing the potential and versatility of what was possible for live-shows, Daft Punk sparked the flame that would become the EDM stage-production wildfire.

Putting on an incredible performance, one time, is one thing. Being able to repeat that magic, on a regular basis, is stuff of legend. When it comes to legendary tours, Alive 2006/2007 belongs in the discussion.

https://vimeo.com/10851313

Alive 2007

Alive 2007, released in November of the title’s year, allows us to re-live the massively influential set over, and over. The album, which featured the recording of their performance in Paris from June of 2007, won the Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album in 2009. The single off of the album, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger featuring Kanye West, also won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording the same year.

The album followed-up Human After All in Daft Punk’s discography, and gave us a second ‘Alive’ mix to enjoy. Coupled with Alive 1997, the 2001 release from the duo of a 45-minute clip from a 1997 performance in Birmingham, UK. While it’s not the finely-tuned product of it’s successor, the two albums give an interesting glimpse into the growth, and heart, of Daft Punk.

Daft Punk at the 2008 Grammy Awards

All of these moments have impacted what we call EDM today. It doesn’t matter which moniker you use, Daft Punk’s fingerprints are all over the aspects of dance music we love, and we have Alive 2007 to remember it by. It’s rare that such a useful portal exists into a moment in time as influential as these. So, we consider ourselves lucky, and continue to clamor for more.

The French duo showed us what EDM was capable of, and the ways to make it happen. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, and we’re happy Daft Punk was there to take advantage of it. The Alive 2006/2007 world tour, and everything that came with it, was a series of seminal moments for both Daft Punk, and dance music. The vibrations from which, are still being felt today.

Let us know what you think of Daft Punk’s Alive 2007 album, and the impact their Alive 2006/2007 world tour, has had on dance music! Comment below, on Facebook, or reply on Twitter!