Music Review: Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams "Get Lucky"

Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

Get Lucky

Album: Random Access Memories

Year: 2013

       Pharrell Williams and his ex-girlfriend spend all night together in the glassy “Get Lucky.”

        Suave synths open the single, setting a crafty one. He checked the time on the washing machine. There was about 20 minutes to go. From the window, he spotted a woman getting out of her car with a basketful of laundry.  Her long blonde hair, streaked with hot pink, caught his eye right away. He had known one other woman who did that and it was his ex-girlfriend. He keeps his eye on her as she walks through the door and scans the room for an available washer. He’s thought about her a lot during the last six months. He figures now is his second chance and greets her. (“Like the legend of the phoenix/All ends with beginnings/What keeps the planet spinning/The force from the beginning.”)

          In the chorus, he offers her the chair next to him and helps her sort her laundry. Much of his identity is intertwined with hers.  She was the one he lost his virginity to and got him his first job.  After small talk, along with some roundabout questions to find out if there’s a new, they get over the awkwardness and begin talking about their personal lives. They exchange numbers and plan to meet up later. While at dinner, he confesses that he has missed her and makes a toast to new beginnings. He takes her back to his place. In between sips of wine, they kiss and talk about what could be. He hopes to lead her to his bed and end the night by sleeping with her. (“We've come too far/To give up who we are/So let's raise the bar/And our cups to the stars/She's up all night 'til the sun/I'm up all night to get some/She's up all night for good fun/I'm up all night to get lucky/We're up all night 'til the sun/We're up all night to get some/We're up all night for good fun/We're up all night to get lucky We're up all night to get lucky We're up all night to get lucky We're up all night to get lucky/ We're up all night to get lucky.”)

            She shakes her hips to the music he put on as she gets more wine. He bursts out laughing and she kicks her foot up and winks at him. He’s falling for her all over again. While he would like her to stay the night with him, he would be okay with her calling a cab. (“The present has no ribbon/Your gift keeps on giving/What is this I'm feeling?/If you want to leave, I'm wit' it.”)

            The chorus is sung again.

            In the bridge, Guy Manuel de Homen-Cristo and Thomas Bangalter   (Daft Punk) reiterate Pharrell’s verses. (“We’re up all night to get /We’re up all night to get/We’re up all night to get /We’re up all night to get/We’re up all night to get back together/We’re up all night (let’s get back together!)/We’re up all night to get funky/We’re up all night to get lucky
We’re up all night to get lucky/We’re up all night to get lucky/We’re up all night to get lucky/We’re up all night to get lucky/We’re up all night to get luck/ We’re up all night to get lucky/We’re up all night to get lucky/We’re up all night to get lucky.”)

             The chorus is sung again.

            Williams’ repeats “we’re up all night to get lucky” four times to end the single.

            Williams’ meek, placating vocals are shriveled, withering against the pressure to perform.  Daft Punk intervenes during the bridge, heating the single up a bit. However, it’s not enough to ignite the sexual innuendo.

       The asexual “Get Lucky” sets up a titillating scenario and then fails to arouse interest.