David Guetta: Keeping An Eye On An Icon
Richie Adomako / March 03, 2010
2009 was a big year for David Guetta, and in 2010 we are still feeling the effects of it. In French, Guetta means to “keep an eye on, watch for.” (To the record industry, Guetta means top-ten, multi-platinum records and versatility between a DJ who is as successful in front of an audience as he is behind the scenes as a producer.) The French superstar DJ and Grammy Award winner came to New York City on February 24th for a set at Pacha that fueled a chaos-of-a-party. Pacha doesn’t open on Wednesdays, yet it was packed. If that weren’t enough, the number one house DJ (also ranked third overall world-wide by the DJ List) arrived with friends in tow – sending the already excited crowd into a frenzy. Between collaborations with Akon, Kelly Rowland, Estelle and will.i.am. and hits from his 2009 album One Love, the creator of the “Fuck Me I’m Famous” moniker and tour has taken on an icon status.
Check out photos from the night by Oliver Correa and Click through for more and Guetta’s latest music video, “Memories” featuring Kid Cudi.
Well before his set, the crowd screamed for his appearance. The convulsion started with will.i.am, who set the stage and the decks for Guetta. When Guetta stepped into the DJ booth, the crowd moved forward like a wave in the ocean; going back and forth for a footing to get closer. Every inch of floor space was taken. Bouncing off each-other, Guetta and will.i.am went back and forth in a collaboration that included Bloody Beetroot’s “Cornelius,” and Justice’s “We are your friends,” among others, as the audience exploded into excitement and sang along with every word.
When Guetta played “American Boy,” Estelle was on hand to sing a verse. When he dropped a song by the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie and will.i.am were there to hype-up the crowd. Beyond that, the eclectic choice of mixes would have satisfied a variety of audiences. When he threw on AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” he set the night off at new pace. The audience went wild as he stretched the underlying treble and held it to an apex. He then let it go and dropped the bass as he went into some Benny Banassi while a gush of air and fog hit the audience, adding to to the experience. With the flux of crazy beats on many different levels and directions, the night accentuated the particular sound Guetta has created over his career. Along the way, will.i.am and Swizz Beats jumped on the set and free-styled on the microphone. When the accolades in support – including Lil Cee, Dj BeatBreaker, Armand Van Helden and others – became too much, Guetta pulled the plug and cleared the booth. There’s nothing better than a DJ mixing and having the vocal artist present, but it was Guetta’s showcase and he had to claim the stage. At four in the morning, he announced it was midnight again in Paris, adding “the party is just starting.” Pacha was still packed, and in fervor, the audience couldn’t have asked for more as he unleashed some serious house on them – this is what brought him there.
Capitalizing on his exposure (and why wouldn’t he?), Guetta is still able to demonstrate feasibility behind the decks that only comes with experience. He is self-aware and rules his crowd – who cling on to every word and beat he throws their way. While favoritism may differ between the “house” Guetta and the “radio” Guetta, his ability to reach the charts as the number one house DJ while providing top-ten tracks on the Billboard Charts is of a triumph that only several producers can claim, let alone DJs.
From his audience to artists and his peers alike, Guetta commands a level of respect that is admirable in any career. When the mist and fog of the night cleared inside Pacha, it was Guetta that brought the masses in the room together. At the end of the night, the plethora of songs he played could keep a play-list going for a year, but it also became apparent how many songs David Guetta has produced.
It was clear in the crowd’s interaction and reactions that the show was definitely something they would be talking about for a month… because what good is a party if the music isn’t stellar?
For Guetta’s latest mix and compilation from his Fuck Me I’m Famous series (released 02-21-2010), Click Here.
