Daft Punk – Around the World

Daft Punk was a French duo that produced various genres of electronic music, including house, disco, techno, funk, and rock. Their name originated from a bad review from their former band name, Darlin’. The reviewer stated that their music is “a daft punky thrash.”

They released four studio albums and two live albums, including:

• Homework (1997)
• Alive 1997 (Live, 1997)
• Discovery (2001)
• Human After All (2005)
• Alive 2007 (Live, 2007)
• Random Access Memories (2013)

They also created the entire score for Disney’s movie Tron: Legacy.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/1456330.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Despite repeating the same phrase 144 times throughout this song, the meaning behind the first 12 is different between each repeat and is repeated 12 times.  I’ll spend more time in section 2 explaining the significance of the number 12 and how Daft Punk summarizes the entire Bible by repeating a single phrase.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, not sure what I can do to help you.  You’ll need to put up with a song that, according to this website, exists as the most repetitive song that appeared on Billboard’s Hot 100 list.  Almost like Groot from the Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel series recording an electronic song, except with more Biblical depth.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song completely lines up with Scripture.

Before I get into the specific lyrics, allow me to lay a foundation.

The number 12 in Scripture symbolizes God’s authority and power.  Prominent examples include:

• The twelve sons of Jacob which form the twelve tribes of Israel (1 Chronicles 2:1-2).  Joseph was split into two half-tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh (Joshua 21:5).
• The twelve Apostles who were hand-picked by Jesus to become His witnesses to spread Christianity throughout the world (Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19 and Luke 6:12-16).  Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and hung himself, was replaced with Matthias (Acts 1:15-26).
• Much of the book of Revelation contains 12, including 12,000 from among twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:4-8), a woman wears a crown with 12 stars (Revelation 12:1), and New Jerusalem’s walls were 144 cubits high (12 X 12; Revelation 21:16-17).

As mentioned in section 1, Daft Punk repeats the same phrase 144 times, but only the first 12 instances contain a unique meaning.  The rest repeats.  The phrase in question is “around the world”.

Below are the 12 meanings of “around the world” as stated by Daft Punk, where God’s strength was manifested upon the earth.  He:

1. Created the world (Genesis 1:1)
2. Cursed the world due to sin (Genesis 3:17)
3. Flooded the world due to man’s wickedness (Genesis 6:11-13)
4. Filled the world with his covenantal sign to never again destroy the world by flood: a rainbow (Genesis 9:13-17).
5. Plagued Egypt so that Pharaoh would know that He is the Lord (Exodus 7:14-11:10) and that Israel could escape Pharaoh’s grasp (Exodus 14:1-31).
6. Created the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-21).
7. Proved to King Ahab that He was God and Baal was not (1 Kings 18:20-40).
8. Became one of us through the Virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-38, and Matthew 1:18-25).
9. Performed many signs and wonders during His three-year ministry (see miracles of Jesus).
10. Rose from the dead physically (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
11. Filled the Apostles and disciples of Jesus with the Holy Spirit (John 20:22 and Acts 2:4).
12. Judged the world (Almost the entire book of Revelation).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Those who do not yet know Christ will likely interpret this song wildly differently.  According to this source, possibilities include:

• The circle of life
• The monotony of daily living
• Interconnected nature of globalization within economics
• History repeats itself (those who fail to learn from it are doomed to repeat it)
• Past actions influence future decisions
• Community
• Man’s quest for meaning and purpose in life

In other words, it has nothing to do with the Bible.

This is unfortunate because Christians who listen to it will clearly visualize God’s power on the earth within each passing stanza.  It’s as though Daft Punk, just like Jesus, spoke in parables so that unbelievers would continue in disbelief (Mark 4:10-12).

Score: 0/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God and Jesus by reminding us of God’s sovereignty over the world over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over again X 12.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Daft Punk’s Around the World is an excellent song for Christians to hear. They will know for certain that throughout each passing mantra, they are hearing Biblical truths about God’s might in the past, present, and future.  He created, shaped, molded, and judged the world.  He performed signs and wonders so that folks would follow Him.  These bring Him glory.  However, those who don’t belong to Him are dull in hearing.  They will think this song is about daft things (see what I did there?) such as daily living, community, and the purpose of life.  I assure you it’s not.

In terms of corporate worship, consider turning your worship service into a rave party and include this banger at the top of your roster.  If your congregation happens to be seeker-sensitive, there is a fine line between drawing people and helping them learn Biblical truth.  You will draw them with this song, but you’ll also confuse the crud out of them by teaching them about philosophy instead of Scripture.  You might want to go with Tequilla instead.

Final Score: ∞/10

Artist Info

Track: Around the World (listen to the song)

Artist: Daft Punk

Album: Homework

Genre: Electronic

Release Year: 1997

Duration: 7:10

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