MUSIC

The accompaniment for any dance work is essential not only in the overall viewing of a piece, but also during the creation of the choreography.

When initially choreographing  Junior Vasquez's 'The Artist Speaks' was used as an accompaniment as this was felt to be at the time the perfect soundtrack for the film as not only does the track feature up-tempo  heavy dance/club rhythmic beats, it also featured Haring himself speaking (audio clips from archived interviews etc) layered onto the track creating a further link between the choreography and Haring. 

As the choreography developed and certain sections of the choreography featured slower quirky movements it became apparent that 'The Artist Speaks' although was a great track, lacked in some areas in what was desired as an accompaniment to the movement that was being created. 

It was then that whilst searching through youtube a french band Yelle presented themselves with a strange futuristic sound in the song 'Safari Disco Club'. On listening to the first few bars of the song featuring quirky beats, it was clear that this strange and futuristic sound was the perfect partner to both the movement and overall feel that is intended of the dance film. 

For this particular project the music for the dance had to fit entirely with the concept of an avant-garde, and strange aesthetic it was felt 'Safari Disco Club' did- however it was in fact the instrumental and not lead-singer Yelle's vocals that were desired to be used as the vocals initially were felt to be too distracting.

Unfortunately an instrumental version of this song is not currently available (due to it not officially being released within the U.K.) however with the use of audio editing software chosen beats may be looped and edited in order to fit the choreography perfectly without the use of the vocal melody.
On further listening it is felt that Yelle's french tongue may in fact not distract too greatly a predominantly English speaking audience as they may not read into the lyrics and find meaning within the film during viewing, and may only intrigued into what the lyrics could possibly translate as.

Intrigued into the meaning behind the French lyrics sung within the song research into the English translation revealed that it is in fact a perfect choice for the project as the translation reveals the lyrics themselves do not make particular sense!

Abstract lyrics talk of animals dancing in a disco, poisoned apples and helium may be easily interpreted as hallucinations as a result of drug taking. The surreal lyrics mirror the visual elements of the film in the set, costume and choreography and further adds to the abstract art of the film.

Below is an  English translation of Yelle's lyrics to 'Safari Disco Club':

Verse 1

Can you see me flying away?

From up there I see you dozing off

Hang on to me, It's crazy

What we see from up here, I promise you

Chorus

Animals are dancing in the Safari Disco Club (x4)

Verse 2

I want to try everything, I want to taste,

Know how sinning tastes like

Have a bite of your poisoned apple

I'm fainting cause of helium, it's on

Click to listen to 'Safari Disco Club'

Sources:

• figure1: Anon., 2011. Safari Disco Club (Single cover by Recording Artists Yelle) [Digital image] Available at: <https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/167881_10150125638265639_8906685638_8342470_1222251_n.jpg>  [Accessed 22 February 2011] 
• lyrics for Safari Disco Club: Talesy, 2011. Safari Disco Club, Yelle: French- English. [Online] Availble at: <http://lyricstranslate.com/en/safari-disco-club-safari-disco-club.html> [accessed 22 February 2011]