Flat Beat

"Flat Beat"
Single by Mr. Oizo
from the album Analog Worms Attack
B-side
  • "Monday Massacre"
  • "Sick Dog Try to Speak"
Released 22 March 1999
Format
Recorded 1998
Genre Electro-house[1][2]
Length 5:25
Label F Communications
Songwriter(s) Mr. Oizo
Producer(s) Mr. Oizo
Mr. Oizo singles chronology
"Analog Worms Attack"
(1999)		 "Flat Beat"
(1999)		 "Last Night a DJ Killed a Dog"
(2000)

"Analog Worms Attack"
(1999)		 "Flat Beat"
(1999)		 "Last Night a DJ Killed a Dog"
(2000)
Music video
"Flat Beat" on YouTube

"Flat Beat" is an instrumental by French musician Mr. Oizo. It was released on 22 March 1999 through F Communications and featured as a bonus track on his debut studio album Analog Worms Attack. An accompanying music video was released on VHS. The music video features Flat Eric, a puppet, head banging to the track. Widely publicized by Flat Eric's appearance in many commercials for Levi's and the popularity of the music video, the track peaked at number five on the French Singles Chart.

Background

In an interview with XLR8R magazine, Dupieux stated that it took him only two hours with a Korg MS-20 to produce. The song is mainly composed of a repeated bassline, and it samples "Put Your Love in My Tender Care" by The Fatback Band. The song was an international success in Europe, topping the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.[3] The track is instrumental, and is one of only twenty-five instrumental singles to top the charts in the latter country.[4]

In September 2005, Stylus Magazine included the track's bassline at number 13 in their list of the "Top 50 Basslines of All Time".[5]

Music video

A still from the music video

Prior to the "Flat Beat", Dupieux created Flat Eric, a fictional puppet character, from Levi's commercials for Sta-Prest One Crease Denim Clothing, built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.[6] The popularity of the commercials lead to a music video for the song being created, also featuring Flat Eric.

The music video for "Flat Beat" was directed by Quentin Dupieux and released alongside the single release. The video was released on VHS and later on digital download services and YouTube on the official F Communications channel. The video was listed in Maxim's list of Best Puppets in a Music Video.[7]

On the topic of music videos in 2016, Dupieux stated that "music videos are annoying and useless. When YouTube forces me to watch one, you usually get bored after 20 seconds, even if the music is cool".[8]

Formats and track listings

CD single – UK
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat" (Radio Edit)4:00
2."Flat Beat"5:25
3."Monday Massacre"3:36
12" single – UK
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat"5:25
2."Monday Massacre"3:36
3."Sick Dog Try to Speak"3:36
4."Flat Beat" (Radio Edit)4:00
12" single – France
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat"5:25
2."Monday Massacre"3:36
3."Sick Dog Try to Speak"3:36
VHS
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat"3:06

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[28] Gold 25,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[29] Gold 5000[29]
Germany (BVMI)[30] Platinum 500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Platinum 600,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "DISCOVER THE STORY BEHIND MR. OZIO'S WORLDWIDE HIT 'FLAT BEAT'". 24 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sander van Doorn's label is releasing a track that sounds like 'Flat Beat' – and Mr. Oizo is not happy - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". 7 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 632. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Siegler, Dylan (April 2000). "Mr. Oizo". CMJ New Music. College Music Journal (80): 39. ISSN 1074-6978.
  5. ↑ "Stylus magazine's Top 50 Bassline of All Time". Stylus Magazine.
  6. ↑ "Entertainment | Flat Eric's cruise to the top". BBC News. 1999-03-20. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Best Puppets in a Music Video". Maxim. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "The 10 best music videos of 2016 – and the stories behind them". Fact. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "ariaNET The Chart! Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 5th July 1999 (71–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 488)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2017-05-02. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak achieved.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  13. ↑ Danish peak. 1999-06-19. Retrieved 2012-07-17 – via Google Books.
  14. ↑ "Mr. Oizo: Flat Beat" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  15. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in French). Les classement single.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  17. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Top Annuali Single: 1999". Hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mr. Oizo" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  19. ↑ "Charts.nz – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". Top 40 Singles.
  20. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". VG-lista.
  21. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. ↑ Billboard: Hits of the World, May 22, 1999. 1999-05-22. Retrieved 2012-07-17 – via Google Books.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". Singles Top 100.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  27. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Mr. Oizo in the field Interpret. Enter Flat Beat in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  29. 1 2 "Mr. Oizo" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  30. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Mr. Oizo; 'Flat Beat')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  31. ↑ "British single certifications – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Flat Beat in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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