"Kelly Watch the Stars"
Single by Air
from the album Moon Safari
Released4 May 1998 (1998-05-04)
Recorded1997
Genre
Length3:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jean-Benoît Dunckel
  • Nicolas Godin
Air singles chronology
"Sexy Boy"
(1998) 		"Kelly Watch the Stars"
(1998) 		"All I Need"
(1998)

"Kelly Watch the Stars" (also written "Kelly, Watch the Stars!") is a song by French electronic music duo Air from their debut studio album, Moon Safari (1998). It was released on 4 May 1998 as the album's second single.

Critical reception

The song was well received by music critics. AllMusic called the song "accessible pop."[1] Drum 'n' Bass: The Rough Guide described the song as "retro-electronics".[2] The song was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[3]

Chart performance

The song was commercially successful in the United Kingdom, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 18 on the chart dated 16 May 1998 and spending a total of three weeks in the top 50.[4] The song remains their second highest-peaking single in the UK.[4]

Music video

The music video, directed by Mike Mills,[5] drew attention due to its surreal concept.[3] It depicts a girl named Kelly playing table tennis. She is knocked unconscious, and floats into the night sky. She eventually regains consciousness, and continues to play, eventually winning the table tennis match.[6] Meanwhile, the members of Air seem to be simulating her game while playing Pong on a TV.

Live performances and media usage

The group performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2016, to promote the release of their retrospective collection Twentyears.[7][8]

A remix of the song was featured on the soundtrack for the 1999 film Splendor.[9] The song was also featured on the 2012 electronica retrospective collection "Electrospective".[10] The song was also featured in an episode of TV shows Daria and Back in Time for Dinner.[11]

Track listings

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Kelly Watch the Stars"
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 77
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[19] 12
Scotland (OCC)[20] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 18

References

  1. ^ Bush, John. "Moon Safari – Air". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Pete (1999). Drum 'n' Bass: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781858284330. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b Dimery, Robert (2016). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (5th ed.). Tristan de Lancey. ISBN 978-1-84403-392-8.
  4. ^ a b c "Air: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars (1998)". IMVDb. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Official Music Video". YouTube. Astralwerks. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ^ Pearce, Sheldon; Minsker, Evan (28 September 2016). "Watch Air Perform "Kelly Watch the Stars," Action Bronson Talk Stealing TVs on "Kimmel"". Pitchfork. Conde Nast. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  8. ^ Kaye, Ben (28 September 2016). "Air performs "Kelly Watch the Stars", Action Bronson talks food on Kimmel — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  9. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. ""Splendor" Overview". AllMusic. RhtyhmOne. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  10. ^ Kellman, Andy. ""Electrospective" Track Listing and Overview". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Air at IMDb". IMDb. amazon.com. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars" (French CD single). Air. Source/Virgin Records. 1998. 7243 8 95071 2 6.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars" (French CD maxi single). Air. Source. 1998. 7243 8 95072 2 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars" (Australian CD single). Air. Source/Virgin Records. 1998. 7243 8 95072 2 5.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars" (French 7-inch single). Air. Source. 1998. 7243 8 95071 7 1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars" (French 12-inch single). Air. Source. 1998. 7243 8 95072 6 3.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Kelly Watch the Stars" (UK cassette single). Air. Source. 1998. VSC1690.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  19. ^ "Air – Kelly Watch the Stars" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2019.

External links

Air
Authority control databases
Categories