Oxygene
Encyclopedia
Oxygène is an album
of instrumental
electronic music
composed, produced, and performed by the French
composer Jean Michel Jarre
. It was first released in France
in December 1976, on Disques Dreyfus
with license to Polydor. The album's international release was in summer 1977. Jarre recorded the album in his home using a variety of analog synthesizer
s and other electronic instruments and effects. It became a bestseller and was highly influential in the development of electronic music. It is Jarre's first mainstream success, and can be seen as his first real artist album. It has been described as the album that "led the synthesizer revolution of the Seventies."
. The painting showed the Earth peeling to reveal a skull and Jarre obtained the artist's permission to use the image for this album.
Jarre composed Oxygène over a period of eight months using a number of analogue synthesizers and an eight-track recorder
set up in the kitchen of his apartment.
However, he found it difficult to get the record released, not least because it had "No singers, no proper [track] titles, just 'I', 'II', 'III', 'IV', 'V' and 'VI'".
The motif of the track Oxygène IV is a variation on a phrase from Popcorn
by Gershon Kingsley
, which Jarre himself had previously covered under the pseudonyms of The Popcorn Orchestra and Jamie Jefferson.
He eventually found a publisher, Francis Dreyfus, head of Disques Motors (now Disques Dreyfus
). Dreyfus was the husband of one of Jarre's fellow-pupils at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales of Pierre Schaeffer
, where Jarre had learned to use synthesizers, including the EMS VCS 3
, which was to play a major part in the music of Oxygène. Although Dreyfus was initially skeptical of electronic music, he gambled by pressing a run of 50,000 copies. The album went on to sell 15 million copies.
In 1997, Jarre produced a sequel album called Oxygène 7–13. This refers to the original album as being the first six movements from a larger complete piece of work, despite the time difference between the release of the two albums. It was written in the same style and using some of the same instruments, although the work is much more uptempo. Jarre was clear about not trying to copy the mood or atmosphere from the original album, but using the same work approach to "create a mood later".
In 2007, Jarre produced a new version of the album, recorded live on a stage, but with no audience, for a DVD release that included 3D
video. The title of the new DVD CD set is Oxygène: Live in Your Living Room, with the enhanced CD being called Oxygène: New Master Recording
. He used the same instruments, but performed the work with three other collaborators (Dominique Perrier, Francis Rimbert and Claude Samard), rather than overdubbing all parts himself.
Parts of the album were used as incidental music for the original radio version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
.
The track "Oxygène (Part I)" was used in the film documentary entitled Palawan : Le Dernier Refuge on the life of oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau
.
The track "Oxygène (Part II)" was used in the Australian film Gallipoli
to accompany the crucial running sequences.
The track "Oxygène (Part II)" (the fugue part beginning from 1:36) was used as an alternative title theme for the British sci-fi TV series Space: 1999
in the German dubbed version as shown by the ZDF
during the late 1970s.
"Oxygène (Part II)" was used in the introductory scenes of Cosmos by Carl Sagan
when it was first aired in the Brazilian Television in 1981.
"Oxygène (Part II)" was used in the advert for the Citroën C5
in 2001.
"Oxygène (Part II)" also appears in Jackie Chan
's movie Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
while the main character is training "snake" style.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" was used as the theme tune for the UK medical series Where There's Life, broadcast between 1981 and 1989, and presented by Dr. Miriam Stoppard
.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" also appears in UK comedy series Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridges second episode as magician Tony LeMesmer (David Schneider
) performs a magic trick on Partridge's show.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" appeared as the theme music for the Phoenix from the Flames
feature during the 1998 World Cup
series of Fantasy Football League
on ITV
, complete with Frank Skinner
and David Baddiel
singing the words "Phoenix from the Flames" over the instrumental. (ITV used another Jean Michel Jarre piece, Fourth Rendez-Vous for their main football coverage during this World Cup).
"Oxygène (Part IV)" was used in the first episode of Hardy Bucks when The Boo was dressed as Superman in a lookalike competition.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" is also used in Mega Crane novelty claw machines manufactured by Elaut.
It has been used in television station interstitials and station identifications, such as Canadian television station CBXT
in the early 1980s accompanied by a spinning CBC logo on a black background, primarily before the end of the broadcast day.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" was played during the closing credits of the BBC documentary Micro Men
.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" featured on the soundtrack of 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV
.
"Oxygène (Part I)" is used prominently in the "Adventure Call" sketches of Limmy's Show
. "Oxygène (Part IV)" is also used briefly at the start of each sketch.
Key components of Jarre's sound included his use of the Electro-Harmonix
Small Stone phaser on synthetic string pads provided by the Dutch-built Eminent-310 Unique organ, and liberal use of echo on various sound effects generated by the VCS 3 and EMS Synthi AKS
synthesizers.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
of instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
composed, produced, and performed by the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
composer Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
. It was first released in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in December 1976, on Disques Dreyfus
Disques Dreyfus
Disques Dreyfus is a record label which is currently home to artists such as Klement Julienne. Jean Michel Jarre was part of the label for more than 20 years.Francis Dreyfus founded Disque Dreyfus in 1985...
with license to Polydor. The album's international release was in summer 1977. Jarre recorded the album in his home using a variety of analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
s and other electronic instruments and effects. It became a bestseller and was highly influential in the development of electronic music. It is Jarre's first mainstream success, and can be seen as his first real artist album. It has been described as the album that "led the synthesizer revolution of the Seventies."
Track listing
- Written and arranged by Jean Michel Jarre.
- "Oxygène (Part I)" – 7:40
- "Oxygène (Part II)" – 8:08
- "Oxygène (Part III)" – 2:55
- "Oxygène (Part IV)" – 4:14
- "Oxygène (Part V)" – 10:23
- "Oxygène (Part VI)" – 6:20
History
Prior to 1976, Jarre had dabbled in a number of projects, including an unsuccessful synthesizer music album, advertising jingles and compositions for a ballet. His inspiration for Oxygène came from a painting by the artist Michel Granger that was given to him by his future wife Charlotte RamplingCharlotte Rampling
Charlotte Rampling, OBE is an English actress. Her career spans four decades in English-language as well as French and Italian cinema.- Early life :...
. The painting showed the Earth peeling to reveal a skull and Jarre obtained the artist's permission to use the image for this album.
Jarre composed Oxygène over a period of eight months using a number of analogue synthesizers and an eight-track recorder
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
set up in the kitchen of his apartment.
However, he found it difficult to get the record released, not least because it had "No singers, no proper [track] titles, just 'I', 'II', 'III', 'IV', 'V' and 'VI'".
The motif of the track Oxygène IV is a variation on a phrase from Popcorn
Popcorn (instrumental)
"Popcorn" is an early electronic pop instrumental, originally composed by Gershon Kingsley in 1969 on his album Music to Moog By. The same year this tune was released and recorded at Audio Fidelity Records label in New York City....
by Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley a contemporary German American composer, is well known as a pioneer of electronic music and the Moog synthesizer and founder of the First Moog Quartet, as a partner in the famous electronic music duo Perrey and Kingsley, and for his rock-inspired compositions for Jewish religious...
, which Jarre himself had previously covered under the pseudonyms of The Popcorn Orchestra and Jamie Jefferson.
He eventually found a publisher, Francis Dreyfus, head of Disques Motors (now Disques Dreyfus
Disques Dreyfus
Disques Dreyfus is a record label which is currently home to artists such as Klement Julienne. Jean Michel Jarre was part of the label for more than 20 years.Francis Dreyfus founded Disque Dreyfus in 1985...
). Dreyfus was the husband of one of Jarre's fellow-pupils at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales of Pierre Schaeffer
Pierre Schaeffer
Pierre Henri Marie Schaeffer was a French composer, writer, broadcaster, engineer, musicologist and acoustician of the 20th century. His innovative work in both the sciences —particularly communications and acoustics— and the various arts of music, literature and radio presentation after the end...
, where Jarre had learned to use synthesizers, including the EMS VCS 3
EMS VCS 3
The VCS 3 is a portable analog synthesiser with a flexible semi-modular voice architecture, by Electronic Music Studios Limited in 1969....
, which was to play a major part in the music of Oxygène. Although Dreyfus was initially skeptical of electronic music, he gambled by pressing a run of 50,000 copies. The album went on to sell 15 million copies.
In 1997, Jarre produced a sequel album called Oxygène 7–13. This refers to the original album as being the first six movements from a larger complete piece of work, despite the time difference between the release of the two albums. It was written in the same style and using some of the same instruments, although the work is much more uptempo. Jarre was clear about not trying to copy the mood or atmosphere from the original album, but using the same work approach to "create a mood later".
In 2007, Jarre produced a new version of the album, recorded live on a stage, but with no audience, for a DVD release that included 3D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
video. The title of the new DVD CD set is Oxygène: Live in Your Living Room, with the enhanced CD being called Oxygène: New Master Recording
Oxygene: New Master Recording
Oxygène: New Master Recording, also known as Oxygène New Master Recording 2007 and Oxygène , is a new recording of an album by Jean Michel Jarre released in 2007, marking the 30th anniversary of the worldwide release of his album Oxygène, and is Jarre's fourteenth studio album...
. He used the same instruments, but performed the work with three other collaborators (Dominique Perrier, Francis Rimbert and Claude Samard), rather than overdubbing all parts himself.
The album
Oxygène consists of six tracks, numbered simply Oxygène Part I to VI. Its sound has been described as "an infectious combination of bouncy, bubbling analog sequences and memorable hook lines." The album reached #2 in the UK charts and #78 in the US charts.Usage elsewhere
Various tracks from "Oxygène" were used to score the 1980 Swedish film Barnens ö.Parts of the album were used as incidental music for the original radio version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
.
The track "Oxygène (Part I)" was used in the film documentary entitled Palawan : Le Dernier Refuge on the life of oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water...
.
The track "Oxygène (Part II)" was used in the Australian film Gallipoli
Gallipoli (1981 film)
Gallipoli is a 1981 Australian film, directed by Peter Weir and starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee, about several young men from rural Western Australia who enlist in the Australian Army during the First World War. They are sent to Turkey, where they take part in the Gallipoli Campaign. During the...
to accompany the crucial running sequences.
The track "Oxygène (Part II)" (the fugue part beginning from 1:36) was used as an alternative title theme for the British sci-fi TV series Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
in the German dubbed version as shown by the ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
during the late 1970s.
"Oxygène (Part II)" was used in the introductory scenes of Cosmos by Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books...
when it was first aired in the Brazilian Television in 1981.
"Oxygène (Part II)" was used in the advert for the Citroën C5
Citroën C5
The Citroën C5 is a large family car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën since early 2001. The C5 replaced the Citroën Xantia in the large family car class.-First generation :...
in 2001.
"Oxygène (Part II)" also appears in Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
's movie Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Yuen Woo-ping his directorial debut, who has since gained international stardom as the action choreographer for films such as Iron Monkey, Fist of Legend, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix series, Kill...
while the main character is training "snake" style.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" was used as the theme tune for the UK medical series Where There's Life, broadcast between 1981 and 1989, and presented by Dr. Miriam Stoppard
Miriam Stoppard
Miriam Stoppard OBE , is a British doctor, author, television presenter and agony aunt.- Early life and medical career :...
.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" also appears in UK comedy series Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridges second episode as magician Tony LeMesmer (David Schneider
David Schneider (actor)
David Schneider is an English actor and comedian.Schneider studied modern languages at the University of Oxford, and studied for a DPhil in Yiddish Drama. During his time at university, Schneider performed a predominantly physical comedy act that contrasted with the trend towards stand-up comedy...
) performs a magic trick on Partridge's show.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" appeared as the theme music for the Phoenix from the Flames
Phoenix from the Flames
Phoenix from the Flames was a regular feature on the BBC/ITV show Fantasy Football League, which involved presenters David Baddiel and Frank Skinner recreating a famous moment from footballing history with one of the people involved at the time....
feature during the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
series of Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League is a British television programme hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The Programme began on BBC Radio 5 and was hosted by Dominik Diamond before transferring to BBC 2, with three series being broadcast from January 1994 to May 1996...
on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, complete with Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
and David Baddiel
David Baddiel
David Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, novelist and television presenter.-Early life:Baddiel was born in New York, and moved to England when he was four months old. His father, Colin Brian Baddiel, was a Welsh research chemist with Unilever before being made redundant in the 1980s, after...
singing the words "Phoenix from the Flames" over the instrumental. (ITV used another Jean Michel Jarre piece, Fourth Rendez-Vous for their main football coverage during this World Cup).
"Oxygène (Part IV)" was used in the first episode of Hardy Bucks when The Boo was dressed as Superman in a lookalike competition.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" is also used in Mega Crane novelty claw machines manufactured by Elaut.
It has been used in television station interstitials and station identifications, such as Canadian television station CBXT
CBXT
CBXT-DT is the television call sign for the CBC's television station in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.- History :The station first went on-air on October 1, 1961 as Edmonton's second television station; the previous CBC affiliate, CFRN, switched to the newly-established CTV on the same day. Initially,...
in the early 1980s accompanied by a spinning CBC logo on a black background, primarily before the end of the broadcast day.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" was played during the closing credits of the BBC documentary Micro Men
Micro Men
Micro Men is a one-off BBC drama television show set in the late 1970s and 1980s, about the rise of the British home computer market, particularly the rivalry between Sir Clive Sinclair who developed the ZX Spectrum, and Chris Curry - the man behind the BBC Micro; played by Alexander Armstrong and...
.
"Oxygène (Part IV)" featured on the soundtrack of 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
.
"Oxygène (Part I)" is used prominently in the "Adventure Call" sketches of Limmy's Show
Limmy's Show
Limmy's Show is a Scottish comedy sketch show written, animated and directed by Brian Limond. The show stars Brian Limond, Ryan Fletcher, Paul McCole,Alan McHugh and Kirstin McLean...
. "Oxygène (Part IV)" is also used briefly at the start of each sketch.
Key components of Jarre's sound included his use of the Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. They are most famous for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s....
Small Stone phaser on synthetic string pads provided by the Dutch-built Eminent-310 Unique organ, and liberal use of echo on various sound effects generated by the VCS 3 and EMS Synthi AKS
EMS Synthi AKS
The EMS Synthi A, first available in May 1971, and then in March 1972 a version of it with a built-in keyboard and sequencer, the EMS Synthi AKS, a portable modular analog synthesiser made by EMS of England. Most notable for its patch pin matrix, its functions and internal design are similar to the...
synthesizers.
Cover versions
- Hank MarvinHank MarvinHank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
covered "Oxygène (Part IV)" on his 1993 album Heartbeat. - HipnosisHipnosisHipnosis , were an Italian synthpop group, best remembered for their cover of Vangelis' track "Pulstar", which went Top 10 in Germany and Top 20 in Switzerland in 1983...
covered "Oxygène (Part IV)" on their 1983 single Oxigene (also known as Disco Mix).
Personnel
- Jean Michel Jarre – ARPARP Instruments, Inc.ARP Instruments, Inc. was an American manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. Best known for its line of synthesizers that emerged in the early 1970s, ARP closed its doors in 1981 due to financial difficulties...
Synthesizer, EMS Synthi AKSEMS Synthi AKSThe EMS Synthi A, first available in May 1971, and then in March 1972 a version of it with a built-in keyboard and sequencer, the EMS Synthi AKS, a portable modular analog synthesiser made by EMS of England. Most notable for its patch pin matrix, its functions and internal design are similar to the...
, VCS 3 Synthesizer, RMI Harmonic SynthesizerRocky Mount InstrumentsRocky Mount Instruments or RMI was a subsidiary of the Allen Organ Company, established in about 1966. It was based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina...
, FarfisaFarfisaFarfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
Professional Organ, Eminent 310U, MellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
and the Rhythmin' Computer (later revealed to be a KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
Minipops-7 rhythm machine)
Production
- Produced by Jean Michel Jarre
- Engineered and mixed by Jean-Pierre Janiaud; assistant engineer: Patrick Foulon
- Mastered by Scott Hull
External links
- Oxygène at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Oxygène and Oxygène: New Master Recording at JarreUK