Ten years later, Eric Prydz’s “Pjanoo” has stood the test of time as one of the greatest dance music anthems in the history of the genre.
When you think of house music that transforms the very fabric of the genre, no doubt one of the very first artists that comes to mind is Sweden’s own Eric Prydz. Known for his masterfully crafted productions under his own name as well as aliases Pryda, Cirez D, and, most recently, Tonja Holma, Prydz is without a doubt one of the most talented artists in the scene today. What better way to throw it back this Thursday, then, than with one of his greatest tunes – “Pjanoo”.
Ten years ago this week (March 6, 2008, to be exact), “Pjanoo” was born, and the rest, as they say, is history. Press play, and you’re instantly transported by those remarkable piano chords, the tune of which was inspired, interestingly enough, by Patrice Rushen’s super-funky “I Was Tired Of Being Alone.” Give it a listen and hear it for yourself.
The track received a promotional release on Pryda on March 17, 2008, before enjoying a full release worldwide on Ministry of Sound’s Data Records on August 25 of that year. “Pjanoo” went on to reach the number one position in the UK Dance chart and number two in the UK Singles chart, with top ten positions in the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.
“Pjanoo” also inspired a whole host of remixes by artists like Afterlife, Guy J, and High Contrast, the latter of which went on to be very well received in its own right. It even received a live performance at Ibiza Classics with Pete Tong and the Heritage Orchestra, cementing its place in the annals of dance music history. Its distinctive melody even appears in Justin Bieber’s 2013 pop smash, “Roller Coaster.”
Perhaps the most interesting thing about it, though, is that the reception when Prydz first played the track was not overwhelmingly positive – so much so that he essentially shelved the track until coming across it again some years later and playing it out to incredible reception:
“I played it in a club in northern UK in 2006. Didn’t get the reaction I thought I would, so I didn’t play it for years until I found the CD while playing at ‘Ambasadeur’ club in Stockholm. Played it for fun again and it went off. Someone filmed it and it ended up on YouTube.”
The track also has its own music video, featuring a cowboy and some pocket-sized Native Americans doing a rain dance that I can only assume was inspired by 2005’s “The Indian in the Cupboard.” But enough history – give it a listen below and bask in the glory of one of the greatest dance music tracks of all time.
Listen to Eric Prydz – Pjanoo (Club Mix) on Spotify:
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