King of Clubs

A ruler of the French club music scene, DAVID GUETTA, conquers the American charts

By Lavinia Jones Wright

As will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo liberally apply blacklight paint to their faces, Fergie liberally applies herself to fellow female partygoers. Then the lights go out and things really get nasty. It's a dream party ripped from the hopeful psyche of every young raver as they slather on their eyeliner and shimmy into their skin tight lycra, and it's playing out in the video for the Black Eyed Peas superhit "I Gotta Feeling."And if you pause the debauchery at various moments, you can catch flashes of the foppishly blond, grinning Frenchman in a stylish red jacket who is responsible for the track's rhythmic ear candy.

David Guetta is, at 42, still adorably boyish. A DJ who made a name for himself spinning house music in the 1980's and 90's, first in his native France, and eventually all over the world, Guetta's jumping, ecstatic presence in the video for "I Gotta Feeling"is the perfect visual representation of his real life, deeply and blissfully rooted in the party scene. It is also metaphor for his influence in the music. Production-wise, David Guetta's gleeful mark is all over "I Gotta Feeling,"and all over every track he crafts. He dances through the videos for his hits as his production dances around the artists' vocals. He is both physically and symbolically the man behind some of today's biggest hits.

By turning from DJ to pop star, Guetta has achieved pop music alchemy. He now manages to be, simultaneously, a smart, hitmaking songwriter and the king of the underground club scene. Guetta crafts club music that the radio loves and pop music that is entrancing on the dance floor. Aside from masterminding the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling,"his 2009 album One Love held the summertime smash "When Love Takes Over,"featuring Kelly Rowland's powerful pipes, the sultry, oiled-up chart-topper "Sexy Bitch,"helmed by Akon's distinct vocals and Kid Cudi's drink-to-forget hit "Memories."

So how exactly did a house music DJ from Europe make some of the biggest U.S party hits of the past year? "Maybe it's because he travels the world so much that he is so in tune with people and what moves them,"speculates Christophe Piot, head of All Right Music, who heads up What A Publishing Ltd. and has worked with Guetta's European publishing since his debut album, Just a Little More Love, was released in 2001. "His music reflects his positive mind, happiness and energy. The sound is amazing, always unique, and the melodies are beautiful."

One of the keys to Guetta's success has been his understanding of how a song is what makes the party. His music is hopeful and fun because he understands that that is what people want to hear when they go out at night. David Guetta loves to party, so he knows why everyone else loves to party, too. And he creates the perfect soundtrack.

Within Guetta's hits are recurring themes spinof anticipation. "Tonight's gonna be a good night" is the refrain that holds "I Gotta Feeling"together at the seams, and Kid Cudi espouses the fortune cookie-worthy motto "all the crazy sh*t I did tonight, those will be the best memories"repeatedly in "Memories."The thematic backbone of Guetta's songs is crazy, reckless fun, something everyone can relate to wanting.

Another facet of Guetta's success is his collaborative spirit. Proving that too many cooks do not, in fact, have to spoil the pot, he has worked with songwriting partner Frederic Riesterer for years on some of his biggest hits. And in addition to the Peas, Rowland, Cudi and Akon, Guetta has helmed tracks for Britney Spears, Lil Wayne, Kelis, Madonna, Estelle and Shakira, among others.

Another element in modern hitmaking, not nearly as exciting as the stars and the parties that Guetta, nonetheless, seems to have well in hand is publishing. Breaking worldwide is no longer about physical distribution of your records, it's about landing great placements for your music and managing your publishing catalog smartly. Having a sharp and supportive publishing team is paramount in building a successful music career in the new, immediate-minded music industry. Expert U.S. publishing house Shapiro Bernstein is currently cooperating with Guetta's What A Publishing and Reisterer's Rister Editions to administer the pair's works worldwide, creating a dynamic team covering all the bases. Says Piot of the cooperative spirit between the companies, "I've known Shapiro Bernstein for nearly 20 years. They are crucial in our U.S. development, thanks to their creative attitude, sync department and perfect administration."

Guetta's trifecta of world travel, business savvy and eagerness to fold his pop star friends' ideas and sounds into his music is, according to Piot, a good example for other European artists looking to break. "From a European perspective, we have to think global,"say Piot. "We have to travel more, collaborate with foreign artists and adapt ourselves. This is what David does."

As Kelly Rowland pensively strolls the beach, her draping dress flying in the breeze, Guetta pushes a rickety rolling cart loaded with turntables and speakers up a sloping California street. She may be the voice on the track and the first face you see in the video for "When Love Takes Over,"but it is Guetta's message she's broadcasting. Turntables set and bonfire lit, the breakdancing and metrical jumping can finally start. It's a similar scene in the video for "Sexy Bitch;"the skimpily clad pool party really starts when Guetta arrives and Akon drags him fully clothed into the pool. And headphones askew, Guetta leads the crowd jumping behind Kid Cudi in the video for "Memories."Everyone knows to follow Guetta. This is his party.