Moby has stamped his influence onto a whole range of modern dance music. Although he may not have captured the dizzying heights of success that he did at the beginning of this century, the New Yorker now has an extensive catalog of hits, many of which have more than stood the test of time.
As part of the last great electronic music wave before the internet transformed how people recorded and distributed their music, Moby has sold nearly 25 million records. Although he is of a time before the internet and made his name the old-fashioned way by working in the underground music clubs of his hometown, his relevance and impact are still profound.
An Artist Adapting To A Changing World
Some industries have felt the impact of the internet more noticeably. Casino gaming, for instance, has changed enormously in a short space of time. Going from a strictly land-based endeavor to a multi-billion dollar online sector in less than 25 years. While a casino site with live tables might have different mechanics compared to the distribution and creation of music, they have both had to adapt to a world where people wish to do things online or on their phones.
It doesn’t matter if they want to play a casino game online rather than in person or opt for digital downloads or streaming rather than paying to see the performer live. It’s what the market is now; artists and advertisers can submit music directly to websites rather than dealing with a lot of the politics and red tape Moby would have inevitably had to deal with when he was a budding artist, so there are pros and cons.
That said, all of Moby’s best-loved classics came before the internet was less relevant, exemplified by some of his iconic live performances from this era, including a spellbinding 2003 headline performance at Glastonbury.
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
As one of Moby’s most recognizable music videos, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad is a song from Play (1999). It bottles up the sadness and angst that a lot of his music captured at the time.
Although music videos go through ups and downs, with some music fans believing the golden age was in the 80s and 90s and some believing it was more recent, the first thing many music fans attached to Moby is this cartoon video that accompanied one of his most defining tunes.
Bodyrock
Many of Moby’s tracks have been featured in popular media, helping to bolster him as one of the most visible electronic artists of the late 90s and early part of this century. Bodyrock is yet another track that fits into this mold, having been featured on one of the most popular sports video games, FIFA, on two occasions, more than 20 years apart.
It’s also another track from Play. While it’s been over 20 years since it first appeared on FIFA, it is widely regarded as one of the best songs ever to appear on the game and one of Moby’s best.
Extreme Ways
The only Moby song featured today that didn’t appear on Play is Extreme Ways, the lead song for the classic action film The Bourne Identity in 2002. It perfectly captures the intensity and feel of the Matt Damon movie, which became such a global success that it turned the film into a trilogy before bringing it back for another installment without the A-lister. It was not a good move.
However, the first chapter in the franchise is a phenomenal action film, and its incredible success helped to compound Moby’s presence as one of the most popular artists on the planet at the time.
Porcelain
Porcelain is arguably Moby’s most classic track. It is synonymous with the Leonardo Di Caprio film The Beach, for those of you who are fans of that film, but as a standalone track, it is one of Moby’s most critically acclaimed.
Charting in the US, the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, the melancholic, ethereal big drum sound is offset against soothing strings that complement the dreamy vocals beautifully. As arguably the standout track on Play, an album considered one of the great electronic albums of all time, Porcelain deserves a special mention whenever we discuss Moby or his broader influence on the scene.
Final Thoughts
While Moby might not have reached the heights he did at the beginning of the 21st century, the quality of his work during this period speaks volumes, and it is a testament to just how instrumental his influence has been.
Electronic music has exploded into the mainstream since then, and while this isn’t entirely down to Moby, he played a considerable part in reinvigorating the mainstream electronic sound. Other pioneers from the same New York scene, like DJ Shadow, also played their part, but few artists burst onto the scene as Moby did with Play in 1999. Not only has it become so seminal to the genre’s growth, but it has aged much better than other electronic records of the same era.
Moby has stamped his influence onto a whole range of modern dance music. Although he may not have captured the dizzying heights of success that he did at the beginning of this century, the New Yorker now has an extensive catalog of hits, many of which have more than stood the test of time.
As part of the last great electronic music wave before the internet transformed how people recorded and distributed their music, Moby has sold nearly 25 million records. Although he is of a time before the internet and made his name the old-fashioned way by working in the underground music clubs of his hometown, his relevance and impact are still profound.
An Artist Adapting To A Changing World
Some industries have felt the impact of the internet more noticeably. Casino gaming, for instance, has changed enormously in a short space of time. Going from a strictly land-based endeavor to a multi-billion dollar online sector in less than 25 years. While a casino site with live tables might have different mechanics compared to the distribution and creation of music, they have both had to adapt to a world where people wish to do things online or on their phones.
It doesn’t matter if they want to play a casino game online rather than in person or opt for digital downloads or streaming rather than paying to see the performer live. It’s what the market is now; artists and advertisers can submit music directly to websites rather than dealing with a lot of the politics and red tape Moby would have inevitably had to deal with when he was a budding artist, so there are pros and cons.
That said, all of Moby’s best-loved classics came before the internet was less relevant, exemplified by some of his iconic live performances from this era, including a spellbinding 2003 headline performance at Glastonbury.
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
As one of Moby’s most recognizable music videos, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad is a song from Play (1999). It bottles up the sadness and angst that a lot of his music captured at the time.
Although music videos go through ups and downs, with some music fans believing the golden age was in the 80s and 90s and some believing it was more recent, the first thing many music fans attached to Moby is this cartoon video that accompanied one of his most defining tunes.
Bodyrock
Many of Moby’s tracks have been featured in popular media, helping to bolster him as one of the most visible electronic artists of the late 90s and early part of this century. Bodyrock is yet another track that fits into this mold, having been featured on one of the most popular sports video games, FIFA, on two occasions, more than 20 years apart.
It’s also another track from Play. While it’s been over 20 years since it first appeared on FIFA, it is widely regarded as one of the best songs ever to appear on the game and one of Moby’s best.
Extreme Ways
The only Moby song featured today that didn’t appear on Play is Extreme Ways, the lead song for the classic action film The Bourne Identity in 2002. It perfectly captures the intensity and feel of the Matt Damon movie, which became such a global success that it turned the film into a trilogy before bringing it back for another installment without the A-lister. It was not a good move.
However, the first chapter in the franchise is a phenomenal action film, and its incredible success helped to compound Moby’s presence as one of the most popular artists on the planet at the time.
Porcelain
Porcelain is arguably Moby’s most classic track. It is synonymous with the Leonardo Di Caprio film The Beach, for those of you who are fans of that film, but as a standalone track, it is one of Moby’s most critically acclaimed.
Charting in the US, the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, the melancholic, ethereal big drum sound is offset against soothing strings that complement the dreamy vocals beautifully. As arguably the standout track on Play, an album considered one of the great electronic albums of all time, Porcelain deserves a special mention whenever we discuss Moby or his broader influence on the scene.
Final Thoughts
While Moby might not have reached the heights he did at the beginning of the 21st century, the quality of his work during this period speaks volumes, and it is a testament to just how instrumental his influence has been.
Electronic music has exploded into the mainstream since then, and while this isn’t entirely down to Moby, he played a considerable part in reinvigorating the mainstream electronic sound. Other pioneers from the same New York scene, like DJ Shadow, also played their part, but few artists burst onto the scene as Moby did with Play in 1999. Not only has it become so seminal to the genre’s growth, but it has aged much better than other electronic records of the same era.
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