Force Majeure

Album: Escapades (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Gaspard Augé is one half of the French electronic duo Justice. He recorded this cinematic-sounding instrumental for his debut solo album, Escapades.
  • "Force Maure" means irresistible compulsion or superior strength, making this an apt choice for BBC's official theme song throughout the Euro 2020 soccer tournament. Indeed, Augé told BBC News he made the track with a sporting event - such as a boxing fight or a football match - in mind.

    "Just this kind of survivor feel to it, something very epic, like when something is about to happen," he said. "[I wanted] to create some kind of feeling of invincibility, like when you're walking on the street and listening to a track and you feel really pumped up. And I guess it definitely works for the Euros."
  • Filip Nilsson directed the song's music video. Filmed in Turkey, it shows Augé playing "Force Majeure" on a huge drum kit as cymbals are manufactured around him. "We were really attracted by the epic visual appeal of cymbal making: bronze, fire, hammers - something almost mythological and elemental like Vulcan or the Nibelungen," Augeì said. "We chose Bosphorus Cymbals in Turkey because they had this very traditional process that barely changed in centuries. In this video I am just a link in the chain of production and quality control, after all these cymbals have been melted, hand hammered, and lathed into a musical object."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?