Flat Beat

"Flat Beat" is an instrumental by French musician Mr. Oizo. It was released on 22 March 1999 through F Communications and featured as a bonus track on his debut studio album Analog Worms Attack. An accompanying music video was released on VHS. The music video features Flat Eric, a puppet, head banging to the track.

"Flat Beat"
Single by Mr. Oizo
from the album Analog Worms Attack
B-side
  • "Monday Massacre"
  • "Sick Dog Try to Speak"
Released22 March 1999
Recorded1998
GenreElectro house[1][2]
Length5:25
LabelF Communications
Songwriter(s)Mr. Oizo
Producer(s)Mr. Oizo
Mr. Oizo singles chronology
"Analog Worms Attack"
(1999)		 "Flat Beat"
(1999)		 "Last Night a DJ Killed a Dog"
(2000)
Music video
"Flat Beat" on YouTube

Widely publicized by Flat Eric's appearance in many commercials for Levi's and the popularity of the music video, the track peaked at number five on the French Singles Chart and reached number one in Austria, Flemish Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "Flat Beat" at number 175 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[3]

Background

In an interview with XLR8R magazine, Quentin Dupieux stated that it took him only two hours with a Korg MS-20 to produce. The song is mainly composed of a repeated bassline, and it samples "Put Your Love in My Tender Care" by The Fatback Band. The song was an international success in Europe, topping the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.[4]

The track is instrumental, and is one of only twenty-five instrumental singles to top the charts in the latter country.[5] In September 2005, Stylus Magazine included the track's bassline at number 13 in their list of the "Top 50 Basslines of All Time".[6]

Music video
A still from the music video

Prior to the "Flat Beat", Dupieux created Flat Eric, a fictional puppet character, from Levi's commercials for Sta-Prest One Crease Denim Clothing, built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.[7] The popularity of the commercials lead to a music video for the song being created, also featuring Flat Eric.

The music video for "Flat Beat" was directed by Quentin Dupieux and released alongside the single release. The video was released on VHS and later on digital download services and YouTube on the official F Communications channel. The video was listed in Maxim's list of Best Puppets in a Music Video.[8]

On the topic of music videos in 2016, Dupieux stated that "music videos are annoying and useless. When YouTube forces me to watch one, you usually get bored after 20 seconds, even if the music is cool".[9]

Formats and track listings
CD single – UK
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat" (Radio Edit)4:00
2."Flat Beat"5:25
3."Monday Massacre"3:36
12" single – UK
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat"5:25
2."Monday Massacre"3:36
3."Sick Dog Try to Speak"3:36
4."Flat Beat" (Radio Edit)4:00
12" single – France
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat"5:25
2."Monday Massacre"3:36
3."Sick Dog Try to Speak"3:36
VHS
No.TitleLength
1."Flat Beat"3:06

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[45] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[46] Platinum 50,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[47] Gold 5000[47]
Germany (BVMI)[48] Platinum 500,000^
Sweden (GLF)[49] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Platinum 600,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. "DISCOVER THE STORY BEHIND MR. OZIO'S WORLDWIDE HIT 'FLAT BEAT'". 24 October 2016.
  2. "Sander van Doorn's label is releasing a track that sounds like 'Flat Beat' – and Mr. Oizo is not happy - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". 7 January 2015.
  3. "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 632. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. Siegler, Dylan (April 2000). "Mr. Oizo". CMJ New Music. College Music Journal (80): 39. ISSN 1074-6978.
  6. "Stylus magazine's Top 50 Bassline of All Time". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 2015-08-29. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  7. "Entertainment | Flat Eric's cruise to the top". BBC News. 1999-03-20. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  8. "Best Puppets in a Music Video". Maxim. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  9. "The 10 best music videos of 2016 – and the stories behind them". Fact. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  10. "ariaNET The Chart! Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 5th July 1999 (71–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 488)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2 May 2017. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak achieved.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  14. Danish peak. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 17 July 2012 – via Google Books.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 16. 17 April 1999. p. 7. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  16. "Mr. Oizo: Flat Beat" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in French). Les classement single.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  19. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 27. 3 July 1999. p. 13. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  20. "Íslenski Listinn (17.6–24.6. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 June 2019. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Flat Beat". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  22. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 18. 1 May 1999. p. 12. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  25. "Charts.nz – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". Top 40 Singles.
  26. "Norwegiancharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". VG-lista.
  27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. Billboard: Hits of the World, May 22, 1999. 22 May 1999. Retrieved 17 July 2012 – via Google Books.
  29. "Swedishcharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". Singles Top 100.
  30. "Swisscharts.com – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". Swiss Singles Chart.
  31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  33. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  34. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1999" (in German). Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  35. "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  36. "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  37. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 1. 1 January 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  38. "Classement Singles – année 1999" (in French). Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  39. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  40. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  41. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  42. "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  43. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1999" (in German). Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  44. "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
  45. "Austrian single certifications – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  46. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  47. "Mr. Oizo" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  48. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Mr. Oizo; 'Flat Beat')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  49. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  50. "British single certifications – Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Flat Beat in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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